4 Tricks for Snacking Healthy on the Road

July 07, 2016 · 3 min read

Your gas tank is full, your tires are fully inflated, and you have your itinerary loaded on your GPS. You're ready to hit the road! Not so fast — before you go, you should have a plan for what you're going to do when hunger hits. Everyone knows that roadside restaurants and gas stations aren't full of the most healthful options. With a little planning ahead, you can be equipped with healthful road trip snacks to keep you nourished and energized through every mile.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth With Fresh Fruit

Stay ahead of your sweet tooth by packing healthful fruits for your road trip. Fruits like grapes, berries, and presliced apples and mandarin oranges are perfect car snacks because there's nothing to throw away when you're done. Installing a small trash can in your car will let you skip some of the prep work. Just stay away from fruits like melons or peaches that are prone to drip and make a mess.

Get Your Crunchy Fix With Bite-Sized Veggies

When you're craving something crunchy to munch on, your first instinct may be to reach for a bag of chips. With just a little prep work, you can redirect that craving to a more healthful option. Pack an assortment of your favorite raw veggies, such as sliced cucumbers, celery, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, and broccoli florets, into a bento box or other divided container and you'll have a fun, healthful way to fulfill your cravings. Fill one section with hummus, ranch, or guacamole for a dipping option.

Stay Energized With Trail Mix

Trail mix is the perfect road snack for when you need something a little more filling, and it's quick and easy to prepare before a long drive. Mix together your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruits and you'll have a healthful, energy-rich snack to keep you satiated and alert on the road. If you didn't get a chance to prepare snacks ahead of time, you can also buy trail mix at most gas stations as a more healthful snack option than the typical candy bars and bags of chips.

Make Better Fast Food Choices

Sometimes snacking just isn't cutting it, and you need to stop for a full meal. Dining options along the highway can be scarce, but you can find more healthful options at the standard roadside fast food restaurants. Rather than ordering something fried and breaded, consider getting a grilled or roasted meat on your sandwich, and skip the jumbo-sized sandwiches with multiple patties. Instead of fries, opt for a side of sliced apples, baked potato, or salad or a fruit cup. Be wary of healthful-sounding options like salads, as they often come loaded with unhealthful toppings and calorie-rich dressings. Fast food restaurants typically have nutrition data available in their stores or online, so use that information to help guide your choices. Road trip food doesn't have to be all chips, candy, and fast food calorie bombs. With these four tips, you'll be saving money and eating well the next time you're on the open road. Image via Pixabay

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Nov 11, 2019 in Fun Facts

Meet the 2020 Toyota 4Runner

The Toyota 4Runner is known for its rugged capabilities, shown off with its equally rugged — yet refined — design. Its quality construction, paired with its high tech features and luxurious amenities, has not gone unnoticed. The 2019 model was recognized with Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Award. The new Toyota 4Runner has a lot to live up to. Luckily, this 7-passenger SUV surpasses these expectations. Let’s take a look at some of the key features. 2020 Toyota 4Runner Key Features Capability and Durability Conquer your next adventure with gusto, thanks to the new Toyota 4Runner’s 4.0L V6 DOHC engine that delivers up to 270 horsepower and 278 lb.-ft. of torque. This power allows you to tow up to 5,000 lbs., and the SUV comes with an integrated towing hitch, wiring harness and pin connectors. Adding to this SUV’s impressive capabilities is the reinforced body-on-frame construction. This sturdy foundation lays the groundwork for the 4Runner’s off-road features. The 33-degree approach/26-degree departure angle, combined with the 9.6” ground clearance allows you to traverse rocky dirt roads and anywhere else your next adventure may take you. Cabin Comforts Even while off road, you can enjoy comfortable luxury and convenience technology in the Toyota 4Runner’s cabin. This includes available leather, heated and ventilated seats, a standard backup camera with projected path, and a standard 8-speaker audio system complete with a touchscreen display. Space for More Weekend adventures often draw a crowd, and with a crowd comes gear. Camping gear, biking gear, kayaking gear — you name it, and the Toyota 4Runner can handle it. There’s spacious seating for up to five people — seven if you opt for the third row — and ample storage. This includes 46.3 cu. ft. of cargo space behind the second row and 88.8 cu. ft. behind the front row. Shop the 2020 Toyota 4Runner Near Philadelphia, PA Looking for a capable SUV in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area? Ardmore Toyota can help. Explore our new Toyota cars for sale, and learn more about the 2020 Toyota 4Runner, available at our local dealership. Want to learn about other 2020 Toyota models for sale at our dealership? Explore these additional resources: 2020 Toyota GR Supra overview — an all-new addition to the Toyota lineup! 2020 Toyota Prius overview 2020 Toyota Corolla overview

Mar 23, 2017 in Fun Facts

Top 5 Festivals for Summer Fun in Philadelphia

If you're looking for something fun to do this summer in Philadelphia, plan to attend one of the many festivals happening in the city. With such a variety, you're sure to find at least a couple choices that appeal to you. Check out this list of the five top festivals for summer fun in Philly. Browse Crafts and Paintings at the Manayunk Arts Festival Hosted on Main Street in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia, the Manayunk Arts Festival attracts around 200,000 visitors each year. It's the most significant outdoor juried arts festival in the region; it showcases works from more than 300 artists. In the Emerging Artist Tent, collectors can peruse works by local residents. Vendors at the festival will offer paintings, jewelry, sculptures, ceramics, glass, mixed media, and fiber. The festival takes place rain or shine on Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. more Celebrate Independence Day With Wawa Welcome America From June 29 to July 4, the city of Philadelphia will host multiple events as a part of the Wawa Welcome America festival. During the multi-day extravaganza, residents and tourists alike can enjoy free concerts, block parties, free days at local museums, and other family-friendly activities. The event culminates on July 4 with a parade, a free evening concert, and a magnificent fireworks display. Indulge Your Inner Foodie at the Second Street Festival On Sunday, August 6 from noon to 10 p.m., you can enjoy food, craft beer, and music during the Second Street Festival in the Northern Liberties neighborhood. Expect to enjoy Mexican cuisine, American comfort food, and other favorites from nearby restaurants at the festival. In addition to food tents, the festival hosts food trucks that offer delectable treats. Wash down your meal with local craft brews served up in beer gardens. Festival organizers direct revenue from the event into a fund to support the establishment of a business improvement district in the area. Get Your Groove on at the XPoNential Music Festival Music fans from all over Philadelphia and beyond gather each summer for the annual XPoNential Music Festival at the BB&T Pavilion on the Camden Waterfront. On July 28, 29, and 30, festival attendees can groove to the sounds of Wilco, Amos Lee, Spoon, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and more. Three-day festival passes range in price from $15 for lawn access for children to $247 for prime reserved seating. See Unique Performances During the Fringe Festival To wrap up summer, you can enjoy the Fringe Festival from September 7 through 23. From street performances to avant-garde productions, the festival brings more than 1,000 select contemporary performances to the city's neighborhoods. National and international performers demonstrate their craft during the Fringe Festival with edgy theatrical works that stretch conventions and engage the audience's imagination in exciting ways. Some performances may not be suitable for young children. There will be both free performances and ticketed events. Whether you want to experience theater, sip craft beer, or enjoy some music, Philadelphia is the place to be for exciting summer festivals. Image via Pixabay

Mar 16, 2017 in Fun Facts

Are Self Driving Cars The Future?

Driverless cars: They sound like a cross between our wildest fantasy and a science fiction, but alas, they are reality – and they're quickly coming to our streets. Are they truly the future of driving? Only time will tell, but early indications point to driverless vehicles being the true wave of the future. What Are Self-Driving Cars? The name "self-driving vehicle" seems pretty obvious, but in reality, there are several levels of driverless vehicle. A Level 0 car has no automation and is completely human-controlled, while a Level 5 ride is fully automated with no human intervention. Automation varies across the other four levels, with some levels already represented in today's vehicles. more A New Generation of Non-Drivers The millennial generation as a whole lacks an interest in driving, unlike previous generations, which is why ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft have achieved so much success. Because they are not interested in driving, millennials will be an ideal market for driverless vehicles. Such vehicles offer owners the freedom on car ownership in that they can use the vehicle when and how they like without the worry of driving it. Spreading the Nation If you've traveled the nation, you know that drivers and road conditions differ everywhere you go. Fortunately, driverless car developers are testing these vehicles on a variety of road conditions beyond California's Silicon Valley. You can find driverless cars on the streets of Washington, Michigan, Arizona, Texas, and even right here in Pennsylvania. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh are working with driverless Uber taxis, trying to "confuse" the car with a variety of driving situations we might encounter while operating a vehicle. Laying the Foundation If you own or lease a late-model vehicle, chances are you have such features as lane-change assistance, collision avoidance, and hands-free parallel parking. These conveniences are all the forerunners of driverless vehicle technology as they use much of the same sensors and software one might find in a driverless vehicle. Timeline to Driverless With such technology already on the road, when can we expect driverless cars to dominate our roadways? Those already investing in the technology anticipate widespread use of driverless vehicles by 2021, barring any governmental or technological roadblocks. However, automotive insiders think the timeline will be much longer, perhaps toward the middle of the century, before most of us are cruising along in driverless cars. Humans have already set an impressive precedent in how safely they operate vehicles that it will take some time before a machine can reach that standard. Human-specific abilities, such as ethical decision making, also pose a challenge that machines have difficulty duplicating. Toyota has already made a sizable investment in the future of driving. It was a pioneer in hybrid technology with the introduction of the Prius, and its recent investment in Uber offers formidable backing toward driverless vehicle technology. At Ardmore Toyota, we're proud to be part of the Toyota family. Stop by our dealership today and see why. Image via Pixabay