It’s been a busy summer here at iLiveWell, both with work and play and it’s definitely safe to say that no matter what the dietitians here are up to, we all love a good snack! It seems like the theme of the summer is “go, go, go!” so we thought we’d compile some of our favorite snack ideas for you.
Adrien Paczosa, RD, LD, CEDRD
This has been the summer of travel for my family and I, and with us being on the go snacks have been a must to keep everyone on time and fueled with enough energy to make the trips fun!
Planes- I never go anywhere without my water bottle. Before I leave my house for a flight I fill it up and make sure I drink everything before I get through security. As soon as I get through, I head to the water fountain to fill it back up for the flight. Flying only exacerbates dehydration so I like to be on the side of prevention.
Automobiles- We have been all over the great state of Texas. I wish I could say I planned ahead and packed snacks better for me and the kids, but getting us all moving on time was priority. We do stop and get snacks and move around which helps the kids make it through the trip. When we stop the snacks they tend to grab is water and chips to split. This snack passes this RD’s approved list because in our family we truly teach the honesty about how all food fits and portion sizes. The kids are great at listening to their hunger levels and as an RD I want to support them keeping a keen ear for those ghrelin and leptin hormone signals as they grow up.
Mary Ann Conroy, RD, LD
Healthy gas station/convenience store choices:
- Small packages of nuts, any kind. I prefer unsalted, but that can be difficult to find.
- Protein bars – but watch the extra sugar. Some of these “protein” bars are just glorified candy bars. You have to read the labels.
- Fruit – I see a lot of stores have apples and/or bananas up by the counter. Make sure you wash those apples before eating!
Grab and go/car snacks:
- String cheese sticks. These stay fine for a day, but if you forget them in your purse or car after that, toss ’em.
- Cut carrot sticks travel well (I cut my own – I think they taste better than “baby carrots” and last longer, too).
- Snack baggies filled with non-melting munchies. For example, unsalted peanuts with a few raisins and cranberries, whole grain crackers, or apple slices.
- Bananas are great too, but it doesn’t take long to make your purse or car smell like one.
Kathy Ebert Kimbrough, RD, LD
It seems like I’m always on the road so I’m accustomed to needing to keep my car stocked! I try to keep in mind the heat and keep things that don’t get too melty. Here are some of my favorites:
- Beef jerky
- Trail mix without chocolate or yogurt chips (learned that lesson the hard way!)
- Granola bars (the crunchy kind)
- Popcorn (I like to pop my own and just bring a baggie with me)
It seems like gas stations are getting hip to the idea of healthy options- you really can find a ton of healthy choices out there! My go-to options:
- hard boiled eggs (I love these especially when I don’t have time for breakfast at home!)
- cheese stick
- fruit cup (but these can get pricey so I usually try to find a whole piece of fruit instead of the cups)
- slurpee!!
Happy Snacking!
Adrien Paczosa is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian practicing in Austin, Texas and the surrounding counties.
She is the owner and founder of I Live Well Nutrition her Dietitian practice which started in 2007 and serves clients in the Austin, Texas area in two locations. Fearless Practitioners, the division of her business that offers training to dietitians and wellness professionals.