KEY POINTS:
Forget the jubes, fizz and ice cream. Frazzled parents whose only respite from backseat warring is a pitstop at a country store or service station, are being advised to opt for the healthy alternative.
In its $6 million Feeding our Futures programme, the Health Ministry suggests families planning a long trip save money and stave off obesity by avoiding takeaways.
"Stopping for drinks, ice blocks and lollies can pile the dollars [on to] the daily food budget," campaign manager Michelle Mako said.
"Snacks don't have to come in packets. Homemade snacks can be tasty, healthy and low-cost."
Suggested replacements include homemade popcorn and muffins, carrot sticks and bananas in wholemeal bread. Home-bottled tap water, "spiced up" with a slice of lemon, could replace soft drinks or bought fruit juices.
Feeding our Futures is a national social marketing programme designed to help parents and caregivers ensure kids get a healthy diet. It's just one initiative under the Government's Healthy Eating - Healthy Action strategy. A survey has found almost a third of Kiwi kids are overweight or obese.
So will this latest push towards wholesomeness put a stop to travel treats such as Taihape's pink lamingtons, toothpulling Minties, or L&P up the nose as you judder over the railway tracks?
National Party health spokesman Tony Ryall hopes not.
"New Zealand will not make progress on reducing unhealthy weights if people think Nanny State is telling them how to live their lives. The Government needs to get real.
"What's needed is a message of moderation, not a guilt trip on parents and kids."
Dennis Hay and Terry Burman have owned Ngatea's Copper Kettle, a popular pitstop for Aucklanders travelling to the Coromandel, for 17 years.
They were appalled that kids might miss out on ice cream or pie stops.
"We're not into that PC bullshit," said Hay. "It's all part of the travelling thing - people stop where they know they can get something to eat, stretch their legs and take the dog for a walk.
"On one hand you have Land Transport telling people to take more breaks and on the other you have the Ministry of Health telling them to pack the car and keep driving.
"Kids aren't going to die from what they eat, they're going to die from smoking too much marijuana and crashing their cars."
Favourite snacks for their 1000-plus customers a day over the holiday periods include sausage rolls, pies, ham or egg sandwiches and custard squares. Energy drinks and bottled water were also big sellers.
Regulations governing school tuckshops had already led to healthier eating patterns, they said.
"In my day we looked forward to stopping in somewhere. It was a really cherished family tradition," said Burman.
Nilam Patel, owner of Featherston's Kia Ora Dairy, the first store Wellingtonians pass on their way to the Wairarapa, said she sold up to 200 ice creams on a busy day.
Popular Castle cholesterol-free
At least one of our most popular roadside haunts is in sync with the bureaucrats. Castle Cafe at Mangatawhiri, on State Highway 2 south of Auckland has turned vegetarian.
Once renowned for its massive ice creams and "greasy spoon" menu, it now sells homemade lentil pies, 16 flavours of sorbet and freshly squeezed organic orange juice. Coffee is off the menu.
All the food is cholesterol-free and there's an expanded range of gluten-free products.
"We feed our children so much crap, it's incredible," said new owner Sam Moorehead. "I don't think a lot of people understand what really goes into our food, the colourings, the preservative.
"We think one little ice block or ice cream can't be that bad, but I'm not so sure about that."
Most parents were "hugely excited" the Castle had embraced a wholefood philosophy.
But even Moorehead isn't 100 per cent perfect. "We have Fru-jus and we sell lemonade ice blocks."
KIDS' STUFF
* Healthy everyday snacks recommended by the Health Ministry include:
Popcorn, celery or peanut butter and cottage cheese, sandwiches, a glass of plain milk, cut-up or canned fruit.
* Treats for special occasions include:
Muesli bars, sweets, fruit roll-ups, chippies, chocolates, sweet biscuits, cream and fizzy drinks.
