Hungry Girl's survival guide for summer outings. Weeeeee!
The #1 Rule of Vacationing
ALWAYS eat a good meal or a filling snack before you head out for the day.
If you don't, you're likely to get cranky and make silly food choices when
hunger and heat hit you. If it's early, you're not hungry, and/or you're just
eager to hit the road, at least grab something on the way out the door.
The Best 3-Snack Stash
Sneak these in anywhere you can get away with it. Just do it!
Fresh Fruit - Go for something with an edible or easy-to-peel skin that's not
too delicate -- apples and bananas are popular for a reason. Pears are OK,
but be careful if they're really ripe. (No one likes pear mush in their
backpack!) If you take your fruit-toting seriously and want to avoid bruising,
consider investing in a Banana Guard or Froot Guard. Good stuff!
Jerky - There's a whole world of jerkys out there. We're NOT fans of the
really random stuff (like alligator and ostrich... GROSS!), but we LOVE jerky
made from beef, chicken, turkey, and soy. It tastes good, fares well in any
temperature, and won't get crushed in your bag. And an emergency snack
that's protein-packed is ALWAYS a good thing. BTW, Jack Link's Premium
Cuts Chicken Nuggets are a new favorite.
Crunchy Bars - We love chewy bars, but when it's hot outside, those things
MELT and become a sticky mess. Sad times! You're WAY better off with a
crispy granola bar. Avoid anything chocolatey, drizzled, or with a coating --
it'll get messy fast. Go for something heat-friendly (and, duh, delicious!) like
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars.
HG Heads Up! Check out last summer's ginormous list of tasty travel treats.
YUM!
Non-Food Food for Thought
Chill Out! - Whether it's big and old-school or cute and fancy, BRING A
COOLER! If you're gonna be out and about all day long, this is the best way
for you and your travel pals to avoid junk food. So load it up with light string
cheese, sandwiches (toasted light bread = non-soggy stuff), salads (dressing
packets on the side), and cut-up veggies. Make sure you have plenty of ice
or some good quality cool-packs, too.
Be Water-Wise - This one's a given, yet it's easy to forget. PACK LOTS OF
WATER. Sometimes, we think we're hungry when we're actually dehydrated,
which leads us to mindlessly munch when we don't need to. No cooler? No
problem. The night before your day out, stick a couple of bottles in the
freezer and one in the fridge. Your frozen bottles will be defrosted by the
time you finish the fridge bottle. And if water bores you at times, have a few
packets of sugar-free powdered drink mix on hand to zazzle up that H20!
Summer Reading Material - You've got to feed your brain, too... even if
you're feeding it the nutritional equivalent of potato chips (a.k.a. fun gossip
mags!). Plus, if you give yourself an activity, you won't be sitting around
thinking, "I'm bored. Maybe I should have a snack." So hit up your local
bookstore or library before you head out on a trip.
Clean Up Your Act - Make sure you pack some napkins or even a whole roll
of paper towels if you've got room. (No one ever said, "I wish I hadn't
brought those paper towels.") HG Tip: Stash a few wet-naps in case of an
emergency mess. And don't forget about a sealable bag for garbage.
Quick Tips for Daytrips
At a Ball Game...
* If you NEED a beer, stick to the light kind and save about 50 calories per
pint.
* Roam the entire stadium to find the best concession options. (The exercise
you'll get is an added bonus!) Soft pretzels are better than nachos, veggie
dogs are better than regular ones, and a grilled chicken salad w/ salsa is one
of the best finds ever.
* Ignore those annoying vendors yelling about peanuts, hot dogs and
popcorn. Not only are their snacks fat-fests, but relying on them encourages
laziness!
At an Amusement Park...
* Don't take the tram. WALK.
* Avoid corn dogs, funnel cakes, and anything fried. If you've got a sweet
tooth, stick to Dippin' Dots or cotton candy. (Sure they have sugar, but
they're better than Churros!)
* Save cash and calories by getting your hand stamped for re-entry and then
hitting up eateries just outside the park gates. No one needs a $16 greasy
personal pizza.
