Food for Travel

When driving a long distance, food for travel is of great concern. This is especially true if driving with small children. Nothing can be worse than being away from home with sick children; I have experienced that. It is always best to eat lightly. Fruits and vegetables are good choices to eat on the road. A sub roll filled with a variety of vegetables and maybe a piece of cheese or turkey is my choice. Pack a few grapes and apples for snacks.


Knowing the best food for travel when visiting high altitude areas is very important. The first time I flew to Ecuador I became very sick from the altitude. Flying into the second highest airport in the world was not a pleasurable event. This never even entered my mind so now I try to alert everyone I know to that possibility when they fly. I became terribly sick with severe headaches, nausea and vomiting.  Of course, flying from below sea level in Florida to this high altitude had a lot to do with it.

I found out from this trip that what you eat has a great deal to do with this problem.  On this particular trip, the airline served us a meal of heavy protein; not good food for travel. A better choice would have been one mostly made up of carbohydrates; at least 70% of the calories. I was told an even better choice is to eat a dark bar of chocolate instead of the meal. This is better on your stomach; locals make a dark chocolate drink for the altitude. Also, I am told to drink and keep your body well hydrated.


If you are going to be in an area of high altitude for a period of time, you might want to do some of your own cooking. You will find that food for travel in this respect is also very important. Food reacts so different at high altitudes than at sea level. Because atmospheric pressure decreases as the elevation increases, adjustments are necessary in some recipes if they are used at high altitudes. The leavening power of baking powder and the boiling point of liquids are particularly affected. Whipping egg whites and whipped cream can be challenging.

You must know foods for travel if you plan to send a care package or just some baked cookies to someone close to you. What a wonderful treat to receive some goodies from home. One year for Thanksgiving when my son was in Iraq, I sent a box filled with dinner supplies. I had in it canned turkey, gravy, potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, bread and a box of stuffing. There on the desert, they were able to celebrate Thanksgiving. I have shipped pound cakes, rolls, breads and of course many cookies with a great success. Cookies are such a thoughtful, personal gift to send to friends, and some ship so well. Bar cookies, drop cookies and fruit cookies travel much better than the fragile rolled ones.

My daughter, Kelly makes a simple combination for a snack when she travels. She combines and mixes 1 cup pecans, 1 cup walnuts, 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips and 2 cups of dried fruit like raisins, apricots, apples or mixed fruit. After putting mixture in a zip lock bag, she always carries some in her purse; just in case.

SPICED NUTS RECIPE easy travel food to make

This is also a good food for travel having the nuts as a light source of protein and a little sweetness for energy; the spices add a lot of flavor.

  • ½ Cup sugar
  • ½ Teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ Teaspoon cloves
  • ¼ Teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • ½ Cup walnuts
  • ½ Cup pecans

Butter baking sheet; combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and water in a saucepan.
Cook mixture stirring constantly until thermometer reaches 236F degrees or soft ball stage.
Stir the nuts into the syrup and remove from heat; stir until mixture is no longer glossy.
Pour onto butter baking sheet and spread thinly; when cool break into pieces.

PARTY MIX RECIPE

This is a great snack food for travel if you have children. I have had experiences when my children were young that we couldn’t even find places to get something to eat. Restaurants were extremely busy during the holidays that we couldn’t even get in to eat. This mix was a life saver!

  • ¾ Cup butter
  • 1 Clove garlic
  • 2 Teaspoons salt
  • 2 Teaspoons onion salt
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 ½ Cups tiny shredded wheat squares
  • 4 Cups crisp donut shaped cereal
  • 4 Cups tiny waffle rice cereal
  • 4 Cups pretzels
  • 2 Cups shoestring potatoes
  • 1 Pound salted mixed nuts

Melt butter in saucepan; stir in Worcestershire sauce.
Mince garlic and add the salts; remove from heat and let stand.
Combine remaining ingredients in a large roasting pan.
Pour butter sauce over mixture; gently mix.
Bake in preheated oven at 225F degrees for 1 ½ to 2 hours; stir about every 20 minutes.
Spread out on heavy brown paper to cool; store in airtight container.

HOT CHOCOLATE MIX RECIPE

If you need a gift idea to send to people like college students, this hot chocolate mix recipe makes a wonderful food for travel. Mix and pack in an airtight sturdy plastic container, pack it to mail and send. It will be greatly appreciated.

  • 3  1/3 Cups instant non fat dry milk powder
  • ¾ Cup Hershey’s cocoa powder
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • ½ Teaspoon salt

OPTIONS:

  • Add ½ cup malted milk powder
  • Several sticks crushed peppermint

Combine and blend ingredients thoroughly; store in airtight container.
NOTE: If not shipping it can be stored in clean and dry glass jar with lid; store on kitchen shelf.
NOTE: Do not forget to include preparation instructions for this gift.
To Make: Place 3 tablespoons mix in a cup and add boiling water; if you like it stronger simply add more mix.

EASY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE RECIPE

This easy peanut butter cookie recipe makes a great food for travel whether you are shipping to far off places or for packing for a family trip in the car.

  • 1 Package (16 ounces) townhouse crackers
  • 1 Jar (12 ounces) peanut butter
  • 1 Package (16 ounces) white chocolate block
  • 1 Package (16 ounces) milk chocolate block

Spread peanut butter generously on ½ of the crackers; top each with another cracker.
Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler; dip ½ of cracker “sandwich in white chocolate and place on wax paper to firm up.
When white is firm, melt milk chocolate in double boiler; dip opposite   side of “sandwich” in milk chocolate and set to firm.

PUMPKIN COOKIE RECIPE

Pumpkin Cookie Recipe for Travel FoodPumpkin Cookie Recipe

Anyone would love to receive this food for travel as a gift; but they are so good they may not get out of your house. What a combination; white chocolate chunks, butterscotch chips, pumpkin, oatmeal and walnuts. These are some of my favorite ingredients.

  • 2 Cups flour
  • 1 Cup butterscotch chips
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ Cup softened butter
  • 2/3 Cup sugar
  • 2/3 Cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 Large egg
  • ½ Cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 Cup quick cooking oats
  • 6 Ounces premium white chocolate baking bar chopped
  • 2/3 Cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Combine flour and butterscotch chips in food processor; process few seconds until chips are fine.
Combine flour mixture with baking soda; stir well and set aside.
Beat butter until creamy; gradually add sugars beating well.
Add egg and pumpkin and beat well; stir in oats, white chocolate and walnuts.
Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets; bake for 12 minutes or until golden.
Remove from tray and cool completely on wire rack.