One of the most important aspects of planning a road trip - as so many of us do at this time of year - involves what to eat on the way. With that in mind the 5-a-Day for Better Health TRUST has compiled a list of 5 easy tips on what to pack to keep you and the family on the road to good health.

1. A veggie-inspired ‘on the road’ cocktail party could include vegetable crudités including cucumbers, carrots, celery sticks and button mushrooms which make great dipping companions with a low-fat, spiced-up cream cheese.
2. A sandwich is always a winner and it can be packed full of tasty ingredients. Fill slices of whole-wheat, seed, rye or any of the other fab breads that we can now get with delicious combinations such as lettuce, sprouts, peppadews, cucumber, cheese, lean sandwich meat, rocket and roasted vegetables
3. Stop along the way (at a safe location!) and let the kids make their very own wraps filled with grated carrot, chopped tomato, low-fat cream cheese and chicken with a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce.
4. Dried and fresh fruit makes a great road trip snack and at this time of year there is a huge variety of fruit available. For example, grapes picked off the stems and strawberries hulled and sliced for easier eating. Blueberries also travel well, as do bananas and apples. Cut up watermelon, pineapple and melon into bite size chunks, peel and de-stone litchis and place them into an air-tight container for an exotic finger fruit salad. Alternately thread the fruit chunks onto skewers and create colourful fruit kebabs.
5. Don’t be tempted by soft drinks high in added sugar, rather pack chilled fresh fruit juice or 100% pure unsweetened fruit juice  such as Liqui-Fruit, Ceres or Appletiser - 200ml of any one of their exciting flavours counts as one 5-a-Day serving. These brands recently joined the elite group of food and beverage products which meet the strict criteria of the 5-a-Day for Better Health TRUST.

The 5-a-Day for Better Health TRUST urges all South Africans, even during the holiday season which is traditionally a time for indulgence, to include more vegetables and fruit for better health. Holidays are a good time to start. Go for it and strive for 5-a-Day for optimal health!