Health Update

For the 2014 trip I wanted to lose some weight and be able to run 12 minute miles for 5 miles. I am now ten pounds below my goal weight, I ran a 10.7mm 5K and a 11.07mm 5.5 miles - substantially beating all my goals. My hope is to keep the weight off by jogging around the neighborhood in Florida.

When we travel from upstate New York to Florida, we drive for 24 hours (counting frequent restaurant, gas, and bathroom stops) across 2 or 3 days. To stay awake and alert while driving I tend to snack on French fries, cheese popcorn, home made chocolate chip cookies, and drink energy drinks. And then I get home after a vacation and learn I put on ten pounds!

For this 2014 trip I am looking for something healthier to snack on. It has to be something that travels well, doesn't need refrigeration, and takes a long time to eat.

I am going to try regular popcorn instead of cheese popcorn. However, it is easy to get a kernel stuck in your teeth, which would be very distracting when driving.

I am also experimenting with a combination of Freeze dried blue berries, Apple clusters, dried Banana, dried mango, dried pineapple, Banana chips, and raisins (all unsweetened) put together into a trail mix. It tastes like cardboard and is expensive. But it is healthier than French fries and that natural fruit sugars will help keep me alert.

If anyone has healthy snack ideas for long trips - please let me know!