The Great American Road Trip is alive and well, especially with summertime, soaring airline ticket prices and fun to be had across the land!

Why Travel Challenges Our Nutrition

Travel is always a challenge to our nutrition, as it takes us out of our own kitchens and routines, and often lands us in a hotel room with few options for cooking and refrigeration.

The Road Trip Game-Changer: Bring a Cooler

A cooler is going to come in as the number one item to put in your “must have” road trip pile. This is going to give you so much flexibility and so many additional options for food on your travels!

Small Containers & Bento Boxes for Easy Prep

Small baggies/containers and bento boxes

• You can prep your day ahead and even your kiddos and spouse! One of my favorite things to do when I know we’ll be on the road for a full day or more is to plan out all of my food in MFP and have it ready to go in a to-go container and baggies.

High-Protein Snacks That Travel Well

High-protein food in single-serve containers- don’t forget the utensils if they need them!

Needs a Cooler (but Totally Worth Packing)

1. Low-Fat Greek Yogurt Cup (Oikos Triple Zero, 150g)

• Macros: 15g protein • 13g carbs • 0g fat • 100 calories

2. Cottage Cheese Cup (Good Culture Low-Fat, 5.3 oz)

• Macros: 14g protein • 6g carbs • 2.5g fat • 100 calories

3. Light String Cheese (1 stick)

• Macros: 6g protein • 1g carbs • 2.5g fat • 50 calories

4. Pre-Cooked Chicken Breast Strips (3 oz)

• Macros: 21g protein • 0g carbs • 3g fat • 110 calories

No Cooler Needed

5. Turkey Jerky (1 oz)

• Macros: 10g protein • 3g carbs • 1.5g fat • 70 calories

6. Protein Powder (1 scoop whey isolate mixed with water)

• Macros: 20–25g protein • 2g carbs • 1g fat • 110 calories

7. Ready-to-Drink Protein Shake (Fairlife Core Power 26g)

• Macros: 26g protein • 8g carbs • 3g fat • 170 calories

8. Roasted Edamame (¼ cup)

• Macros: 14g protein • 10g carbs • 4g fat • 130 calories

9. Tuna Pouch (Starkist Light, 2.6 oz)

• Macros: 17g protein • 0g carbs • 0.5g fat • 80 calories

10. Protein Bar (Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough)

• Macros: 21g protein • 21g carbs (14g fiber) • 8g fat • 200 calories

Don’t Skimp on Fiber

High-fiber foods!! It’s easy to wind up lower on fiber when you’re on road trips due to more protein bars/shakes than you might normally consume. 

• Apples are my favorite road trip fruit because they travel well
• Catalina Crunch Cereal (measured out ahead of time- yummy to munch by itself, or stir into yogurt!)
• Low carb tortillas. I love to prep one with nut butter and banana, and wrap it up for whenever I’m ready!

Stock Up on Single-Macro Foods to Fill Gaps

Foods high in single macros- you may wind up eating out during the day, and it’s likely a fast-food meal will throw your macros out of balance and leave you with extra fats OR extra carbs OR extra protein, but not all three. Having foods high in single macros will help you fill in the gaps to round out your day.

• For fats, grab some single serve pouches of nuts- I love cashews!
• Great carb options are fruit (dried or fresh), pretzels, popcorn

Treats Are Still on the Menu

Don’t forget the treats!! One of the best parts of road trips is enjoying snacks you might not usually buy. These are not off the table just because you’re tracking your macros! Buy them ahead of time (saves money because they’re always pricier at gas stations), and portion them out so you can enjoy a serving at a time with no guilt. My personal favorites are candy orange slices and cow tales…pure carbs is where it’s at!!!

Is tracking your macros on a road trip harder than not? Of course! But macros gives us SO much freedom- no food group is off the table– and with a little bit of effort, we will arrive at our destination feeling balanced and energized for all of the fun ahead!

If you liked this post, you might also like: A Guide to Travel for Macro Counters