Travelers scared out of the sky by flight delays, cancellations, missed connections and more have either postponed plans to cruise or are choosing a domestic road trip instead. That means eating their way across the country brings a diverse mix of dining options, many not all that good for us. But where they drive has an impact and all American states are not created equal in this department.

Colorado ranks as the top state with the highest interest in healthy eating, based on the number of searches related to healthy foods. Arizona follows in second place, with Utah in third. Texas, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida also make the list of states with a strong interest in healthy eating. The study, conducted by Great Green Wall Health, analyzed Google data to determine which states show the most enthusiasm for healthy eating by examining the frequency of various healthy eating-related searches.

1. Colorado  Colorado is the number one state in the US for residents keenest on wanting to eat healthy, with a monthly average of 2,114 healthy eating searches for every 100,000 people. The city offers a healthy community, culture and marketplaces. It beats second place to the top spot by registering 9.7% more monthly searches. According to World Population Review, Colorado has the third lowest adult obesity rate in the US.   
2. Arizona Arizona is at number two for the state keenest to eat healthy. The state’s population of 7,359,197 people registers an average of 140,558 searches each month for healthy eating, which equates to 19,010 searches per 100,000 people – the second-highest ratio in the US.   
3. Utah  In third place is Utah, with an average of 1,831 searches per 100,000 people. Utah has one of the lowest rates of child obesity, according to data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.  
4. Texas  Number four is Texas, with 1,822 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. Texas is home to many healthy food Instagram influencers, such as @cookinwithmima, which has 2 million followers and is based in Dallas and @onebalancedlife, which has 227,000 followers and is based in Austin.   
5. New York New York is close behind in fifth place with 1,803 average searches a month per 100,000 people. New York’s most significant searches were for ‘healthy food near me’ with 33,425 searches and ‘healthy restaurants’ with 27,692 searches a month on average from the city’s estimated population of 19,677,151. However, New Yorkers seem less keen on having takeout delivered being healthy as their lowest healthy food-related search term is ‘healthy fast food near me’.  
6. Massachusetts At number six is Massachusetts, with an average of 1,800 monthly searches per 100,000 people for the healthiest eaters. Boston is the home to healthy Instagram influencer @twist_of_lemons, who has 111,000 followers and who likes to post about easy recipes and realistic health.  
7. Florida Florida is at number seven, with 1,789 average monthly searches for every 100,000 people in the city. Florida’s least searched for healthy eating terms consisted of ‘how to eat healthy’, ‘easy healthy lunch’ ideas’ and ‘healthy chicken salad recipe’.   
8. Nevada Landing at number eight is Nevada, with 1,782 searches a month on average for every 100,000 residents, only slightly behind Florida. There are 69 restaurants categorized as healthy in Las Vegas, according to TripAdvisor.   
9. California  In ninth place is California, with an average of 1,703 monthly searches for every 100,000 people. California is home to many health influencers, such as TikTok star @violet.cooks, who shares healthy recipes and lifestyle with her 2.1 million followers and is based in San Francisco. She shares various recipes, from easy lunches to salads and soups.   
10. Virginia Finally, in tenth place is Virginia, which has 1,639 monthly searches for every 100,000. According to Virginia Farmers Market Association, there are 360 Farmers and Artisan Markets across the state with the message of increasing access to fresh, healthy food.   

Some tips for eating healthy on a road trip? Yes, we have those as well:

Firstly, pack your own snacks. This way, you can control what you eat and avoid the temptation of fast food joints along the way. Some great options include fresh fruit, nuts, and homemade granola bars.

Secondly, research restaurants along your route ahead of time. Nowadays, many places offer healthy options on their menus. Plus, it’s always fun to try out new places!

Thirdly, stay hydrated. Bring a reusable water bottle and fill it up at rest stops. This will not only keep you hydrated but also help you avoid sugary drinks.

Lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s okay to indulge in some treats every now and then – after all, it’s a road trip! Just remember to balance it out with healthy choices.

So there you have it – with a little preparation and mindfulness, you can have a healthy and enjoyable road trip. Happy travels!