In-the-Car Snacking
Snacking while you're driving on long trips helps stave off hunger and pass the time. Instead of stopping for soft drinks and empty-calorie snacks, plan ahead and pack a cooler with these low-fat substitutions:
- Slice up your family's favourite vegetables for nutritious finger-food snacking. Pack sandwich bags with carrot and celery sticks and cucumber rounds with individual cups of ranch dressing for dipping.
- Fresh fruit chilled in the cooler also can be a refreshing treat. Grapes are a perfect travel snack because they're not messy and are easy to eat. Bananas and apples also are good, but make sure to pack them whole so they stay fresh. Avoid pulpy citrus fruits — the juice and rinds are messy, and the high acid content can cause stomach upset.
- Craving a cup of coffee? Take a thermos of Folgers® French Vanilla.
- Trail mix is terrific anywhere! Mix up your own, using nuts, pretzels, raisins and candy-covered chocolates, for a sweet-and-salty energy booster.
- Remember that hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chilled, make a high-protein, between-meal snack.
- Pretzels and low-fat potato chips or crisps, such as Reduced Fat Pringles®, are better alternatives to higher-fat snacks.
Noon needn't automatically call for a swing through a fast-food drive-through. Instead, plan a picnic! Before you leave, choose a scenic spot on your route that you'll reach around lunchtime, and have a healthy meal outdoors.
Pack low-fat lunch meat, cheeses and condiments so the whole family can whip up their own sandwiches. Substitute bagels or multigrain tortilla wraps as a change from regular sandwich bread. Be sure to pack lunch meat, cheese slices, and sliced lettuce and tomato separately, and assemble the sandwiches when you're ready to eat, so they're not soggy.
Side cups of potato salad, made with low-calorie mayonnaise, and homemade chocolate chip cookies round out the lunch, and you're back on the road!
Dining Out for Dinner
Most restaurants today feature heart-healthy, low-fat menu selections, so in many cases you can follow the restaurateur's guidelines for alternatives to high-calorie, high-sodium or high-cholesterol fare.
If no menu guidelines are offered, keep these tips in mind:
- Substitute chicken or fish for beef dishes for the lower fat content.
- Avoid cream sauces and cream-based soups.
- Steer clear of fried food, and opt instead for baked meats, fish and potatoes.
- Look for steamed or grilled vegetables, and pass on those with cream or cheese sauces.
- Select fruit-based desserts, such as a cobbler, over heavier sweets such as cheesecake, or substitute sorbet for ice cream.
