Preparing a healthy snack when the family is traveling will help keep everyone happy and feeling well. Whether you are planning a trip to the doctor's office or a long car ride to spend the holidays with family, plan ahead and pack a healthy snack. Kids begin to feel hungry when they are bored or have periods of time with inactivity. There are a few tips to preparing a snack that provides your family healthy and happy.

1. Stay away from foods that will easily spoil. Foods from the refrigerator should be kept cold in a cooler or with a an ice pack. If this is not possible the food should be eaten within 2 to 4 hours of being taken out.

2. Pick fruits and vegetables that can be cut up into bit size pieces to avoid a choking hazard. Suggested fruits and veggies are watermelon, honeydew, apples, oranges, celery, and carrots.

3. Popcorn (unbuttered and unsalted) and mini pretzels can be packaged into individual serving sizes and distributed to the kids easily in the car or on a plane.

4. Avoid prepackaged snacks such as fruit snacks, cookies, or the variety of little cracker snacks that are available in the convenience aisles. These are an expensive snack alternatives and high in sugar and fat content.

5. Offer a snack dip such as a yogurt or low-fat dressing to make the fruit or vegetable more appealing to a more particular child.

Finally, remember to bring plenty of water to keep the kids hydrated. Be prepared for multiply bathroom stops on a long trip, but the health benefit of teaching your child to choose healthy snacks and drinks will be worth the few extra minutes at the rest stop along your travel route.



Amy L. Strong