FAQ's: FOOD EDITION

FOOD!  This is probably one of my biggest planning "issues" of the whole trip.  In the past year, I have personally made some pretty significant changes in the way that I eat--I try to eat primarily "clean foods" or whole foods.  (Key word there:  primarily....if you saw me eating my way across Kentucky last weekend, don't be a hater...ALSO, when I post an instagram pic of me eating at In & Out Burger....just shut it.) 

Typically, when we go on a trip/vacation, we TRULY go on a trip/vacation and don't worry too much about what we eat because it's usually not a very long time and being "on food vacation" for 48 hours isn't a huge deal to me.  However, because we are going to be gone for almost 3 weeks, we cannot take a total food vacation or else we'll all be suffering some ill effects in the ol' GI system......not to mention unsightly weight gain.  Hello, swimsuit season!!! 

FAQ:  What will you eat while traveling?
We are taking a mambo jambo cooler and aim to eat only 1 meal at a restaurant each day (while we're traveling and camping.)   So....we are probably going to do breakfast and lunch in the car/at a rest stop by eating food we packed or bought at a grocery along the way.  Then, we will have a sit down dinner at a restaurant. 

Because we're not going to be cooking anything (AT.ALL.), all our food items have to be served cold.  We don't own a camping stove, not that it matters....I don't have any plans to be cooking and cleaning anything up while we're traveling. 

Sorry, environment:  paper plates it is!

We brainstormed a few meal ideas the other day....here's what we came up with:

Breakfast: 

• Muffins (I have an excellent recipe for healthy banana muffins that are hearty and delicious.  I'll post it below)
• Instant oatmeal (getting the hot water and/or using a lovely microwave at gas station)
• yogurt and granola
• Fruit

Lunch/Dinner:

• wraps or sandwiches:  nut butters, or ham/turkey
• chicken salad (We love the cranberry chicken salad from Costco)
• fruit & veggies with hummus/ranch dip
• black bean & corn salsa

Snacks

• Cheese Sticks
• Gogurts
• Trail Mix

SO....there you have it!  That's my food plan for now.  As you can see, there is much room for improvement and I'd love some help brainstorming some other good options that will travel well.
Help me out....FEED ME! 




LWOW Banana Muffins

2 bananas, mashed
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup flax seed (milled)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips or nuts (optional)

Combine bananas, eggs, brown sugar, apple sauce and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, flax seed, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
Fold in nuts/chocolate chips

Bake at 350 degrees for about 12-14 minutes. 
Yield:  18 muffins