Eating healthy on the road

Is it even possible to eat healthy while on the road?

There are so many yummy products out there that hold a long shelf life which make them the perfect go to food for camping. Pop tarts, chips, cereal, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, hot dogs, popcorn etc.

Those are all simple foods that would make meal prep so much easier and we could just get on with our day. But for those of us who want to maintain a healthy diet even while on a short road trip, these foods are not even an option!

Healthy eating while doing long term-camping can be difficult. Our family eats a non-processed diet that consists of primarily meat, fruits, vegetables, dairy and nuts. Storing perishable foods such as these for long periods of time can be challenging and requires planning. We have to have enough room to fit meals for a family of five with only three coolers. Add the ice and we’re using about 20% of a standard fridge space.

Now, I said it was challenging, not that it couldn’t be done.

I typically cook two meals a day. Breakfast and dinner. I try and cook twice the amount for dinner so that we can have the same meal for lunch the next day. Another tip is to choose your fruits and vegetables wisely.

You want to get things that don’t expire quickly like:

• cabbage
• carrots
• zucchini
• Squash
• potatoes
• celery
• cauliflower
• melons of any kind
• apples
• pears
• oranges
• onions

The nearest Walmart is about an hour away so we try and make everything stretch for at least two weeks. Of course you still have to make a few trips a week to the local store for ice and meat. We like to get boxed whole milk from the dollar store. It has a long shelf life, doesn’t need to be refrigerated until opened and doesn’t take up much space in the cooler so we rotate them out.

Cooking is something I enjoy doing very much and I wasn’t planning on stopping just because it’s harder to do out here. I get to use the Dutch oven more often and my pressure cooker helps get big meals done in a cinch!

I am responsible for feeding my family food that is going to be nourishing to their bodies and important for health and growth. One of the most important things you can do for your family is feed them well! I don’t take the task lightly. 😆

Yes. It is possible to eat healthy on the road. With a little planning, time, patience and motivation you can whip up healthy meals (that I will be happy to share with you) in no time!