Any traveller should avoid fast food for various reasons.

You can get better food at other places or buy some at the super market for pick-nick. You will meet more average citizens interested in a conversation.

You will find enough places along each road to get something to eat or drink. Still we always have some supply of food and drinks.

Any first day we visit one of the larger grocery stores and stock up on water, milk (powder), cheese, bread, pickles, cookies, fresh vegetables like tomatoes and cucumber, fruit, some cans of ravioli or chili, etc. In some remote areas we don't want to depending on the occasional diner and we have the option for a picnic with a view.

To keep food and drinks fresh buy a white Styrofoam cooling box at a grocery store or camping supply store. At the same time buy a plastic bag with ice or get free ice cubes from the ice machine near the soft drink dispenser at the motel.

Put the box with the ice and groceries in the trunk of your car. It really works, a small investment to guarantee a reasonably cool drink.

Coffee

Coffee is always cheap and you will (almost always) get unlimited refills with a meal. The coffee is not very strong and you can drink a lot. There is regular and decaf (without caffeine).

In the urban areas you will find the special coffee shops e.g. Starbucks. There you have your choice of sizes, whole or skim milk, hot or frozen, various flavors.

Try a muffin (plain, bran, blueberry or cranberry, banana nut) or chocolate chip cookie with your coffee. Tasty and often a small breakfast.

For the outdoor type, you will need the fluids in the dry mountain air. So drink a lot.

Breakfast

As stated before, forget about the fast-food places. Always eat at a local (small) family restaurant. Some places may appear rundown, but a good indication is the number of cars in front of the establishment.

Choose between the pancakes, waffles or French toast . Combine them with the regular of blueberry maple syrup. Add fresh fruit or an orange juice. A perfect basis for a day outdoors.

You can also go for the enormous breakfasts combining eggs (sunny side up, easy over or scrambled), hash browns and vegetables.

Once in a while try the oatmeal with raisins or the old fashioned grits (warning: not everybody will appreciate the typical taste of grits).

Note: Be aware of extreme business and long waiting lines on any Sunday morning or on public holidays

Lunch

For lunch you can get eggs, French fries and salads. Furthermore you can try the local regular or chili burger.

If you are trying to watch the calories there is an alternative. Most restaurants will serve a range of sandwiches. A sandwich is more than two slices of bread with something in between. One of my favorites (Reuben Sandwich) is a sandwich of dark rye bread with sauerkraut, pastrami and yellow mustard. You can complete the lunch with a cup (small) or bowl (larger) of soup.

Finally do not forget the option of self organized picnic, shop at the grocer (Albertson, Piggly Wiggly, Albertson or Safeway) for bread, cheddar cheese, bread & butter pickles (somewhat sweet tasting), yellow mustard from Friend's, cucumber, milk or yogurt. Do not forget the chocolate chip cookies for desert.

Dinner

Traditionally the USA is cow country and steakhouses can be found everywhere. Try the steak with baked potato and a salad.

On the other hand you have the pizza restaurants and Mexican food.

Outside the larger cities you will be somewhat limited and have few other options, but investigate the Yellow Pages and you will be surprised once in a while. Healthy food is gaining territory rapidly and the restaurants more and more focus on stylish dinning. Californian wines are excellent.

Tags: Family Restaurants