Travelling across America has its perks with its diverse climates and exciting cities, but, like on any road trip, your food choices can seriously affect your overall health. Whether you’re picky or a ravenous eater, there are numerous healthy food options available all over the United States, and inside your vehicle. Here, you will find different ways to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger by eating in and eating out while touring in America.
Eating in
Going on tour is a unique experience that not only strengthens your skills as a musician but also widens your band’s fan base. It is an important part of networking, and the last thing you need is for an unhealthy diet to get in the way. Touring also takes funding. Contrary to popular belief, eating healthy foods can be inexpensive so long as you stock on the right items. When it comes to choosing healthy food options from local grocery stores, there are a couple tips that will maximize both your food supply and your wallet.
First, stock up on water. It doesn’t hurt to have too much water with you. The most cost-effective method is to purchase water bottles in bulk from a warehouse store. However, if you would rather be more environmentally conscious about your water consumption, carry a reusable bottle with you and fill it up whenever possible. Due to this limited and unplanned system, it is important to bring some plastic water bottles or a water jug just in case. Don’t forget to consistently and regularly drink your water. This may lead to more pit stops along the way, but it will benefit you in the long run. Generally, people who drink enough water during the day (the 8×8 rule of eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day is the most commonly accepted amount) tend to eat less since thirst is often mistaken for hunger.
For the times when you really are hungry, the second tip is to pack nutritional snacks. This means avoiding foods that have little health value, like processed foods. The most simple healthy snack foods are granola/energy bars. These can be purchased in bulk (which saves on the price) and are a healthy alternative to overly salty snacks. A more DIY snack option is homemade trail mix. All of the mixings can be purchased at a local grocery store and, because you control what you put in it, there can be less salt which makes it much healthier. Some possible ingredients include nuts, raisins, seeds, dark chocolate, and dried fruit. You can also pack regular fruit, like bananas, that will keep during the trip.
Whole grain cereal cups are a good alternative to unhealthy, crunchy snack foods, like potato chips, according to cookinglight.com.
Vitamins are important day to day and while on the road. When spending nights driving from town to town, vitamin B provides energy and decreases the need for coffee and energy drinks. Not to mention, taking a general multivitamin will help to make up for any missed nutrients. Drinking plenty of water and not skipping meals are both crucial to eating healthy on the road.
If you would rather eat out from restaurants or other places instead of eating in from local grocery stores, there are still healthy options. Choosing nutritional food items at fast food places is one way to eat out on the road. Options like eggs and salads are healthier for you, and according to muscleandfitness.com, olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice are tasty alternatives to unhealthy salad dressings. Eating in is cost-effective and allows for more a more regular consumption of nutrients and healthy food throughout the day, but for the days when you feel like trying new places to eat, choosing healthy options is still possible when eating out.
Eating Out
Another plus of touring across the 50 states is the almost endless, tasty range of restaurants. The United States can be divided into five general regions: West, North, Central, East and South. Within each region is a popular city, each home to a local restaurant full of healthy and delicious menu items.
Starting in the West, California is home to Simply Salad and, as the name suggests, serves fresh, colorful vegetables all salad-ready. There are three locations in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, each with an impressively expansive variety of dressings that are sure to appeal to almost any veggie lover. Their full menu, including fruit, hummus, and chips and dip, can be found on their website.
The Northern states house Go! Sy Thai in Detroit, Michigan. As seen on their website and made clear from their name, this restaurant serves healthy Thai food at cost effective prices. They are known for using just the right amount of spice in their menu items, which pleases their customers. Tofu is included on the menu, making it ideal for meat eaters and vegans alike.
Moving toward the Central region of America, The Healthy Hearth is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at 800 NE 10th Street. It opens very early at 7:30 a.m. and starts the weekdays by serving lean breakfast items and ends their days at 5:00 p.m. with nutritious comfort food and cookies. Some of their meals include noodle soup, pecan cookies, and the classic macaroni and cheese.
In the Eastern region of the United States, there is a restaurant called Healthy Nibbles in New York, New York. This inexpensive local sandwich shop offers wraps, burgers, teas and smoothies, and vegan ice cream. Found at 305 Flatbush Avenue, the tasty eatery opens early and closes late, making sporadic cravings fulfilled and healthy. Their vegan desserts (particularly the carrot cake) are well-known and can satisfy most sweet-tooths, vegan or not.
Finally, in the South, Gainesville, Florida has many different restaurants all with different styles, but there is one that stands out among the rest: SweetBerries. A cost-effective soup, salad, sandwich, and frozen custard shop, SweetBerries offers vegetarian options, like their tempeh sandwich. I went to SweetBerries for lunch not too long ago and tasted their tempeh and frozen custard. Not only were they both delicious, but also light, healthy, and easy on the wallet. They are located at 505 NW 13th Street, and they have earned 4.5/5 stars on their Facebook page.
Whether you choose to eat in from grocery stores or eat out at local restaurants while on the road, touring across America can still include affordable healthy eating.
