Almost 40 Million Americans Will Be Hitting the Road This Memorial Day
Weekend
ROSELAND, N.J., May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- According to AAA, 38.3 million
Americans will be driving this Memorial Day Weekend, kicking off a summer
filled with 'Are we there yet?' Claudia Gonzalez, registered dietician,
mother of three and author of Gordita Doesn't Mean Healthy: What Every
Latina Mother Needs to Know to Raise Happy and Healthy Kids, has simple
tips that every mother should know to keep the crankiest backseat
passengers content.
Claudia suggests planning ahead before a long trip with the family.
-- Car Rides Can Be Fun -- Bring small surprises for kids to play with
during long trips. A compass is great, especially for young travelers
to help keep track of the direction the car is headed. Classic games,
such as 20 Questions or the license plate game are always fun for the
entire family. Print out a list of the fifty states to check off which
ones are seen.
-- Pack A Ton of Healthy Treats -- Always have a stash of cut up veggies
and fruit to munch on. String cheese and individual applesauce
containers are also favorites among even pickiest backseat passengers.
-- Get Active -- After a long road trip, it is important for everyone in
the family to get outside and be active. Try to pack or rent bikes to
sightsee on the vacation or bring a Frisbee -- they are small, portable
and perfect for kids and adults
-- Fast Food Doesn't Have To Be Unhealthy! -- Stopping for a meal on the
road is inevitable, but that doesn't mean it has to be bad for you.
McDonald's Happy Meal Choices give children and their parents the
opportunity to replace traditional Happy Meal favorites like French
fries and soft drinks with Happy Meal Choices: Apple Dippers, fresh,
peeled apple slices, served with a low fat caramel dipping sauce, and
beverage choices including 1% low fat white or chocolate milk jugs.
When compared to the classic homemade lunch of a ham sandwich, chips
and juice with 540 calories and 21 grams of fat, the Chicken McNugget
Happy Meal with only 420 calories and 13 grams of fat is the smarter
option. Child passengers are always thrilled when they stop at
McDonald's and they get a Happy Meal with Chicken Nuggets, Apple
Dippers, milk and of course a toy. Not forgetting the rest of the
family, Claudia is a huge fan of their Premium Salad choices.
"Traveling with the family during the summer months should be an
enjoyable experience, not a stressful one," Claudia says. "These easy tips
will help families prepare for a long ride and educate them that getting
physical activity and eating the right foods will ultimately make their
passengers and travel experience fun!"
About McDonald's New York Metro Region
McDonald's is the world's best-known brand and is the global leader in
food service. There are more than 650 McDonald's restaurants, owned by 200
franchisees, located throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
Tri-State area. For more information, please visit
http://www.mcdonaldsnymetro.com.
About Claudia Gonzalez
Claudia Gonzalez, registered dietician and mother of 3 (ages 10-16).
She is the author of Gordita Doesn't Mean Healthy: What Every Latina Mother
Needs to Know to Raise Happy and Healthy Kids, has served for six years as
a spokesperson in charge of Latino affairs for the American Dietetic
Association. She has more than ten years of experience working as a
pediatric dietician in private practice as well as for government programs.
Her nutrition columns can be found in Shape en Espanol, Univision.com and
MiDieta.com. She lectures regularly on a variety of nutrition and health
issues to national and international health organizations.
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