by Melinda Brasher

Created on: May 04, 2010   Last Updated: July 06, 2010

Road trips are good for the soul, but dangerous for the diet. It's tempting to stop at those fast food restaurants you see on the side of the road, load up on chips and cookies, raid the vending machines at rest stops. But with a little care you can find healthy-and tasty-road food.

Fast food

Most long road trip vacations involve visits to fast food restaurants. Not known for their range of healthy choices, they are best avoided. But if they are too integral a part of your idea of a road trip, stop a time or two. Just select wisely. Be careful with salads. Many add fried chicken pieces or bacon or heaps of cheese. You may find that your Caesar dressing has more fat than your neighbor's burger. And vinaigrettes, which sound healthy, should often be named oil-with-a-bit-of-vinegar. Be sure to choose low-fat varieties. Grilled chicken selections are often a good bet, but be careful that they're not slathered with mayonnaise or other fattening sauces. Most fast food restaurants will provide nutritional information if you ask. It's even displayed openly in some places. Take advantage of this. Sub sandwich shops and delis are a more reliable source of healthy fare, though they're often more expensive, and not a lot different than what you could put together yourself. So find somewhere beautiful, pull out your sandwich fixings, and have a road trip picnic.

Picnic Preparation

To make your picnics easier and more enjoyable, be prepared. Pack a cooler, even if it's small. Always carry a pocket knife or other paring knife, a couple of plastic containers and baggies for leftovers, and a roll of paper towels to use as rags and napkins both. Take along some of those extra fast food condiment packets you've been gathering the last few months, but leave most of the mayo at home. Try mustard, chock full of flavor but notably lacking in calories. If you pack sandwiches before you leave home, put the tomatoes and lettuce in separate baggies to keep them fresh.

Veggies

Need a crunchy snack between stops? Before you leave home, prepare sticks of your favorite vegetables and put them in your cooler. On multi-day trips, your fresh snacks will only last so long. Stop at supermarkets along the way and buy more. You can often find pre-prepared packs of veggie sticks, but they're not always very fresh. Preparing them yourself will usually be better, but more difficult. For the car, stick with things that don't need peeling or de-seeding: baby carrots instead of big ones, celery, radishes,

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