5 Road Trip Snacks for the Health Conscious

5 Road Trip Snacks for the Health Conscious

One of my favorite things about kayak fishing is our community.  You can meet people at tournaments, boondoggles, trade shows, Facebook, and at many other places.  These events usually include a road trip but then we may take a trip to go visit our friends and fish with them.  That calls for…. you guessed it!  A ROAD TRIP!  As we drive on the concrete river to our destination we start to snack.  Sadly, many convenience stores don’t have the healthiest options.  So here are 5 snacks you can either bring from home and/or pick up at a gas station.

-Apples

            These tasty fruits are a great way to stave off hunger and get a fruit in your diet.  A medium apple is just shy of 100 calories and counts as 1 of the 2 daily recommend cups of fruits adults should get every day.  On top of that they are a great source of soluble fiber, vitamin C, and are suggested to help lower the chance of a stroke.

-Jerky

            Beef Jerky is a great snack while on the road or water.  It is packed with protein and doesn’t raise tell your body to store fat by raising insulin levels.  Many people think that it isn’t healthy for you because of the preservatives and high amounts of sodium that can be found in many packages.  This is true to an extent.  There are a number of preservative free and low sodium options out there.  Give them a shot and get some protein while on the road.

-Nuts

            I can’t think of a better snack while I’m driving than nuts.  I can literally go through an entire can in a 4 hour drive without even thinking about it.  I really need to measure out how much I’m going to have in one sitting.  I do this by putting the nuts in the lid, taking one handful, or if I’m smart and thinking ahead pre-pack them in a container or bag.  Nuts are great because they are packed with protein and filled with the right kind of fat.  Depending on the nuts, they have unsaturated fats, Omega- 3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, Fiber, and much more.  Remember you do need fat in your diet, just the healthy kind of fat!  And as far as the sodium goes, look for unsalted or slightly salted nuts.  I have just recent found Planters NUT-rition to be a delicious and healthy treat.

-Bananas

            Unless you are on the water (bad juju and all), then bananas are a delicious and easy snack for your road trip.  Already set for easy handling, just unpeel and eat!  Besides being easy to eat bananas are great for you. They have numerous essential nutrients, fiber, and several antioxidants. So grab some of these yellow beauties and enjoy!

-Baby Carrots

            I mean really, baby carrots.  How can you go wrong!  Colorful, crunchy, and super nutritious health food that’s easy to handle!  These little guys are packed with Fiber, Vitamin K, antioxidants, and so much more.  You could almost call them a Super Snack!  Grab a bag of rinsed baby carrots from the store and start snacking away.  Instead of dipping them in ranch or something not as healthy, try peanut butter.  A fun and different way to have these amazing roots.  Give it a try, it may become your favorite food!

Skunkset: Staying positive

The dreaded Skunkset picture. You know, the one that you post on social media when you went fishing but didn't land anything. Almost every one of us has had this awful experience.  We load our gear, double check to make sure we have everything we need and want to bring.  We get to the launch, load our kayaks with our gear and push off in hopes of catching a new personal best.  After throwing lure after lure we start to get disheartened.  We push on, tie on a bait we rarely use in hopes it would work.  Nothing.  Then we finally tie on our good ol’ sure-to-produce lure.  Aaannnddd nothing.  

Experiences like this can be extremely disappointing and make one of our favorite pass times that is suppose to calm us do the exact opposite.  It makes us irritated and wondering why we even decided to take it up.  Sadly these experiences don’t just happen to on the water.  They can happen with anything.  For example: running, learning a new subject, construction, and so much more.  The below tips although directed more at fishing they can apply to any part of your life that you are experiencing this disappointment.

Breathe

Yes, you read that correctly.  Breathe.  Take a couple seconds, close your eyes, and breathe.  It may sound ridiculous but it will work.  So close your eyes, open your ears to hear the sounds around you, and breathe.  Then open your eyes and look at the beautiful place you get to fish.  You are able to be there, catching is secondary at best.  Use this time to connect with nature.  Look at the water, shoreline, sky, all of it and breathe all while listening to the sounds of nature. All around you.  Clear your mind and just let your surroundings entrance you.  After a couple breaths, breathe one more time and then go back to fishing.

Change Got to Get

As hard as this is to say and accept, especially when you’re feeling the skunk make this one change.  Instead of saying “I got to catch a fish” or “I need to catch a fish” say “I get to go fishing”.  It’s a blessing that you are able to go out and fish.  Let’s put some perspective on it.  Some folks may be stuck at work, have family commitments, or who knows what.  They may much rather be out there on the water, even if they aren’t catching.  You are lucky to have the time and everything it takes to be able to chase our hobbies.  It’s not a necessity, you don’t need to, and you don’t have to catch a fish.  You get to go fishing.

Original Reason for this Passion

When I get extremely frustrated with not having success I try to think back on why I originally took up this hobby.  Personally, I took up fishing because I couldn’t find a summer job after graduating college and wanted something to help me pass the time in between applying for jobs.  As soon as I hit the shore and started casting I remembered how I used to love the outdoors.  Something I completely forgot about for 6 years.  I love being in the fresh air, relaxing, and enjoying nature.  So when I get frustrated with a lack of success I go back to that feeling.  The love of being outside.  Then I breathe, intentionally smile, look around at the beautiful place I get to fish, and remember that I took this hobby up to pass the time and enjoy nature.  Why waste time getting mad or upset.  Just be outside and enjoying life.

Now all this is easier said (written and read) than it is to do.  I understand that.  Even I struggle with staying positive when I’m getting skunked.  I do my best to follow these three tips and I usually end up happy again and enjoying my time on the water.  I get to fish in amazing area's with great friends, and I’m able to be lucky enough to take the time to enjoy this hobby.  So don’t let the frustration get the better of you.  Remember to enjoy being outside, breathe, relax, and take in the fact that you get to do this!

Old School Ice Fishing Made Easy

Photo Courtesy of Coulee Region Adventures

Winter’s coming and it’ll only be a matter of a few weeks before the snow flies and the ice takes over our waterways.  What does this mean for fisherman?  Some hang it up and wait until soft water appears again while others brave the cold and see if they can bring home fresh fish!  With the cold weather breathing down our necks it is a perfect time to get the muscles in shape so you can hit the ice safely.  I know, there are snowmobiles, fourwheelers, and more, but this one goes out to those don’t have those fun pieces of equipment and drag out a sled with their gear.  Do these 3 moves leading into and throughout the season and you will find getting on and back from the ice is a lot easier!

Leggy Lengthy Lunges

This move is a basic lunge but you want to make sure you get low enough to really grow the muscle.  So to pull this move off here’s what you do.  Stand tall feet next to each other facing forward.  Step the left foot forward about 4-5 feet in front of you.  Keep your back leg straight and bend your front knee.  The goal is to have a 90 degree bend in your right knee.  While keeping your left leg straight ensure that your upper body is looking straight ahead and not towards the ground.  Push off your right foot and have your left foot meet your right foot.  Repeat but stepping forward with your left foot.  For an extra burn, add some weights!  Dumb bells, a cat, your kid, fishing equipment, anything!

Around the Clock

Grab a light weight.  When I say light, I mean light, like 3 - 10 pounds, no more.  While standing reach your arms out in front of you holding the weight with both hands.  Then imagine you are stirring a cauldron full of mashed potatoes.  Stir in a counterclockwise direction for 30 seconds.  Then switch directions for another 30 seconds.  This will get you ready to hand auger any 15”+ deep hole!

Crouching Punch

Ok, so this is a strange one but it will help you drag that sled behind you.  Grab something soft to sit on, like carpet, a yoga mat, or something similar.  Lay down on your back with your feet on the floor causing your knees to be bent and up in the air.  Then make a very small curve of a c with your torso.  Crunch up with your hands in fists right in front of you (like a fighter).  Then as your back comes up to a 45+ degree angle punch the right and then left hands.  Put the hands back to the fighter position and lay back down.  Keep your belly button sucked back and abs engaged the entire time!

If you do these moves from now until there’s ice (and after) you’ll be set to hit the ice and catch some fish without struggling nearly as much with your gear!  Good luck and get fit!

3 Camping Workout moves

Who loves camping?  Whether you are camping with a tent or an RV you can easily do these 3 moves anywhere, anytime that will have you earning that s’mores and will help you stay fit when out in the wild!

Under the Fence

One of my all time favorite moves to do because it works your chest, back and shoulders!  Get into a plank position.  Scoot your feet in a 3 inches.  Bring your butt up and straighten your arms so you are now in a downward dog position.  Then bring your head down, arch your back and pretend to go under a fence.  The fence is just in front of your hands.  Then back yourself out by going under the fence.  Repeat until you max out.

Get Low  and Jump High

Also known as squat jumps this one will get your heart pumping and sweat dripping.  With your feet shoulder length apart and feet facing forward squat down.  The lower you can get the better (as long as it isn’t painful).  Then jump up reaching your hands toward the sky.  Land on your toes and then come back into the squat.  Repeat until you do 30.  Try to land quietly on your toes. For more intensity, get lower in your squat and jump higher!

Raise n Twist

Now for some core work!  Stand tall and put your hands on the back of your head, elbows off to the side.  Keep your core muscles activated bring your left leg up with your knee bent at 90 degrees.  As your knee comes up, twist your upper body to the left.  Try to have your right elbow touch your left knee.  Remember to stay standing tall, and keep the core muscles, abdomen, glutes, etc.) activated.  Lower your leg and untwist your upper body.  Repeat with raising your right leg and twisting your left elbow to the right.  Do this at a medium pace until you do 30 on each side. Speed isn’t your friend, but height is!

Then if you want to take it to the next level, repeat these exercises 2 more times with a 15 second rest between each!  Good luck and have fun!

Days flying by? Slow them down with this easy sequence.

It’s amazing how work seems to drag on and the weekend is gone in a blink of an eye. Besides the actual difference in amount of days, life has a way of throwing so many things our way that it is hard to slow down.  And it’s getting even harder with the instant access to information from cellphones, social media, and all that technology.  While this is a necessary part of the majority of our lives we need to have time for ourselves.  We need to find time to slow down, find ourselves, and enjoy every part of life.  For many of us outdoors folks it when we are outside.  Sadly sometimes we can’t always be in outside.  Below is a short sequence to help you find peace and enjoy the moment, your life, and everything that much more.  

Going insane inside

Sadly here are times when we can’t get outside and enjoy our favorite hobby.  When this happens try to find 5 or more minutes a day you can have to yourself and give the following a try.  

While wearing comfortable clothes, find a spot that is as calm and quiet as possible in your home.  Sit of the floor with your legs either in a pretzel shape (like we did when we were kids) or out in front of you.  Place your hands gently on your knees and close your eyes.  Take 3 slow, deep breaths, in and out through the nose.  As you breath try to let all thoughts leave your mind.  Don’t worry about what happened, what’s coming up, nothing.  Just be in the moment.  You may now open your eyes.  Breath in through your nose and as you exhale reach your hands farther in front of you with your palms down.  Keep your hands where they are and breath in again.  When you exhale, try to stretch your arms forward a little more.  Now keep your hands there and take another slow, deep breath through your nose.  

Slowly bring yourself back up with your hands on your knees.  Straighten your back and reach your left arm above your head.  Lean to your right and stretch the left arm to try and have it touch the wall to your right.  Inhale, exhale, and come back to your seated position.

Repeat with your right arm and stretch to the left.  

Take your time and stand up tall.  Reach your arms out to your side so they are parallel to the ground.  Inhale.  As you exhale keep your hands extended out, keep a flat back, and look ahead, slowly lower your upper body to the ground.  When your upper body is parallel or as close as possible, lower your arms to the ground and round out your back.  Inhale and exhale.  Slowly roll up keeping your arms hanging down.  Imagine you can feel your vertebrae lining up as you slowly come up.

Stand tall, close your eyes, and take 3 more slow, deep breaths, in and out through your nose. Then you can open your eyes and go about your day.

If you have more time available I highly suggest you google short Yoga videos.  I know for many guys it seems lame.  I used to think the same thing.  But give it a try and you may be surprised how much you like it!  Good luck, and find yourself.