Just because you’re hitting the road doesn’t mean you have to give up healthy eating. Whether traveling by car, train, bus or airplane, you can still feed your family REAL food. Not only will you feel good about it, your child will feel better too, which usually means better behavior and more fun for everybody.

Just like eating REAL food at home takes planning and prep, eating REAL food on the road does too. As you are planning your trip, whether it’s a weekend of camping, a few days at Grandma’s or a week at Disney, remember to think about how you will feed your family REAL food 80% of the time. Of course you could decide not to eat healthy on your trip and justify that you’re all on vacation and so healthy eating is not a priority, but eating healthy on the road is another opportunity to show your child that people who want to be healthy make conscious decisions about what they eat most of the time. It’s an investment of time before the trip, but you’ll appreciate it when you have fewer sugar meltdowns in the middle of the amusement park and less cries of “I’m hungry!” while waiting in the long line to get into the museum.

Here’s how to make your vacation a successful REAL food trip:

One: Search out health food grocery stores and farmers’ markets in the area you will be visiting. Use the Eat Well Guide. Just by typing in a zip code you’ll quickly have a list of farmers’ markets, restaurants and other local REAL food resources. This is especially important if you are not driving and are unable to pack your own food.

Two: If you are staying in a hotel choose accommodations that have a refrigerator. If you can get a room with a small kitchenette so you can do a little cooking - little being the operative word since it is a vacation!

Three: Two weeks before your trip, plan a menu, including how many times you anticipate eating out. You may not follow it exactly, but it will allow you to prep some ingredients or whole meals ahead of time, which makes eating REAL food easier and faster than hitting vending machines or fast food drive-thrus. Remember to follow our Recipe for a Healthy Meal or Snack.

Four: Make sure you have a list of all supplies you may need depending on your accommodations: cooler, glass storage dishes, large bowl, small bowl, sharp knife, cutting board plates, napkins, utensils, wax paper bags (or plastic if you must) etc. Also, include condiments like Celtic sea salt, pepper, garlic salt, etc.

Four: One week before your trip start prepping foods that can be frozen or stored: muffins, cookies, trail mix, oat pancakes or waffles (or the mix made up with directions taped to container), fruit & nut bars, turkey muffin cups, cooked quinoa or brown rice, etc. See our recipe section or REAL eCookbooks for more ideas.

Five: A day or two before your trip, prep foods that will keep in a cooler until you get to your destination: cleaned and chopped veggies, ranch dip, salsa, hummus, yogurt with flax seed and berries, roll-up sandwiches, scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, chicken quinoa salad, layered bean dip,  homemade chicken nuggets, etc. See our recipe section or REAL eCookbooks for more ideas.

Six: The night before you leave, make sure to have a ‘car pack’ of easy to serve picnic foods and snacks: apples, homemade popcorn with coconut oil or butter, trail mix that includes fresh ingredients like blueberries and carrot slices, Chocolate Coconut Bars, roll-up sandwiches, cheese slices, etc.

REAL food travels as long as you take time to plan and prep. Unfortunately your food prep won’t do much help with “Are we there yet?” or “She’s touching me!” but you’ll definitely be ready for the “I’m hungry!” cries. 

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Angelle Batten, MEd. is a Holistic Health & Parenting Coach and co-founder of nourishMD. She teaches parents how to feed their children REAL food and parent in a more connected way every day - so despite a crazy busy life they can raise healthier, happier children who make the world a better place.