What is the best part of a road trip? Well to me, it is listening to my favorite tunes and munching on favorite snacks along the way. On my recent trip to Texas, I wanted to stay paleo-compliant, but still have some options. So here are some anti-inflammatory road trip treat suggestions for your next adventure…and just a reminder – some of these are truly meant to be “treats” (vacations are for splurging a bit!) and not recommended for your daily diet.
#1 – Raisins – They are good for you AND good to eat! Raisins are packed with anti-oxidants, fiber and potassium, and come in little boxes that are handy to carry around when you need a quick energy boost.
#2 – Fresh fruit – We found many larger gas stations along the way had bananas and apples, and of course you can always pack up some of your favorites to bring along, especially if you have a cooler to keep grapes, cut melon, etc. cold.
#3 – Pork Rinds – Here is a snack that feels more like a gas station / road trip kind of treat! Surprisingly pork rinds (get the kind with no fancy flavoring – make sure to check the label) are paleo-approved, and a good option when you are craving chips or pretzels. In fact, they have 9x the protein and less fat than potato chips (in a 1 oz sample there were 0 carbs, 17 grams of protein and 9 grams of fat – and of that fat, 43% was unsaturated.) They can even be dipped in hot sauce for a little extra flavor!
#4 – Granola – Granola that includes nuts, coconut, honey and all kinds of healthy ingredients is delicious. Just make sure that there are no added refined sugars. Stock up and include this in your bag of treats for the car!
#5 – Nuts – Another staple that you can easily find while you make stops along the way…just be sure to stay away from peanuts and go with natural, unsalted almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, etc. Even a handful will provide protein and fiber and help fill you up! See our recipe below on making a delicious Spicy Nut Mix.
#6 – Jerky – Sometimes you just need something more substantial on your trip, and jerky is a solid choice – it is high in protein and doesn’t raise your insulin levels. You need to carefully check the labels here though to ensure a brand that isn’t full of high sodium ingredients – look for natural ingredients. Somewhere in Oklahoma or Texas we passed a road side stand selling homemade buffalo jerky and my husband offered to stop…unfortunately I am not as adventurous as some of my co-workers (Ashley for example has tried everything from antelope jerky to ostrich jerky!) and I was very content to nibble on my turkey jerky as we passed on by the buffalo jerky stand… I’ve included an easy, delicious anti-inflammatory recipe to make your own beef jerky (see below).
#7 – Hard boiled eggs – Not much simpler than this one, and another great way to get some protein. You may find some hard boiled eggs at some of the larger gas stations along the way too.
#8 – Unsweetened Applesauce – Last week I said that this is one of my new favorite snacks. I brought a little six pack of these (like the kind you would put in a school lunch) – just don’t forget some plastic spoons! Or read below for a delicious recipe you can make at home with just 5 ingredients.
#9 – Freeze dried Fruit – Many stores now offer freeze dried fruit in all kinds of varieties; I’ve seen apples, strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, mango and my very favorite, pineapple (the little pieces are a great substitute for candy!) Again it is important to check the label to make sure there is no added sugar.
#10 – Paleo muffins, cookies, brownies etc. – Okay, these would be more difficult to find along the way. Get organized before you hit the road, and order a few of your favorites from a local gluten free bakery or make some yourself. You will be glad you did when you get a craving for something sweet! Click on our links for these easy recipes: Banana Walnut Muffins, Anti-Inflammatory Blueberry Muffins and Gluten Free Chocolate Brownies.
We’re planning our summer vacation road trip! Do you have any suggestions for treats that you like to bring with you? Let us know!
Air Fryer Beef Jerky
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb flank steak
- ½ cup Bragg Liquid Aminos
- 2 Tbsp liquid smoke
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- ⅛ tsp ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup coconut palm sugar
- 1 gallon zip top bag
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix all ingredients except steak until well combined.
- Slice steak against the grain into 1/4" thick strips, trimming off any excess fat. Place into zipper bag along with seasoning mixture. Be sure the steak is well coated. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
- Place an air fryer pan into the bottom of the air fryer basket to catch drippings, then place an insert rack into the pan.
- Spread steak strips evenly onto the insert rack. Air fry at 180°F for 30 minutes. Turn strips over and air fry for an additional 30 minutes.
- Allow to cool before using a paper towel to dry any excess moisture.
- Store jerky in an air tight container, no longer than 1 month.
Homemade Applesauce
Ingredients
- 4 apples peeled, cored and chopped
- ¾ cup water
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- Stevia to taste
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon or apple pie spice blend see recipe
Instructions
- In a sauce pan, combine all ingredients. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes, or until apples are soft.
- Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or puree lightly in a blender.
Spicy Nut Mix
Equipment
- Oven or Air Fryer
Ingredients
- ½ cup ghee or clarified butter melted
- 4 ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce no added sugar
- ¾ tsp Frank's RedHot Sauce
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 ¼ cups pecan halves
- 2 cups whole cashews
- 1 ½ cups whole almonds
Instructions
Roasting Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F and line a 15 x 10" rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ghee, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Stir in the nuts until coated. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
- Spread on wax paper to cool. Store in an airtight container for several weeks.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 325°F for 3 minutes.
- Place the dressed nuts (see instruction 2 above) in a single layer in the basket or on the crisper plate. Close the basket or door and set your timer for 10 minutes. At 6 minutes, shake the basket or stir to rotate the nuts. Continue to cook for an additional 4 minutes.
- Test a nut for crunch. Spread on wax paper to cool.
Notes
- Use natural, unsalted nuts whenever possible.
- Not a fan of one of the nuts in the ingredients list? Swap with one of your favorites. But, avoid peanuts when possible.
Beet Chips
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 medium beet about 5 oz
- Olive oil spray
- ¼ tsp Sea salt
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill chopped
- ½ tsp white wine vinegar
Instructions
- Slice beet into thin, even slices. A mandoline is a great way to get even slices. Transfer to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray liberally with olive oil spray, sprinkle with salt and toss.
- Set the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes, or until edges are browned and crispy.
- When beet chips are ready, transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with chopped dill and vinegar and toss to combine.
#treatsonthego, #goaheadandbenuts, #sweetstotravel, #enjoylife, #treatyourselfwell
If you’re interested in an anti-inflammatory lifestyle and more information like this, check out The Official Anti-Inflammatory Diet Masterclass. Or email us at info@VitalityConsultantsLLC.com for more details.