crypticlineage

I have a bit of an odd question. Its one of those times when you have to use a car. I am renting a car to go see a friend (650 miles round trip) and altogether on the travel I think there will be two meals and two snacks involved. I do not wish to eat out at fast food joints, so I have decided to take food with me. But I dont know what to take. Presumably, I could make some PBJs on the way there, but I also want something that will last a few days so I could use it on my way back. Moreover I want something that will minimize the amount of weight gain I will have due to total inactivity while driving.

I am open to ideas. Please throw some at me.

supcom

How much weight do you think you will gain in two days?

Why don't you make a sandwich and put it, and some fruit in a cooler for the trip out. I guess you do the same for the return and put the food in your friend's fridge while you're there. Or simply stop at a grocery store and buy some fruit and a ready made sandwich (most grocers sell them) for the return.

Then again, after driving a full day to visit, I would hope that your friend would give you a sandwich and snacks for the return.

bigskymacadam

Phi Plus? It looks weird, but tastes good and nutritious. I don't buy this myself, but whenever I'm hanging with my brother-in-law I bum some off him. It got us through an afternoon in Disney World.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007RRNO2/

Mothra

You can always stop off at grocery stores along the way and grab fresh fruit. No need to carry anything around for days on end..

nickf829

Theres a ton of things you can do, I work from my car, sometimes spending as much as many as 6 hours a day in it. I keep a box of salt/fatfree saltines(theoretically, air) in the car. I take a small cooler in which i put a 72 ounce bottle available at your xxxxmart for 1.92 filled with water, my 2 bike waterbottles, both of water, a plastic container that ive emptied a can of tuna and a can of chicken in(the size of the can dependant on the length of trip), and mix together(drain and rinse both) and a bottle of spicy mustard to put on the cracker. amazingly enough, 6 crackers, with a decent scoop of chicken/tuna mix and a dab of guldens spicy mustard and it makes a really good, filling snack on the road thats not horrible for you. in addition, i'll stuff a bag of baby carrots, 2 plums and 2 apples into the small gaps between the water, icepak and tupperware and a banana fits perfectly on top of it all, and the cooler lid still closes. sometimes a dietsoda sneaks in for a little sugar rush. granted when you leave, your 100% filled cooler will weigh 25lbs, but its cheap, and keeps you filled on something better then a bigmac with super duper sized fry and coke. this should last you both the trip there and back.
or
when i roadtripped through canada, i brought a regular cooler, a jar of REAL fruit jelly, a jar of whatever your choice of peanut butter, a spreading utensil and a loaf of whole wheat bread. this makes as many sandwhiches as you could want. buy a bag of apples or assortment of fruits, lay it inside the cooler, and youve got more then enough fruit. a bag of jerky or UNSALTED/UNROASTED plain almonds or whatever nut you prefer for those 100 mile straight flat roads in the middle of the night, to at least keep you company. and for hydration, you can't go wrong with .99 cent gallon jugs of water, buy 2 just in case and be prepared to make full use of every rest area you can along the way, but its better then soda

good luck, and yeah in 2 days of inactivity in a car, i dont think your going to gain your 5lbs back, when you stop at the restarea's, stretch and maybe walk/run a lap or two around the place, at least you'll feel like your doing something healthy

kuan

When travelling for a big event, I always bring my own food. Granola, Muesli, soy milk or milk, dried and fresh fruit, energy bars, salad greens, and chocolate. I precook stuff and find a microwave. Stir fry chcken and veggies with little oil, plain white rice. Pasta and plain tomato sauce. Put the rice or pasta in freezer bags and reheat in microwave. Put the sauce or stir fry in a disposable ziploc or tupperware and nuke it separately. Rinse and wash your salad greens and put them in a freezer bag as well, don't have to pat it totally dry. Bring a bottle of your favorite dressing. I also like pho. Works well if noodles and broth are reheated separately in a microwave. Don't forget paper plates, bowls, utensils, napkins.

Keeps you from catching someone else's cold the day of the big race.

YamacrawJ

+ 1 on stopping at grocery stores: Fruit, deli stuff. I can buy two hard-boiled eggs from the deli, one wheaty, seedy bun, and with a couple of packets of mayonnaise and salt and pepper, pretend I have an egg salad sandwich. That plus a bottle of skim milk makes a nice lunch. Add a banana and/or an apple if that turns your crank. Happy Travels!

LilSprocket

I like all the road food thoughts so far...

when I 'car camp' I like to roate my stuff, so I eat the most perishable stuff first... like saving the pb&j's for later, havin' fresh fruit, yogurt, veggies in pitas etc, at the beginning of a journey... mini cereal boxes and those little boxed milks are handy and come in soy if that is a preference...

Enjoy visiting with your friend

crypticlineage

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. They have been helpful. I am leaving this afternoon. It kind of makes me sad that I wont be able to ride my bike for the whole weekend now, but on the brighter side, I am getting to meet my friend after almost 2 years, and also the opportunity to add two new states to my list.

grahny

Fresh fruit, trail mix and MetRX bars... they taste like saw dust, but can be used for meal replacement for a short amount of time. I'd say just eat tons of apples since they can be filling, but with all that fiber you'd have an even bigger problem on your hands haha