Tricia Martin, 39, was an older girl who spent three days driving from Chicago’s northwest suburbs to Denver for summer vacation. It meant being hot in a station wagon with no air conditioning, feeling sick and fighting with her older sister. It also meant eating a lot fast food.

“We’d wake up and have a huge breakfast, stop at McDonald’s or Burger King for lunch and dinner,”Martin. “It was the ’70s! My parents didn’t think about calories, much less trans fat. And gas was so cheap. It probably costs me more to fill up a tank [of gas] than it cost my parents to feed us the whole trip.”

Martin, her husband and their two children will embark on their first major driving trip this summer. This means that fast food will not be available. “We eat healthy at home. Why change on a road trip? We’ll pack a ton of good food and snacks, and stop at local markets to buy groceries along the way. It should be cheaper, too.”

She is not alone. Many will look for ways to reduce costs this summer as millions of families pack their cars in the middle of a slumping economy. Analysts predict that summer will see a typical price rise, so savings won’t come at the pump.

Paying for empty calories and saturated oil is not the only choice. Many families now bring their own food with them instead of using a drive-thru. California Innovations’ insulated coolers help keep their meals fresh. The coolers are collapsible and can be stored under a seat for up to 24 hours. You can also collapse them and store them under your seat for extra cargo space.

A Zipperless Hardbody is a popular cooler that many families use to store snacks. Drivers can easily reach inside the lid to grab snacks or drinks, without having to look at the road. Both products are easily cleanable and leak-proof, so they can be washed and refilled the next day. California Innovations coolers are available in many styles, sizes, and colors. They offer families a new way of eating better and more affordable on the road this summer.

The Martin family will take off on vacation in an air-conditioned car equipped with healthy snacks and meals. “I just don’t want my kids getting hooked on fast food,”Martin:

California Innovations coolers information can be found at www.californiainnovations.com.