Road trips — you either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. But one thing is for sure regardless: you need to stay awake when you’re behind the wheel.
Most people don’t realize that it’s not your coffee or caffeinated beverage that helps. Those drinks, especially if they’re sweetened with sugar, may perk you up for a bit. Then they wear off, leaving you with a crash that makes you tired.
Drowsy driving is one of the top causes of car accidents, as JT Legal Group points out here. It’s hard enough to watch out for every other driver when you’re paying attention, much less when you’re dozing off at the wheel.
The key to staying awake (and safe) during a long drive is planning ahead for road trip snacks. Skip the gas station chips and candy bars, and avoid carb-laden junk. Instead, stock up on these five energizing snacks before you take your next extended trip.
1. Trail Mix
Create your trail mix with your favorite mix of nuts, seeds, and berries. There’s no wrong recipe as long as you stick to those three categories.
Some ingredients are more energizing than others, though. If you can throw these superfoods in your trail mix, you’ll definitely feel more awake and alert:
- Almonds
- Macadamias
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Raisins
- Dried apricots
- Dried cherries
Any and all of these energy-packed foods in your trail mix will give you a tasty treat that is sure to help you keep your eyes open on your drive.
2. Gum
Chewing gives your brain something to do to keep it activated. The best thing to satisfy that motion is sugar-free peppermint gum.
The smell of peppermint triggers the hippocampus area, which controls vital driving tools like mental clarity. Eating mints, chewing mint-flavored gum, or smelling the scent wakes you up and “tells” you to pay attention to what you’re doing.
Chewing any gum is good for alertness, but grab peppermint for an extra-long drive.
3. Popcorn
If you’re looking for the chewing motion but want something to satisfy your stomach, too, popcorn works wonders. If you stick with plain, lightly salted, or white cheddar popcorn, you have a healthy snack that won’t make you nauseous, as too many buttery-flavored versions will.
In its natural state, popcorn is a whole grain. These grains are good for your heart health and digestive system, and they’re healthy carbs, which give you energy. The added ingredients bog down your system, so go as natural with your popcorn as you can.
Cook it yourself in an air popper, then lightly butter or salt for flavor before your road trip.
4. Bananas
A favorite fruit for almost everyone, bananas are easy to find and inexpensive. You can even grab a couple in most gas stations.
Bananas are full of potassium, the nutrient that gives your heart muscle cells the energy it needs to do their job and flush oxygenated blood through your body.
Yes, bananas are high in sugar, but they also have fibers that slow how quickly that sugar is digested, helping you avoid the dreaded sugar crash.
5. Oatmeal Energy Balls
Oatmeal itself is an incredible source of energy. However, you don’t want to have a bowl while you’re driving. Instead, use a simple recipe of rolled oats and a few other healthy ingredients to make yourself some oatmeal energy balls before you hit the road.
Since oatmeal takes a while to digest, it tricks your stomach into feeling fuller longer. You also get the added benefit of lowered cholesterol levels and decreased chances of heart disease.
If oatmeal is absolutely not your thing, grab a box of Cheerios, Kashi, or another healthy breakfast cereal. Split it into a few small baggies, and use them as your go-to wake-up snack.
Conclusion
Your driver’s license is a privilege, and it’s one that you should take seriously every time you get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Driving while you’re sleepy can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence.
With the right choice of nutrition, you can wake yourself up and be alert enough to get through that next long drive in your future.
