I’ve been struggling to get back into the weekly blogging habit since returning from our trip to Alaska. I really enjoyed writing about that trip, and the reality is that my background is factual writing, so chronicling our daily exploits came easily. But magicking a topic out of thin air every week has proven to be a challenge. Biker encouraged me to remember why I started this … to help other women who spend time on the back of a motorcycle. As usual, he’s right. But shhh … don’t tell him I said so.

So my topic this week is one that’s been weighing on me for a long while. Literally. It’s about how NOT to gain weight while on a motorcycle outing.

If you spend any time on the back of a motorcycle, or on any long driving trip for that matter, you have faced the choices. And they aren’t pretty.  While many fast-food and sit-down restaurants offer healthier options these days, they usually aren’t that appetizing. And convenience store snacks are the worst.

So, here are my suggestions for keeping up with that great work you’ve been doing on being good with your food intake, while still finding flavorful options you can enjoy while the boys are eating hamburgers, candy bars and pie.

I’ll start with what seems like the most difficult – convenience stores. A mecca to all that is … well, convenient – these places are brightly-lit, candy-colored-lights diet blackholes. The key here is finding something as natural as possible or with as few ingredients as possible. I’m not a fan of beef jerky, but it’s one of the best options if you like it. Natural, no sugar added nuts are also a good choice, as are some of the higher-protein bars. And if you get really lucky, some of these stores have fruit.

Now let’s talk fast food. Again, even though the tried-and-true favorites like Arby’s, Chick Fil A and Subway have long offered “healthy” options in sad side salads that consisted mostly of wilted iceberg lettuce and a couple of mealy tomatoes, today’s outlets truly do offer some real options. Grilled chicken sandwiches are a solid go-to, even better if you pass on the mayo and take off one bun. Most places also now offer side options like fruit, which is obviously a healthier choice than fries.

Finally, cafes and other sit-down restaurants. These might actually be the hardest, because of the yummy choices. One of the best things about riding motorcycles is finding the out-of-the-way mom-and-pop cafes that make the best food and are super welcoming to a group. We certainly have our favorites – like the Mexican place in the middle of nowhere Texas that makes one of the best cheeseburgers I’ve ever had. But the yummy factor often equals diet disaster. Again, the best choices here seem to be grilled chicken and, if you can get it, grilled or steam vegetables. Even veggies cooked in butter are better than fries. Of course, the dessert case in these places is also usually pretty lethal, and most of the time you should say no, but it’s also important to have a little fun in life, so if the pie or cake looks amazing, it’s probably worth it. 🙂

Now, you can always pack your own snacks and even a lunch. I have taken snacks occasionally but I’m not the type to bother packing a lunch. I admire those who have that discipline. If you have the space in a side bag or trunk, a small pack of snacks can be very helpful and keep you low in calorie intake or Weight Watchers points.

So, in closing, making good choices can be done. But I also believe balance in life is important and sometimes it’s important to enjoy tasty, bad-for-you food. When the freedom of the open road  calls, that same freedom is there for food – choices abound, no restraints, blaze your own path.