Avoiding an accident requires both hands on the wheel and no distractions.
"Unwrapping food or holding a cup, as well as actually eating or drinking, needs to be reserved for times when it's safe, such as before you start driving or if you're stopped in a traffic jam," says Sunbelt Snacks Registered Dietitian Joanne V. Lichten, Ph.D., R.D., author of "Dr. Jo's How To Stay Healthy & Fit on the Road." "And what you eat while on the road also has a direct impact on your health."
Lichten recommends drinks and foods that don't distract you and are good for you too:
• Use long straws to drink bottled water, single-serve low-fat milk, fruit or yogurt smoothies, or 100 percent juice or soy beverages in boxes.
• Single-serving boxes of cereal, trail mix, energy bars, bagels, small muffins, whole-grain crackers, pretzels, light popcorn, baked or low-fat chips.
• Dried or fresh fruit including bananas, peaches, apples or grapes.
• Carrot and celery sticks or other cut-up raw vegetables.
• Peanut butter sandwiches or single-serve packages of peanut butter and crackers.
• Whole-grain oats granola bars.
• Low-fat fruit and grain bars.
Sunbelt Strawberry Fruit & Grain Cereal Bars provide real fruit and are low-fat. Each cereal bar is individually wrapped for freshness and is just 140 calories.
Eight health care professionals did a taste test for a major daily newspaper last year and voted it the best-tasting strawberry cereal bar. Suggested retail price: just $1.99 for a box of eight cereal bars. That's the lowest of the major brands. For more information, visit SunbeltSnacks.com.
