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As the holiday travel season descends upon us, please think twice about what you eat during your next road trip for the love of yourself and everyone else surrounding you. From garlic to greasy burgers, avoid these foods that can make your next trip unpleasant for yourself and others.
Seeds are generally a healthy snack. But unless you’re a very tidy eater, snacks like sunflower or pomegranate seeds can drop in a car’s nooks and crannies. Because it’s way too easy to eat mindlessly while traveling (we get it, it helps pass the time), you may eat way more seeds than you should. And as seeds are typically high in fiber, this can lead to an upset stomach on the road.
A sandwich with a hard roll, a crisp cookie, or a pastry like a croissant is best at a table. Do you want to deal with the aftermath of crumbs all over yourself and your seat? Beyond the mess, and more importantly, crumbs can be a safety concern while driving. It’s too easy to get distracted while brushing off the crumbs all over yourself while you’re behind the wheel.
The best sandwiches have all the fixings — mayo, tomato, melted cheese, etc. But those ingredients can make your sandwich soggy and leave the car or seat you’re in with drips, smears, and fingerprints all over it. That said, sandwiches are an ideal travel food when done right. Try cutting the sandwich into quarters so it’s easier to manage. Choose simple ingredients, like a firm protein such as deli meat, simple whole grain bread, and a slice of hard cheese. The pile of extras can wait until you get to your destination.
Yogurt, soup, ice cream — all we can think of is drip, drip, drip. When you’re in a seat in a moving object, it’s all too easy to spill with any jostle or bump—leaving you with wet clothes, a wet seat, and a mess to clean up when you arrive at your destination.
We’ve all been there — the person on the plane in the seat near you who suddenly opens up a very smelly meal they’ve brought, infiltrating the air all around you. In fact, a passenger’s choice to eat a tuna melt on a recent Delta flight went viral for stinking up an entire plane. So unless you're alone in your car (or traveling via private jet), think of others before packing eggs, seafood, or any other fragrant meal. It’s just common courtesy.
You should rethink eating foods like beans and broccoli until you reach your destination. While good for your body in general, fiber can cause gas and bloating. Digestion of high fiber foods may hit you within the hour, or many hours later, and if you’re on the road, stopping to deal with digestion “situation,” or else affecting the air of other passengers, may not be ideal.
Eating more blandly the day before you hit the road may be a good idea.
Eating spicy food while on the road is risky. According to one study, spicy food can trigger stomach pain in some people. Unless you’re very used to eating spicy food, it can also increase the risk of indigestion in the form of diarrhea, thanks to a chemical called capsaicin.
Save yourself some trauma and keep your snacks simple.
Chips seem like the perfect thing to snack on during a long trip, with their crispy crunch and ability to grab by the handful. But you should think twice. High-sodium foods, such as salty chips, can make you more thirsty, which means you’ll want to drink more — which can lead to more bathroom breaks on the road. Too much salt can also cause bloating, which is especially uncomfortable when sitting for a long period.
A long trip in the car is not the time to try new exotic foods that you don’t know how your body will handle. You risk anything from an allergic reaction to nausea to stomach upset or worse.
Stick to tried-and-true basics while traveling. Some healthy yet simple recommendations from Redditors include freeze-dried fruits, turkey jerky, mixed nuts, PB&J, and low-salt pretzels.
Fast food is de rigueur for a road trip, isn't it? We can’t fault you for wanting to grab Mickey D’s during a long drive. Just be aware of the aftermath and if you can handle it. High-fat fast foods can make you feel sluggish and tired while you’re digesting them, and if you’re the one driving, it can affect how alert you feel behind the wheel. If you must have your fast food break, wait until you reach your destination and can nap afterward.
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