10 Slimming Snacks for Holiday Travel

Traveling can be the perfect storm for bad eating, especially during the bustling holiday season. You're under stress, surrounded by tempting, fattening fare and often tired and cranky from fighting crowds. But things are looking up — airports, gas stations, and rest stop convenience stores have all improved their healthy offerings in recent years, so you don't have to look hard to find satisfying low-cal snacks that leave you feeling energized and slim. Whether you're hitting the road via car, train, plane or sleigh…check out a few of my favorite on-the-go eats.

Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars

I love the Nature Valley twin packs because you get two bars for fewer calories than some single granola and nutrition bars. More volume means it takes longer to eat, making it a more satisfying snack. My favorite flavor is the classic Oats 'N Honey, but my kids are big fans of the Peanut Butter.

Pistachios

Pistachio nuts are the skinniest nut in town — you can enjoy 30 for just 100 calories. Plus, the process of cracking the shells automatically paces your eating, which could help you eat less overall. A study published in the journal Appetite found that people who consumed in-shell pistachios ate 41% fewer calories compared to those who consumed already shelled pistachios.

Starbucks Skim Latte

If you're the designated driver — or entertaining passenger — and looking for something to keep you awake for a long drive, a skim latte is the perfect choice. You'll get a boost from the caffeine, and the skim milk fills your tank with energizing protein. A grande nonfat latte is only 130 calories (tack on 20 cals for a single squirt of syrup or packet of sugar).

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt has twice as much protein as the traditional kind, making it a smart, filling snack to hold you over on a long, wearisome day of travel. Many airport cafes and convenience stores now stock individual cups in their refrigerated cases. I'm a big fan of the nonfat plain and flavored varieties from Fage and Chobani.

Food Should Taste Good Chips

These good-for-you tortilla chips are my go-to plane snack when I'm in the mood for something crunchy, and the snack-size pouches prevent you from catching the "just one more handful" bug mid-trip. The thick, hearty Sweet Potato chips are lower in sodium than most savory snacks, and the sassy orange spud adds a shot of beta carotene (a nice bonus in a chip). I also love the Multigrain variety, which is made with an interesting mix of healthful ingredients, including quinoa, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds.

McDonald's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal

For an easy pre-flight breakfast or snack on-the-run, grab a cup of McDonald's oatmeal. Order it without the brown sugar and cream to slash extra fat and sugar and bring the calories down to 250. The whole-grain oats and fruit combo contribute 6 grams of fill-you-up fiber.

Egg Sandwich

If you're starting your journey at daybreak, you may be able to pick up an egg sandwich at a café or mini-mart. This protein-packed meal will stay with you longer than a carby muffin or bagel — plus, its lower in calories too. Order your sandwich on unbuttered whole-grain toast or an English muffin (versus a roll or bagel) to minimize the bread calories, opt for egg whites if available, and skip the fatty sausage and bacon (a slice of cheese and a squirt of ketchup is A-OK). At Dunkin Donuts, try the Egg White Veggie Flatbread — it will fill you up for just 280 calories.

Red Mango Frozen Yogurt

If your sweet tooth flares up while you're wandering the airport, bypass the junky candy bars and jumbo cookies at the newsstand and find the frozen yogurt instead. If you order smart, you can satisfy your craving without overloading on sugar. A small cup of Red Mango's original froyo with fresh fruit toppings is under 150 calories.

Banana

This portable, mess-free fruit is available just about everywhere — airport cafes, gas stations, and coffee shop counters included. At only 105 calories, a medium sized banana provides a hearty dose of potassium, which helps banish bloat and lower your blood pressure. Pop one in your carry-on bag, or toss the entire bunch in the car if you're taking a family road trip this holiday season.

KIND Bar

Bars are the ultimate convenience snack for travelers, but many are loaded with sugar, unhealthy fat, junky additives and preservatives. KIND bars stand out from the pack because they're made with whole food ingredients you recognize like nuts, dried fruit, and seeds, and they're low in added sugar. The nuts provide protein and healthy fats to curb appetite and stabilize blood sugars, which helps keep your mood level (important as you battle crowds and traffic!).

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