When you are about to hit the road for a long trip, you usually think of checking the condition of your vehicle, and sometimes to do a little service for the more meticulous. We also try not to forget anything, between the luggage, the children and sometimes the dog. But there is usually one thing you don’t think about: the meal. Very often, when we go on vacation, we are content with a quick breakfast, which will accompany us until the lunch break, consisting of a steak-frites or a triangle sandwich taken on a motorway rest area. Sometimes, a few small cakes help us to be patient, and to occupy the little ones during a journey that can drag on for a long time. But did you know that diet has an unexpected impact on your driving? A study has indeed shown that certain foods are harmful for concentration, sometimes leading to more or less drowsiness. Find out what to avoid in your meals if you plan to hit the road.
“Starter-main-dessert” meals
While it may be tempting to eat well before hitting the road, in order to stop as little as possible, know that this is a bad idea. Because a too heavy meal requires more effort from your digestive system, which then consumes more energy. This therefore logically leads to more or less drowsiness depending on the richness of your menu, which can therefore alter your reflexes on the road. It should indeed be known that fatigue at the wheel is responsible for one in three accidents, as recalled by Doctor Frédéric Saldmann, cardiologist and nutritionist at the Georges-Pompidou hospital, who had shed light on a study conducted by the Road Prevention Association. The doctor indeed reminds LCI that “ digestion works dozens of organs such as the liver and kidneys, and this represents a huge expenditure of energy ».
Savory snacks
Although packets of crisps and mini sausages can be very tempting when you stop for a break on thehighway, you should absolutely not give in, or else consume it in moderation. Because all these foods have one thing in common: to be more or less salty. And who says salt says water retention, which then causes swelling of your belly rather unpleasant when you are driving. Plus, salt also tends to dehydrate, forcing you to drink even more water to offset this effect. Suffice to say that the aperitif cakes must be reserved for arrival at your vacation spot! You can instead opt for cereal bars or lighter snacks if you’re feeling hungry.
Tomatoes and citrus fruits
While it is obviously very important to stay hydrated during your trip, and not to hesitate to take technical breaks when necessary, it is however possible to avoid spending your time in bathroom unnecessarily. We therefore ignore tomatoes and citrus fruits, very acidic foods that tend to irritate the bladder, and therefore force us to stop a little too often. We will therefore favor sweeter fruits such as apples, more practical to eat too!
Avoid milk and cheese
The cheese, it’s good, we all agree. But even if you’re addicted, it’s best to save this food for your vacation, along with yogurt and milk-based drinks. Indeed, the lactose contained in all these foods can be difficult to digest, which can then lead to strong drowsiness, as well as some inconvenience such as nausea for the most sensitive. So to avoid discomfort and accidents along the way, we favor the water (flat, if possible) and safer foods, such as chocolate. Choose black preferably, its high magnesium content being very beneficial and helping to fight against stress. Enough to calmly face traffic jams and annoying passengers!
Photo : Dwight Eschliman / Getty Images
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
What’s the perfect meal for driving?
Road safety: when your meal affects your driving
Driving in Europe: traps to avoid (rules, traffic laws, alcohol, speed)
