It is best to not leave the house on an empty stomach – that’s the first and foremost saying that we have all heard at some point in our lives.
That actually holds true according to nutrition experts who underline that when on a long road journey, it is best to have something nutritious packed to keep you energised throughout the journey. Sharing a glimpse into her packed tiffin for a four-hour-long journey, nutritionist Mohita Mascarenhas took to Instagram to share a reel.
‘It is best to not leave the house on an empty stomach. So, I had eggs and toast before leaving,’ shared Mascarenhas. For the road, she packed a mix of nuts, dried figs, deseeded pomegranate, orange, apple, and water.
‘Sometimes, I pick up coffee on the way but just sticking to fruits today,’ Mascarenhas added.
Taking a cue, we bring to you why is it important to pack your tiffin when on a road journey. Although eating healthy on the road may seem difficult, planning ahead and bringing nutritious snacks can keep your body fueled and your hunger at bay, experts urge.
Why have fruits?
A lot of us struggle with snacking, especially on road trips where we often reach out for unhealthy and deep-fried snacks. ‘Fruits can be a very easy replacement for this. For people who are trying to shed some weight – fruit makes for a great mid-meal snack,’ Samantha Bahl, co- founder, Nirvi For Women, Mumbai shared.
Bahl also described fruits as a powerhouse of vitamins and antioxidants such that it is a great way to get your daily dose of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin K (depending on which fruit you choose to have). ‘Fruits are also rich in antioxidants that fight the free radical damage, slow down ageing and improve immunity,’ Bahl said.
Fruits are rich in fibre that help with your bowel movements and give you a feeling of fullness. ‘The presence of fibre in fruit also helps slow down the absorption of the fructose (sugar) in the body thus preventing a spike in blood sugar levels,’ said Bahl, adding that it will help increase hydration.
Fruits are extremely good for you (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
Dr Nirupama Rao, nutritionist, Rejua Energy Centre, Mumbai also suggested some healthy swaps for snacks and meals. ‘Apart from nuts or seeds instead of candy or sugary snacks, try air-popped popcorn or vegetable chips instead of potato chips,’ she said.
Dr Rao also listed the following:
*Opt for whole-grain bread instead of white bread.
*Replace sugary cereal with oatmeal topped with fresh fruit.
*Use avocado or hummus as a spread instead of mayonnaise or butter.
*Grill or bake your proteins instead of frying them.
One can also have roasted chickpeas that are highly nutritious, and provide protein, fibre, magnesium, folate, and zinc. ‘While taking a can of chickpeas on the road is doable but a little more cumbersome, dried chickpeas are portable and easy to eat while driving or navigating,’ said clinical dietitian Garima Goyal.
She also recommended roasted foxnuts which are gluten-free and calcium-rich. ‘You can spice them as per your own taste with some chilli flakes and oregano, mint powder etc,’ Goyal suggested.
