If you are like me, planning a day trip to a fun spot tops the list for an ideal weekend activity. I love setting aside an entire day to spend exploring a new hiking area or relaxing on the beach from morning until sunset. However, the problem I encounter on day trips like these is having to leave my destination to search for a place for lunch, a meal that will probably end up being overpriced and mediocre.

What is my solution? Pack a healthy lunch to bring with me on the trip. I can’t emphasize enough the numerous benefits of taking along a delicious lunch whenever you go on a day trip, but I’ve explained a few below.

Save Money

The most obvious advantage that comes with packing a healthy lunch to take with you on a day trip is savings money. Since you already have a delicious lunch ready and waiting as soon as your stomach begins to rumble, you won’t end up wasting money on a disappointing meal at a run of the mill restaurant in town. You can also avoid wasting precious gas trying to get there.

Save Time

Take a second and imagine this: You have just arrived at a secluded picturesque beach after driving two hours to reach the much-anticipated final destination. You unload the car and take your daypack, beach umbrella, towel, and duffle bag loaded with snorkeling equipment and other adventure gear to the perfect spot where you intend to spend the rest of the day. It’s only been an hour or so and that’s when they first arrive – hunger pangs. You can’t believe it but you look at your watch and it’s actually lunchtime. The last thing you want to do is leave!
Packing up all of your gear, loading the car, and trying to find a nearby restaurant to get something to eat could take more than an hour in itself and would mean losing precious time that could have been spent relaxing on the warm sand listening to the waves crashing a few feet away. If you had taken my advice, however, as soon as those hunger pangs hit, you would have been prepared with a scrumptious lunch ready and waiting for you. Instead of wasting an hour getting in your car and trying to find a lunch spot, all you have to do is unzip your daypack (although if its is a hot day I do recommend a cooler) and there is your lunch.

Be Healthy

When forced to find a source of sustenance while on a daytrip, the most common result is that you will end up eating greasy, fatty fast food. If you plan on hiking for the rest of the day, the last thing you want is to feel weighed down by a Big Mac. To avoid falling into this trap, all you have to do is plan ahead and pack a healthy lunch to take with you. I have found that the best type of lunch for a day trip includes a deli sandwich on whole grain bread (my favorite is turkey!), a crunchy green apple, almonds, and an oatmeal cookie for dessert. As long as it is well balanced, with a mixture of protein, fruit, and whole grains, you simply can’t go wrong!

Labels: day trip, eat healthy, healthy lunch, packing, save money