Did you see me on Channel 21 this morning? I was talking about Road Trip Snacks That Won’t Pack on the Pounds. Here’s more information on the products I featured on Plugged Into DFW!
Summer is the stuff that family vacation memories are made of. Long monotonous miles in the car are torturous, and pretty much everyone keeps themselves entertained with steady supply of snacks right? Let’s not blow our healthy lifestyle just because we’re sitting on our rear end for a day. I have some healthy suggestions below that will keep your bathing suit body in check, but still keep those road miles interesting.
BREAKFAST ON-THE-GO: Viki’s Granola!
Viki’s has quickly become a favorite granola in our house. It comes in three flavors: Blueberry Almond, Maple Cranberry, and Original Honey and all are made with this unique baking process that give it a cravable texture that’s different than other granolas. And it’s also good for you. (Not all granola can say that without crossing their fingers behind their back.) Viki’s granola is a blend of gluten-free oats, honey, almonds, pecans and unsweetened coconut – and I love that they never add refined sugar, fillers, or preservatives. I’m especially fond of the 1.5 ounce “Grab-n-Go” Single-Serve Pouches that are super easy to eat on the run. You can find these at Whole Foods or at Viki’s Foods.
PORTABLE SEEDS from Carrington Farms
Flax and Chia are all the rage these days. Seems everyone is sneaking them into their breakfast or yogurt for the kids. Because they are so rich in Omega-3’s and Fiber, they are an excellent source of energy and nutrients that promote lasting heart health and boosted metabolism.
And they’re not new. Aztec Indians used to make chia “shooters” before they’d leave on hunting expeditions because they believed it would give them “supernatural powers.” These days, we mix them with a little liquid to make a pudding and they help to keep our energy up (great for those late night driving hours). I love that these are packed in ready-to-eat, portable and convenient single serve packets with a pre-measured daily dosage,
This unique blend of Chia and Flax seeds are available at ShopRite and online at www.CarringtonFarms.com.
FRUIT SQUISHIES: A KIDS FAVORITE GOES ORGANIC
In our house we call fruit snacks, fruit squishies – and there’s no redeeming nutritional value to them, until now. I’m pretty excited about this company, Go Organically® that launched in June and makes these fruit snacks that are like you would make at home – with real fruit purées and fruit juices. These new fruit snacks are USDA Certified Organic, non GMO, gluten free, and contain no preservatives or artificial flavors. And yes, they taste good. They passed the Princess Cupcake test, and I loved them.
They’re still rolling out across the country (check a COSTCO near you) but we had a chance to try a sample of these. They’re soft and taste good – and they don’t have that plasticy aftertaste and they’re not overly sticky either.
Go Organically® fruit snacks are available in three delicious flavor assortments:
- Fruit Medley features Strawberry, Orange, Apple, Peach, and Cherry
- Mixed Berry consists of the refreshing flavors of Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry and Blackberry,
- Tropical contains a delectable mix of Mango, Kiwi-Strawberry, Pineapple, Pink Grapefruit, and Mandarin Orange.
You can learn more about Go Organically® by visiting their website or their Facebook page.
A HEALTHY STAPLE SUMMER CONDIMENT: MUSTARD
Car picnics can be fun and healthy if you make good choices. Ditch the high-fat mayonnaise this summer and reach for a low calorie spicy mustard (only 10 calories!) instead for your sandwiches and salads. I’m completely crushing on this Colman’s Mustard from Norwich, England – and not just because that’s where my husband was born. This iconic British mustard has been a zesty favorite across the pond since 1814 and I love that it also comes in powder form that you can use in salads or even as a BBQ rub for meat before it goes on the grill. Read about Colman’s rich history here. You can bet the Colman’s museum will be on our must-visit list next time we’re in Norwich!
You can find Colman’s at major retailers.
VEGAN MEALS DELIVERED FRESH TO YOUR DOOR: VEESTRO!
Let’s be honest, I’m not Vegan. I do love a good steak from time to time, but there are a lot of people who are strictly Vegan and for them, bringing healthy food with them on vacation is a huge pain in the potatoes.
Enter Veestro. Veestro is a leading plant-based (vegan) 100% organic meal delivery service that even meat-eaters like me enjoy. This is the perfect solution for someone headed to the beach for a week. Just set up your delivery and you can stick to your diet without blinking.
Master Chefs prepare these flavorful dishes and flash freeze it to seal in the nutrients, then it’s shipped in dry ice. All you have to do is thaw, heat, and eat.
Have I tried it? Yes, I have. It’s delicious and totally convenient. I especially like the red curry and vegetables,
and that they have juices too. VEESTRO isn’t just for the Vegan – they have a weight loss delivery as well, and who wouldn’t want THAT on vacation?! Imagine coming home from a week off LIGHTER than when you left? Joy! Visit Veestro.com to see their complete menu and offerings.
One more photo to make you hungry – the Tuscan calzone!
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE DESSERT: CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS to the rescue
Truth: If you see me at Starbucks before 10 a.m., odds are you’ll also see me snarfing down a chocolate croissant, which is why I was pretty psyched to find these Mini Croissants from Bauli. These hearty, oven-baked Italian desserts are pre-packaged in single serve bags with SIX croissants inside. Yay for portion control and convenience. These Italian favorites are available in either vanilla crème, chocolate cream or jam and can be found at your local World Market. More information on Bauli Croissants can be found here.
WASH IT ALL DOWN WITH SOME ICE! Sparkling Beverages from Talking Rain
These drinks are a staple at Chez Perot. SPARKLING ICE combines sparkling water, natural flavors, fruit juice, vitamins and antioxidants to offer a refreshing lightly carbonated beverage all with no calories. I’m pretty confident there are flavors that your brood would like. The Cupcake’s favorite is Orange Mango and mine is Pink Grapefruit and Cherry Limeade but they also come in:
- Black Raspberry
- Orange Mango
- Pink Grapefruit
- Kiwi Strawberry
- Coconut Pineapple
- Pomegranate Blueberry
- Peach Nectarine
- Lemon Lime
- Crisp Apple
- Cherry Limeade
- Strawberry Watermelon
Sparking ICE has 6 Lemonades:
- Classic Lemonade
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Raspberry Lemonade
- Lemonade with Tea (Big Daddy’s favorite)
- Peach Lemonade
- Mango Lemonade
This year, SPARKLING ICE Teas launched three teas too!
- Raspberry Tea
- Lemon Tea
- Peach Tea
I bet there are some flavors on this list you haven’t tried yet. They’re great to stock the car with because they have screw tops to prevent spilling and you can put the unfinished drinks back in the cooler for later. SPARKLING ICE can be found in retailers nationwide. Visit their website here.
Happy Trails!
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