One Long Drive

on July 1, 2010

It was one long drive from Tennessee to Pennsylvania, but we made it!

Self-timer fail. 🙂

When your car includes a vegan (Husband) and a vegetarian (me), car trips are really hard if you don’t plan ahead and pack healthy meals to eat on the way. I take that back – it’s hard for ANYONE to eat healthy on the road when all you can see is McDonalds and Burger Kings!

Luckily, we came prepared (AKA – stole food from my mother’s kitchen).

I had Oikos Greek yogurt as a morning snack:

A PB and strawberry jelly sandwich with sweet potato fries for lunch:

1/2 of this fruit for an afternoon snack:

And this bar as another snack:

To make the drive more interesting, we listened to this Dane Cook performance, which was absolutely hysterical. I highly recommend!

We saw LOTS of barns. At least it was a picture-perfect summer day in PA! I wouldn’t want to brave this trip in the winter, that’s for sure!

We also felt compelled to stop at this creepy Antique Mall since we’re hunting for a house of furniture. The Hus said he got bad juju vibes from all the stuff, and I totally agree!

Although this chair was cool:

We’re finally in CIVILIZATION and off to find dinner somewhere. And then I’m going to drop by the bride’s house and say HELLO! I love weddings!

Have a great night!

{ 56 comments }

Evan Thomas July 1, 2010, 8:49 pm
I love packing my own snacks, because I’m usually a picky eater and can’t eat anything with wheat so if I don’t it’s a good chance I’ll go hungry.

Aren’t the Zevia shirts the comfiest things going?
- Caitlin July 2, 2010, 9:38 am
  Yes which is why I wear mine like three times a week!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter July 1, 2010, 8:55 pm
I always pack myself a PB&J for the road trip between my college and my hometown with an apple and a cookie 🙂
lauren @ Eater not a runner July 1, 2010, 8:56 pm
I’m a big snack packer too 🙂 Glad you made it safe!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is July 1, 2010, 8:57 pm
I get kinda freaked out by antiques. Not really a fan.
jenny July 1, 2010, 9:02 pm
good snacks! I always fail and end up getting some chocolate for the road 😉
Erin July 1, 2010, 9:05 pm
i saw yesterday that you are visiting Altoona,PA my hometown!! wish I could recommend a restaurant to you but I’m having trouble thinking of anywhere that would be vegan-friendly. good luck 🙂
Robyn @ Frugal 'n' Fit! July 1, 2010, 9:08 pm
That chair creeps me out. Sitting back-to-back with someone? Is this what some people consider fun? 🙂

It would be interesting to read about your husband’s food choices when you two are traveling and how you’re able to come up with ideas for you both.
Lisa (bakebikeblog) July 1, 2010, 9:20 pm
yay for safe travels!! Love all of your healthy road trippin’ snacks!!!!
Rebecca July 1, 2010, 9:20 pm
You guys are so smart to pack lunch! I completely agree with you when you say that no one can eat healthy on the road when there are only mcdonalds and burger kings in sight.
I’m actually writing a column for the newspaper I freelance for about vegetarian/vegan friendly restaurants in the area.
The antique mall looks fun but creepy at the same time.
Jenny July 1, 2010, 9:21 pm
Lol, I love that picture of the hus! Glad you had a healthy trip!
Kaz July 1, 2010, 9:22 pm
I always have to pack food for the road, too. I have so many food intolerances that if I don’t plan ahead, I might not get to eat. 😛
Jen July 1, 2010, 9:23 pm
I love that you listened to Dane Cook in the car! My fiance and I have a tradition of buying a new comedy cd before road trips – both on the way there and the way back. It just makes the drive better!
mm July 1, 2010, 9:26 pm
I definitely packed healthy snacks for my road trips and I feel SO much better when I get there. Fast food makes me feel gross and sluggish.

FYI – that chair is actually called a “courting chair”. They were popular in the Victorian era. 🙂
- Caitlin July 2, 2010, 9:39 am
  Neat!!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie July 1, 2010, 9:33 pm
haha juju vibes. That’s hilarious. I sometimes get that from from antique stores. There are tons of great ones out there though!
Samantha July 1, 2010, 9:42 pm
You’re in Altoona? My husband grew up right outside of Altoona, in a small little town called Portage! All of his family is there, so we make it up there a few times a year. I had to laugh at the picture of the antique mall, because there is one in Johnstown, PA, that is equally as creepy!
Steph July 1, 2010, 9:46 pm
wish i was home this wkend. i’m a loyal HTP reader from PA & would have loved to at least ask for a readers meet and greet 😉

enjoy your weekend ! – steph
Mandiee July 1, 2010, 9:53 pm
I’m driving from Michigan to New York this summer and am definitely worried about food for the trip. Like your husband, I am vegan. Could you ask him if he has any recommendations for me please? Thanks!

I hope you enjoy the wedding!
xox
- Caitlin July 2, 2010, 9:39 am
  He says he lives on subway subs with all veggies and no cheese on road trips 🙂
Melissa July 1, 2010, 10:13 pm
Glad you made it safely! I would also love to hear what the husband ate on your road trip (and will be eating while away from home!)

Have fun and take care!
Lindsay @ Summit Sandwiches July 1, 2010, 10:16 pm
Healthy roadtrip eats are so hard to come by! I have a three day road trip across the country coming up at the end of my July with my dad (I’m moving from the New England to Colorado), and I’m worried that I’m going to die a slow death by means of McDonalds and Burger King overload. To boot, my dad is nowhere near as health conscious as I am, so he actually LIKES stopping at those places. Ugh. I think I might have to pick up a cheap cooler, and pack supplies for several days of lunches for myself anyway.
Shallin July 1, 2010, 10:16 pm
Enjoy Pennsylvania! I know you went to Pitt, but central PA is great too. Go PSU!
Nally July 1, 2010, 10:24 pm
Caitlin!! when will you have time to watch Eclipse?! Hopefully soon 🙂
- Caitlin July 2, 2010, 9:41 am
  I KNOW I’M DYINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG have you seen it? is it good?
  - Nally July 2, 2010, 11:25 am
    ahhhhh it’s amazing! Bella’s wig bugged me the whole time. The chemistry between Jacob and Bella is pretty hot, but we all know it’s always been Edward! LOL hope you watch it soon, I always LOVE when u declare your love for Twilight makes you that much cooler :)… BTW I am a 26 y/o not a tween.
    - caitlin July 2, 2010, 2:40 pm
      All women can appreciate the hotness that is Twilight!
Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) July 1, 2010, 10:50 pm
Love the healthy snacks! I hate that there are no options on the road 🙁
Ellen@FIrednFabulous July 1, 2010, 10:52 pm
You’re always prepared! While I don’t think a McDonald’s snack wrap will kill anyone (more than one might), just seeing your snacks makes me more motivated to plan better next time I travel. There are some things like PB&J and grapes that ALWAYS taste good to me…I need to remember that! 🙂
Candice July 1, 2010, 11:02 pm
That chair actually kind of creeps me out for some reason. lol.

Your eats look great – way to plan ahead! It’s crazy how hard it is to get healthy food on the road – so sad:(

Keep having fun and enjoy the wedding festivities!
Camille July 1, 2010, 11:06 pm
All your foods looks so much better than anything you would find at a drive-through anyway! Yum!
Kellie July 1, 2010, 11:14 pm
It is hard to eat healthy on the road. Last road trip I had a small side salad from McDonald’s and an apple. Not the most filling food.
Heather July 1, 2010, 11:24 pm
love the self timer pic, too funny.
it is so hard to eat healthy on the road if you arent prepared, you are right!
Lauren July 1, 2010, 11:48 pm
Glad you had a safe trip! I looove those Kashi bars, and it reminded me that they make a pumpkin/flax spice bar that you would probably love! It’s my new favorite and yes your blog made me try pumpkin earlier this year haha Thanks for that, and many other inspirations 😉
Amber K @ sparkpeople July 1, 2010, 11:56 pm
The self-timer fail is classic. Now THAT I’d scrapbook =P
Susan - Nurse on the Run July 2, 2010, 12:07 am
Welcome to my state! It was a miserable winter (and that’s coming from a Chicago girl at heart, so you know it was bad), but this week has been beautiful!
Laura (Starloz) July 2, 2010, 1:27 am
I wish I had the ability to be as organized as you two, I usually bring fruit & then resort to subway!
Marina July 2, 2010, 2:54 am
I always enjoy packing foods for the road 🙂 Me and my family usually had some sandwiches, maybe some fruit, and a lot of sweets 🙂 Oh childhood. Next time, I’ll pack a bunch of stuff, but healthier of course 🙂
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs July 2, 2010, 3:11 am
Ooh is the husband definetly vegan now, not just on a no-dairy kick? Awesome 🙂
- Caitlin July 2, 2010, 9:40 am
  Well, he still eats eggs…. I just call him a vegan for simplicity’s sake. I think he’s going to phase out eggs too.
Julia @ Brit Bride July 2, 2010, 4:35 am
You two are so cute!

Julia
http://www.britbride.com
Wei-Wei July 2, 2010, 5:27 am
Hahaha bad juju vibes! I’ve never been to a vintage/secondhand store but I can imagine how it must be creepy… I’d turn around and start seeing ghosts in every piece of furniture. Or clothing.

Shiver. That IS creepy. I’m glad you made it safely! 🙂

Wei-Wei
alexe @ soyaetchocolat July 2, 2010, 6:46 am
I’m glad you made it safely to Pennsylvania! I should learn more about US geography because I have absolutely no idea where that state is…

I always pack my lunch wherever I go, it’s so much easier than to try to find a vegan/vegetarian option! I went to Italy for a month in May and carried my lunch with me everyday (it was way cheaper too). They love their proscuitto and mozzarella so it was really hard to find a no-meat no-cheese option. I had my jar of PB ready! 🙂 I still enjoyed the italian cuisine for dinner though. Great bruschettas! Especially the ones with white beans!
Katherine July 2, 2010, 7:46 am
long drives make me nauseous! you’re good to be able to eat in the car. save that yogurt lid (do you enter the codes on the tops? you can earn points on their website)
Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) July 2, 2010, 7:56 am
Your lunch looks delish!

I like that double chair, lol. I hate driving through the state of PA, though!! Ugh, it’s sooo long and borrrrrrrrrring.

Jenn
Wendy July 2, 2010, 8:02 am
Yup. We just got back from a 6-day trip (me, husband, 2 kids), and we failed to pack enough to make lunches. We were REALLY sick of Subway by the time we got home, and felt off kilter due to lack of real vegetables. Broccoli for supper last night tasted SO good!
Janelle July 2, 2010, 8:04 am
Glad I’m not the only one who shops based on the vibes given off by store/items in it. You wouldn’t want a chair with bad chi in your house! 😉
Teacherwoman July 2, 2010, 8:08 am
Yes, traveling and eating well can be quiet challenging if you don’t prepare! Have a great 4th of july weekend!
Carolyn @ lovinlosing July 2, 2010, 8:14 am
Good for you for bringing healthy snacks. In the past I’ve had the tendency to use road trips as a “vacation” from healthy eating. No more!
Erin July 2, 2010, 8:19 am
Packing snacks is definitely key to being healthy AND saving money. Love looking around antiques stores–you can sometimes find great deals and unique pieces.
Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly July 2, 2010, 8:27 am
That IS a cool chair!!! I actually really like it! 🙂 Have fun at the wedding!
Marissa July 2, 2010, 8:57 am
I’ve never been to Pennsylvania, but its looks gorgeous! Very similar to Virigina, it seems. Beautiful… I love barns and old country roads on a summer day!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) July 2, 2010, 8:58 am
Ahhh…I love road trips! It’s always tricky finding good, healthy snacks to munch on, but it looks like you conjured up some goodies for the both of you. 😀
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman July 2, 2010, 9:40 am
The drive up 95 is possibly the worst stretch of America for food. Why doesn’t anyone build a healthy fast food shop right off the highway? I subsist on Subway when I forget or don’t have time to pack for a road trip.
Annie July 2, 2010, 10:02 am
My boyfriend started saying “juju” sometime last year. He said he learned it from his uncle. I had never heard it before and started laughing when I read it about the Antique Mall!

Aw, this post makes me miss Pennsylvania!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin July 2, 2010, 11:13 am
Packing your own car snacks is a must! It’s impossible to find healthy food choices at those highway rest stops.

Good call on the Dane Cook! 😀 That would be so much more entertaining than the radio.

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