MY GO-TO ON-THE-GO HEALTHY SNACK + MEAL IDEAS

What do you eat that’s healthy when you are on the go? Today, I am sharing my go-to healthy snack and meal ideas for when I’m in the car, running errands or out and about. I am all about balance and finding healthy options wherever I am. BUT, I also like to pack my own food items when I know I’ll need something to munch on. Here’s what I opt for…

MEAL IDEAS

If I know I am going to be gone for a long time, I pack a full meal as opposed to a bunch of snacks. Snacks are often carb-heavy and protein-poor. Protein is the macronutrient most responsible for satiety aka the state of feeling full. Have you ever snacked all day yet still feel hungry? This could be why! When I need substance., I opt for a full meal.
 
WRAPS/SANDWICHES
My husband and I take our little guy, Leo out for picnic lunches quite often. We pack sandwiches and go to the park. I think of sandwiches as a “kid thing” but I wish I would have thought of doing this for myself sooner. Sandwiches are quick to put together and they pack well, so now I started taking them with me when I know I’ll be gone for awhile and may want a bite to eat!
MY GO TO SANDWICH: 2 slices of Dave’s Killer bread + 3 oz off the bone, all natural ham + slice swiss cheese + lettuce (protein, fat, carbohydrate, veggie – all the meal plan macro groups for a complete meal)
 
SALADS
Like sandwiches, I think I opt for packing a salad because it’s pretty quick to throw together and it stores well in a food container. Salads are far from boring when you get creative with all you can put on top. Plus, I now buy a lot of salad kits from my grocery store which come with awesome toppings included.
MY GO TO SALAD: bed of greens, pecans, blueberries, strawberries and 1 can of solid, white albacore tuna and raspberry balsamic vinaigrette (packed on the side). SO delicious and again, a complete meal.
 

SNACK IDEAS

The difference between a meal idea and a snack idea is that a meal hits all my macro groups that I aim for with each meal: protein, fats and carbs… plus veggies for added health benefits. Snacks, on the other hand, may be all carbs or all fats, so I would include other items with them to make a complete meal.
 
LARABARS
These are healthy, gluten-free bars made with very minimal, natural ingredients. There are several different flavors but my favorites are lemon and chocolate chip cookie dough. These are ones to stock up on and even to keep in your car/purse.
 
RX BARS
Another type of bar that is on-the-go friendly and tastes great. These pack a good amount of protein too.
 
NUTS
I have a thing for cashews, pistachios, marcona almonds and sunflower seeds. I get all my nuts at Trader Joes – they have the best prices! I organize them in my pantry (have you seen my pantry organization, here) so it’s very easy to put some into a container/baggie for a grab and go option.
 
MUFFINS
Muffins are always a delicious idea in general. I try to make healthy, homemade muffins regularly because they’re a great meal addition. Plus, they pack well.
MY GO-TO MUFFIN RECIPE: Chocolate Protein Muffins
 
APPLES/BANANAS
Fruit, specifically appples and bananas work really well on-the-go. I’ll even pack a PB packet ( these are my favorite!) so that I can have apple or banana and PB… healthy fats + carbs! Plus, the combination slows the digestion process making it even healthier.
 
HUMMUS + VEGGIES/PRETZLES
Another food combo I love. I buy the Sabra hummus ( these ) and I eat them with either pretzels or veggies. My favorite pretzels are actually the Glutino brand ones ( these ones ). My husband doesn’t eat gluten free but he asks me to buy these because they taste even better than an original pretzels! I also love bell peppers with hummus so sometimes I’ll pack that instead.
 

DRINK IDEAS

COLLAGEN:

You know I am a huge fan overall of Vital Proteins collagen (more on why here). Their quality is top notch and they’re the only brand I find that has tasty collagen drinks.  I actually prefer buying collagen in the stick packs as opposed to the canisters because I keep them in my purse and car to have when I am out and about. My favorite is this product – you get 12 grams of collagen for all the digestive, join and skin benefits AND 11 grams of protein so it’s actually a good option to tie you over until your next meal. 

 
PROTEIN SHAKES
Protein powder + water is a great option for a protein source when you’re out and about. If you want my full post on how I select a protein supplement, read it here!
 
HOMEMADE ELECTROLYTE WATER (recipe here)
When I leave the house, I always take water with me. When I am really on my game, I make my homemade electrolyte water… greater hydration, less headaches and overall just feeling better is why I stick with it!
 

SMOOTHIES:

Smoothies are a great way to consume a complete meal while on the go. My preference is to swing by a Smoothie King. They have a cleaner blending initiative now… no added sugar, no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial colors or flavoring. They’re also blending whole, organic fruits and veggies into many of the smoothies. This month they are doing organic pumpkin! YES! I stopped by just the other day and there were 4 pumpkin flavors… I went with the Slim-N-Trim pumpkin because the macros were exactly what I was looking for: 15 grams protein, 2.5 grams fat, 42 grams carbohydrates – 240 calories. And it was delicious! If you’re a pumpkin spice girl, you’ll love these!

 
I hope this helps give you some inspiration and ideas for your on-the-go snack and meal ideas. Happy eating :):) XO