Road trips are fun rides. However, when traveling, healthier food becomes less available the further one drives away from their city limits. Lucrative profits demonstrate how fast food services are a make believe needed commodity, for many people don’t mind eating food derivatives. Recently, the fast food industry has expanded their menus to include healthier food. The quality of ingredients and questions about their source continues my mistrust. With that reason, creating a road trip picnic is fun. It’s a lusciously inexpensive way to eat well. Quite possibly, its more relaxing to pull over at a park or a picnic area than to stand in a hectic line among frenzy, nerve-wracking patrons who are wary of sharing smaller spaces on wheels. In addition to creating a unique menu, food options are less greasy, healthier and easier to digest. It’s makes a huge difference between driving under the influence of a heavier versus a lighter fare.

Road Trip Picnic Menu

Sandwich Number 1
Wheat bread, romaine lettuce, lemon-hummus, deli honey/maple turkey, thinly sliced onions, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper

Sandwich Number 2
Wheat bread, romaine lettuce, goat cheese, deli honey/maple turkey, thinly sliced onions, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper

Sandwich Number 3: Basil Pesto Chicken Salad with Ciabatta Bread
Basil Pesto, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, precooked chicken breast, diced onions, diced celery, salt and pepper. Mix all in a bowl. Place in a sealed, leak proof container. Serve with Ciabatta Bread.

Fruit
Red apple
Orange slices + rose water
Asian pear
Seedless red grapes (hint: freeze grapes to work as ice cubes to help maintain freshness of food)

Sweet Snack
Mix pecans, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate chips together. Place in a sealed container until ready to serve.

Savory Snacks
Low-Sodium, Spelt Pretzels + Lemon Hummus
Goat Cheese + Ciabatta Bread

Drinks
Lemon Water
Jasmine Green Tea (unsweetened)
Plain Water (frozen to help keep food fresh)
Grape Juice Soda
Coffee

Update

{Thurs., 03/18/2010} Good. Food. Stories. posted a story about their favorite road trip snack, Gardner’s Peanut Butter Meltaways. I have the same affinity for peanut butter sweets. Stops to the corner store for sneak bites of Reese’s peanut butter cups are more frequent than I care to admit.