14 tips for healthy eating on the run

Are you really hungry?

We all eat sometimes just for the sake of it, and not because we’re hungry.

Airports, railway and service stations are the worst culprits, because eating gives us something to do while we wait or take a break — and also because of that strange mentality that we have to ‘load up’ for a journey. If you aren’t hungry, just have a drink instead — it still gives you a reason to sit down.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat

Pack a punch with lunch

If you are making a long journey, spare yourself the poor choice and outrageous prices of service station food by packing a lunch.

If you are travelling with the family, they’ll probably enjoy a picnic (even a car-based one) much more than queuing up and eating in a strip-lit, noisy cafeteria. Or …

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Swap slow food for fast food

If you haven’t got the time, or inclination, to pack a lunch for a long journey, you can still eat healthily en route.

Why not give yourself a treat by planning your lunch stop at a deli or restaurant not too far off your route. 

You are far more likely to get a good meal and it’s a nice way to get off the road and break up the journey, too.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat

Glovebox snacks

Keep a good stash of snacks. Car-friendly snacks are ones that won’t go off, melt or smell in their glovebox home!

Options include dried fruit, nuts, seeds, rice cakes and hard fruit, such as apples. Glovebox snacks are also a real saving grace if you get stuck in a jam too, but remember they are for meals or emergencies — don’t eat them just because they’re there!

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Eat soup

If you’re buying lunch on the move or to take back to your desk, soup is one of the healthiest choices.

Many sandwich and coffee shops now offer soups or the healthy Japanese soy-based soup, miso.

Team with chunky wholemeal bread and you have got yourself a great, healthy and satisfying meal.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat

Make a ‘must have veg’ rule

When you are buying a sandwich, soup, panini, pitta or baked potato, pledge to go for options that come with some form of salad or vegetable in them.

Instead of going for the chicken and stuffing sandwich, grab a chicken salad instead — even the smallest of veg servings all help toward your recommended five-a-day.

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• 10 rules for dining out
   
• Top 10 healthy snacks
   

Survive fast food outlets

If there really is no eating option other than a fast food outlet, choose carefully.

Pick the smallest size on offer (remember Supersize portions will Supersize your thighs!); avoid the fries (have a salad instead — with dressing on the side), and choose water or diet drinks instead of high-fat milkshakes or sugary soft drinks.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat

Eat mindfully

If you stuff down snacks that are stashed on your passenger seat while you are driving, you may still ‘fancy’ something when you stop for a break, because you weren’t mindful while you ate them.

Make time for each snack or meal you eat on the move — it doesn’t have to be long.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat

Stay hydrated

Always carry water with you when you are out and about to stay hydrated.

A bottle in your bag, or a six-pack in the back of the car is wise, so that you don’t get dehydrated and mistake thirst for hunger.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat

Get fruity

Snack on fruit. Don’t leave home without it and try to place ‘triggers’ throughout your day which remind you to eat some fruit.

For example, take a piece with you every time you go out on an errand or buy some for long train, plane, bus or car journeys.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat

Be supermarket smart

Supermarkets are a surprisingly good option for on-the-run eating, particularly now that some service stations even have them — though you don’t usually need to stray far to find one.

You can get pre-washed salad and vegetables, prepared or fresh fruit, deli counter items such as fresh ham, mozzarella and ready-cooked chicken breast as well as cereal bars and yoghurts. That makes for a lot more choice, better value and greater nutrition.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat

Stock up your desk drawer

To save you succumbing to the daily shop visit with colleagues, keep tasty, non-perishable snacks in your desk drawer.

For example, Ryvitas and peanut butter, rice cakes, muesli, pretzels or mixed nuts. So if you find yourself unable to get out on your lunch break you will always have a healthy back-up.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat

Viva tupperware!

Tupperware gives you the opportunity not only to make meals portable, but to use up leftovers, too.

A box full of cold roast vegetables, kedgeree or pasta salad is a far healthier and tastier option than a mayo-rich sandwich. Just make a bit extra when you cook your evening meal so you will always have something for the following day.

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• The 10 worst foods you can eat