When you set out on the open road, the traditional go-to snacks come from gas stations or convenience stores. You can easily pick them up along the way and they provide quick and easy snackability (that’s our new word). It’s the American way to shove your face with all sorts of chips, candies, and all sorts of other junk food. 

Somewhere along the way, Americans got the impression that snacking was synonymous with junk food. A snack is a miniature meal, but it can often turn into a full on pig-out session, polishing off an entire bag of chips in minutes. People don’t consider snacks to be miniature meals, though, and therein lies the problem. A snack should be a quick bite that offers nourishment, yet most people fail to make calculated decisions when it comes to snacking.

After a long road trip, it’s not uncommon to find crumbs, chips, or sticky sweets in those hard-to-reach places of the car, especially if children were in there. The reason people choose those snacking options is because they are quick and easy. Ideally, everyone would spend days prepping healthy snacks for the road trip, but hectic schedules can make this difficult. It doesn’t have to be difficult, especially when the snacks are easy to make. 

What Should Healthy Snacks Contain?

The holy trinity of snacking nutrients include complex carbohydrates, fiber, and protein. Together, these nutrients help to provide the body with energy and sustenance, which keeps you feeling full. It’s that sustenance that keeps you from going back for more. Chips, for example, offer little to no nutrients, so you can eat the entire bag and still feel hungry. Then you end up with a tummy ache somewhere along your drive. There’s no need to ruin drive time by plaguing your digestive system.  

Next time you hit the road, prepare the following snacks. You can thank us later.

Quick And Easy Date Bars

The great thing about these raw vegan date bars is that they only contain three simple ingredients! They are filling and damn delicious!

Click here to make the recipe. 

Apple, Blueberry, & Cashew Butter Sandwiches

Healthy raw vegan snack alert! These apple, blueberry, and cashew butter sandwiches fill you up with healthy fats, fiber, and protein.

Click here to make the recipe.

Baked Plantain Chips

These homemade plantain chips are perfectly crunchy and incredibly addictive. Fair warning…you may need to make a bigger batch because they are that good!

Click here to make the recipe.

Everything Bagel Dehydrated Flax Crackers

Are you gluten-free or on a raw vegan diet? Satisfy your Everything Bagel craving by snacking on these dehydrated flax crackers. Make sure to make them a couple days before your road trip.

Click here to make the recipe.

Apple Pie Energy Balls

You can have your snack and enjoy it guilt-free now that you have these apple pie energy balls. It’s like dessert in healthy snack form!

Click here to make the recipe.

4-Ingredient Chewy Peanut Butter Balls

Chewy, sweet, filling, and 100% plant-based, these peanut butter balls are the perfect snack to provide sustenance during your road trip.

Click here to make the recipe.

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The lungs never stop working, keeping oxygen flowing in and expelling carbon dioxide. Breathing is the magical rhythm that keeps us alive and if the lungs aren’t functioning properly, your breathing suffers. It’s very easy to for the respiratory system to weaken, with air pollution, airborne toxins, and viruses threatening you all the time. In fact, about 91% of people worldwide live in places where air pollution exceeds healthy limits. 

From breathing exercises to holistic medicinal approaches, there are many ways to nourish the lungs and respiratory system. To keep them safe from pollutants and other threats, including wildfire smoke, smog, excess ozone, and viruses, experts recommend keeping the air around you as clean as possible. Consider investing in HEPA-certified filters in your home, portable air purifiers, or indoor plants that benefit lung function. If you don’t have the funds or desire to purchase those recommended items, consider supplementing with herbs for optimal lung health. Continue reading to discover five excellent herbs for your lungs. 

5 Herbs For Your Lungs

Licorice Root

No, this is not black licorice candy, but it does have that signature anise flavor. Have you had a cup of Throat Coat tea when you had a sore throat? Well, one of the featured ingredients in that tea blend is licorice root. Traditionally, people used it to help remedy coughs, colds, or other respiratory issues, and modern day studies found out how it’s able to do this. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties of licorice root help protect sensitive tissues in the respiratory system from irritation or infection. A 2011 study found that glycyrrhizin, the active component in licorice root, helps sooth asthma symptoms. It also helps to strengthen the lungs by thickening membranes. 

Plantain Leaf

Originating in Europe and Northern and Central Asia, the plantain plant is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and flavonoids. A quick clarification: this herb has no relation to the plantain fruit. The two primary flavonoids, luteolin and apigenin, have been known to boost respiratory health and ward off seasonal allergies. The combination of vitamins A & C, zinc, and iron also aid immune function. Some health experts attribute the lung benefits to the high vitamin C content, which historically helps overall lung function.

Thyme

This fragrant herb is more than a mere spice for culinary applications. There is historical evidence that documents thyme as a “notable strengthener of the lungs,” in addition to it being a remedy for shortness of breath. Scientific research deemed thyme one of the most potent lung-cleansing herbs, and herbal medicine practitioners use thyme to help rid the respiratory system of excess phlegm. According to a 2016 study, thyme demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity on human lung cells. The results of the study found that reducing inflammation in the lungs led to better breathing and a reduced risk of shortness of breath. 

Mullein

In traditional medicine, mullein has a reputation of being a lung-boosting herb. It’s a weedy herb that commonly grows in Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa. It has a rich history of use, from the days of Ancient Greece to modern herbal concoctions. When you ingest mullein, it helps to reduce sore throat symptoms, including dry or scratchy throat. It also helps to soothe the respiratory tract, which researchers attribute to the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Finally, folk remedies used mullein as a remedy for tuberculosis (TB). Scientists believe that the antibacterial and antiviral properties were responsible for helping people overcome TB.

Astragalus

This is an excellent herb that has a similar long history of use to mullein. It is a popular herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and it contains over 100 active compounds, including flavonoids, polysaccharides, amino acids, and saponins. It has been known to boost immune function, reduce stress, improve digestion, and enhance respiratory function. Several studies found that supplementing with astragalus soothed the airways and boosted overall respiratory function. It’s also incredible for immune function, which reduces the risk of respiratory infection. 

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Plantains are common ingredients in Latin American and Caribbean cooking. They are, however, underutilized ingredients in the United States. Let’s change that! Spiced with curry powder and paprika, these chips have rich, fragrant flavors. Let us know how you like this snack in the comments below.

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Some of you may be wondering what tostones are, and that’s okay! Tostones are basically twice fried plantains that are smashed. They are very easy to make, but they are oh-so-delicious. You can use green or yellow plantains, but you should know that the yellow ones will be a touch sweeter and easier to smash.

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There are certain things in the world that get little attention, and this little weed is one of them. It pops up in construction sites, gravel pits, or in the cracks of your driveway, but it gets ignored or plucked and discarded. We are talking about the plantain leaf.

This unassuming weed is not to be confused with the banana-like fruit with the same name. Before we continue, plantain leaf is actually an herb, not a weed. Now that we’ve clarified that, we can proceed. Plantain is considered a folk medicine, commonly used by hikers to ward off mosquitos, but it has been used as an herbal remedy for the flu, dog bites, and fevers since the 1500s.

For Topical Use

As we mentioned before, plantain leaf can be rubbed on the skin as a natural mosquito repellent. You can also crush or chew it up and place it on bug bites, bee stings, acne, slivers, splinters or rashes because it is naturally astringent. Bandage the affected area with plantain and let the healing begin. Interesting fact: it is a beneficial remedy that helps soothe hemorrhoids.

For Internal Treatment

The digestive system is one of the most important systems in the body. If it doesn’t function properly, many things negative health problems can ensue. People who benefit most from plantain are those who have taken lots of antibiotics or pain medications. It has a natural healing effect in the body and can also help those with allergies or Celiac disease.

You can brew plantain leaf into a soothing tea, cook it in soups, or sauté it with greens like kale. Did you know that the seeds are great too? They are a great absorbable fiber that, when consumed before meals, can help promote weight loss.

Overall, this unassuming plant has a ton of benefits, and it is a true panacea. Whether you have skin irritations, arthritis, menstrual difficulties, or digestive issues, plantain leaf is an awesome remedy that can keep you healthy.

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