Last weekend my little family joined my parents, my sister and her family, and 6 of my other siblings to go on our traditional vacation to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We used to go every Labor Day weekend when I was a kid, but the tradition was put on hold for a few years when we moved to California; and then due to finances we didn't pick it back up when we came back to Utah. However this year we decided it was about time we went back- and it was a great trip! The scenery was gorgeous, and it was so great to spend some much needed time with family and away from the business of life! It was also fun to go on a road trip with our little ones. We have a 2 ½ year old boy and a 1 year old girl- and they did really well, especially considering their ages! However, we did learn some things regarding food on this trip….

*I really struggle when my blood sugars get too low;). I thought I was the only one, but I have come to find that my husband and kids are very much the same way:). If we haven't eaten in awhile, you'd better watch out;).

*Traveling can be so fun and a great way to spend time with family, but sometimes food goes on the back burner because of all the other things going on. It may seem silly to stop for food, but keeping your body fueled up is important for your health, and can make the difference between a good and bad experience. Make eating a priority!

*Do not let your husband or brother eat 12 biscuits from a refrigerated package- it does not do good things to the digestive system.

* Pack a lot of snacks- but not just junky ones. As I mentioned, sometimes food stops get put on the back burner, and in these circumstances you'll want to have more than just a bag of chips on hand. Here is a list of some good snacks to have on hand when you're on the go:

-peanut butter (they have little individual servings you can buy that are perfect for dipping crackers or celery into!)

-veggies that make good finger foods, such as celery, carrot sticks, cucumber slices, or sliced peppers

-kale chips

-apples (you could pre-slice them if you wanted, but just make sure to soak them in some lemon juice first!)

-grapes

-fruit leather

-squeezable fruit packets

-craisins, raisins, or other dried fruit

- whole wheat crackers

-almonds, cashews, or other nuts

-cheese sticks

*Bring lots of water- no matter where you are vacationing. You'll either end up paying a lot more for a bottle of water or you may not even have access to water at all. And water is definitely something that is hard to go without!

*It's okay to bring a few treats in addition to all the healthy stuff;)

*Twizzler's bites are a great snack for the car:)

*Bring Ziploc bags, foil, Saran wrap, plates, napkins, and utensils. Even if you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, there's no guarantee that you will have these things on hand. If nothing else, utensils and Ziploc bags:)

*There is nowhere to eat in the state of Wyoming (haha ok that might be an exaggeration, but there are certain stretches of the highway where there is literally nothing!)

*Blueberry French Toast really does need to be covered when you bake it.

*Do not give little kids orange juice when they are eating on carpet- it's a law of nature, they WILL spill it.

* Do NOT let your loved ones eat a lot of sugar and junk (or 12 biscuits) and then eat at a spicy Mexican restaurant.

*When planning on feeding a lot of people, it's helpful to bring a lot of side stuff in addition to the main entrée to help everything go farther.

*When in doubt, always choose more bacon.

It's funny how much of our bonding happens when food is around! Have you ever had any learning experiences or funny memories involving food when on vacation? I would love to hear about it!