We can’t help but daydream our way through spring with visions of sing-along, top-down, hair-blowing-in-the-wind road trips with our best pals. This is, after all, what summer’s all about, right? Between

snack-time

No need to make pit stops for snacks – plan ahead so you have both sweet and savoury (healthy) snacks to combat cravings and the munchies. Save your time, money and indulgences for meals since they are harder to plan for anyway.

travel friendly snacks
• apples/bananas with a natural nut butter
• raw mixed nuts or trail mix
• bliss balls
• carrots and hummus
• pita chips
• a few pre-made PB&J sandwiches
• plenty of water in reusable bottles (freeze a few to use as ‘ice’ for your cooler)

dining out

One of the best parts of visiting a new town is getting a taste of the local culture (literally). The name of the game is balance – sip a glass of wine, munch on an order of fries and then make healthy choices when possible.

eat this, not that at restaurants
• if you’re hungry enough for an appetizer, order a house salad with a vinaigrette dressing or a cup of broth-based soup (rather than cream-based). If those appies don’t tickle your fancy, split a small plate with your dining buddy (think hummus with veggies or pita bread, ahi tuna or a shrimp cocktail)
• go for items that are grilled, baked or steamed and resist ones that are fried or battered (think grilled chicken or salmon with a baked potato or steamed veggies)
• if your sweet tooth needs taming, order sorbet or fresh berries (nature’s candy, I tell you!) or split a more decadent dessert with the table. Guilty - I’m never one to deny myself the gift that is chocolate
• remember that most restaurants are quite accommodating these days for specific dietary needs or preferences, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or to make substitutions. How big are the portions? Is it enough to share? Can I sub steamed broccoli for cheesy broccoli? Side salad for the fries? Brown rice for white rice?

stretch your legs

When it comes to long trips don’t let your roadmap interfere with your training plan. Get out to stretch your legs and spend a little time discovering the cool cities you’re passing through.

staying active on the road
• look for a local lululemon in the city and check out their community board for tons of info on the best studios, local events and complimentary classes going on during your stay
• practice yoga outdoors (think park, mountain top, beach) or in your hotel room. Check out the gift of yoga or a yoga app for a more guided practice
• rent a bike (or bring your own on the back of your car) - bike share programs (like Bixi) are all the rage! Go for a ride and explore your surroundings
• no equipment? No problem. Lace up your sneakers and head for a run. Use a resource like MapMyRun to find safe and reliable routes!
• take advantage of hotel amenities, run your own mini-bootcamp in the gym, play tennis or do a few laps in the pool

Summer is so close we can almost taste it and the sampler plate of warm, sunny days in March was a nice touch, Mother Nature. We’re already filling up our calendars with weekend trips and mini-vacays. Have any other foolproof road-trippin’ tips for staying healthy on the go?