What to drink, what not to drink

It's not just about putting the right food in your stomach, but the right liquids too.

Keep things calm
Its hard to decide whats worse: children projectile-vomiting in the back of the car or bouncing off the roof because they're over-excited.

You can minimise the chances of either with sensible food choices.

Sadly for the kids, that means rationing their sweets and fizzy drinks.

Stomachs filled with carbonated liquid are more prone to emptying than those filled with water, while a sugar rush can lead to hyperactivity.

If a sweet hit is required - either by you or the kids - then try fruits like apricots, sultanas, grapes or bananas.

Wakey, wakey!
Tiredness is a major cause of accidents, so staying alert is vital.

If youve followed the earlier advice and avoid blow-out meals, your food shouldnt make you weary.

If you do find yourself getting drowsy, stop and treat yourself to a caffeine hit.

A cup of filter coffee or a can of energy drink will give you an alertness-boosting caffeine hit, although youll need 15-30 minutes for the caffeine to kick in.

If you are feeling sleepy, the best solution by far is to pull off the road and take a short nap - you'll feel far more alert afterwards and you'll be safer to everyone around you.

When you do need to eat and drink, its worth finding somewhere to stop, though.

A study by Brunel University in 2006 found that drivers who sipped water or ate from a bag of sweets as they drove were twice as likely to be involved in an accident as those who didnt.