A road trip can be a memorable way to travel, whether alone or with family and friends. Once you’ve decided where to go, it’s time to consider the smaller details. This is where our favorite road trip snacks come in! Snacks will make you feel good, reward you, and help you focus so you can stay alert throughout lengthy drives. These tiny nibbles could be your saving grace when boredom and hunger strike. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best road trip snacks, which you should certainly pack for your next outing. Now grab your cooler, fasten your seatbelt, and let’s go!
1. Beef Jerky
Beef jerky is an excellent road trip food because it is high in protein and sure to satisfy your appetite. It comes in its own package and makes very little mess, making it really easy to eat. Avoid gas station beef jerky. Jerky sold at petrol stations contains preservatives, so choose organic jerky from a natural foods store.
2. Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are simple to make, preserve, and eat. They are also very protein-rich, which is just what you’ll need to stave off hunger during lengthy vehicle drives. Once you’ve boiled your eggs, remove the shells and store them in a plastic container so you can easily access them later.
3. Granola or Protein Bars
Protein bars and granola are everyone’s favorite road trip snacks that come in separate packages. But spend some time picking your bars carefully. You don’t want to be consuming these because they contain additives, sugar, and preservatives. Always read the label when purchasing a protein bar or granola and search for natural ingredients that will benefit your body. If you have a lot of culinary skills, you could even be able to produce your granola bars. You can then be certain of what is going into them!
4. Carrots and Cucumber Sticks
Cucumber and carrot sticks are the perfect way to pass the time when you’re bored. Chewing a carrot demands a lot of focus, which will help you get rid of boredom and provide your body with fiber and other minerals. The cucumbers and carrots should be precut and put in a ziplock bag or container. These simple road trip snacks might be made even better by adding hummus or your other preferred dips.
5. Popcorn
Here’s why we enjoy popcorn on road trips. For starters, it’s a tasty snack in addition to being a good source of fiber and carbohydrates. Second, microwaveable popcorn bags will work if you’re feeling lazy. For a more nutritious snack, try making your popcorn or buy some from a natural food store. To create your popcorn, just pick up some kernels, put them in a pot, season with butter, salt, or olive oil, and boil them until they begin to pop. Keep the saucepan slightly open while the kernels are popping, but cover it with a lid.
6. Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas are a great source of zinc, fiber, magnesium, and folate. Dried chickpeas are travel-friendly and convenient to eat while driving or navigating, while canned chickpeas are practical but a bit more difficult to transport. Alternatively, you can buy different-flavored dry chickpeas online and at your neighborhood health food store.
7. Unsweetened Yogurt
If you bring a cooler, you can increase your snacking options while on the road. Unsweetened yogurt is an excellent snack item that may also be used as a quick breakfast when options are limited, but it must be kept chilled to avoid spoilage, so make sure to stock your cooler with ice or ice packs.
Many flavored yogurts include a lot of added sugar, so you should cut down. It is best to get plain, unsweetened types and then top them with dried coconut, chia seeds, almonds, seeds, and berries. Greek yogurt without sugar is particularly healthy because it’s high in protein, which keeps you feeling full.
8. Energy Bites
Energy bites, sometimes known as energy balls, are small morsels of nutritious foods, including dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. Despite their small size, they are high in calories and nutrients. They are simple to prepare at home and transport in a cooler. They’re also one of children’s favorite road trip snacks.
9. Trail Mix
There’s a solid reason why trail mix is a popular snack on road trips. It does not require refrigeration, is simple to prepare, and contains plenty of healthy fats, protein, and fiber to keep you going on those long road journeys. Additionally, most rest areas and petrol stations sell healthy, low-sugar options. Avoid varieties that include candied nuts, candies, and sugared fruits, and instead go for ones that feature nuts, seeds, and unsweetened dry fruit. You can make your trail mix at home, too. Begin with roasted nuts and seeds, then mix with your unsweetened dried fruits.
For added crunch and flavor, add unsweetened dried coconut, dark chocolate chips, cacao nibs, or spices. Remember that trail mix has a lot of calories and is best used on the trail, even without sweets added. However, when there aren’t many other food options, trail mix can also be used as a dinner substitute. One option to balance the calorie density of trail mix is to include lower-calorie fresh fruits or vegetables.
10. Veggie Cakes
Veggie cakes are produced from lentils, corn, or even roasted chickpeas. Kallo offers a wide variety of fun flavors, such as beetroot cakes, lime and coriander cakes, tomato salsa cakes, and cakes with sea salt and balsamic vinegar. They make excellent travel snacks and come in sweet flavors like blueberry and vanilla and apple and cinnamon. These snacks should be on an essential road trip checklist!
11. Caramel Waffles
Caramel waffles, also known as Stroopwafels in the Netherlands, are a great road trip snack. You can eat them as they are or put them on top of your morning coffee to go, which will soften the caramel. In any case, they are quite tasty.
12. Mikado
Mikados are delicious small biscuits based on the Japanese term for the game of pick-up sticks. They’re among most people’s favorite road trip snacks. They are long, thin biscuits coated in milk and dark or white chocolate. A small area for uncovered biscuits allows you to eat without getting messy. If you’re looking to treat the kids on a day trip, these are fantastic.
13. Potato Chips
Crisps or potato chips are a must-have on any list. They are a must-have travel snack, regardless of the flavor you enjoy. If you’re sick of potatoes, you can even purchase vegetable chips! If you don’t want orange fingerprints all over the place, stay away from any sprinkled crisps, like cheese. You can grab these at any gas station when you’re hungry, and they’re incredibly convenient as a snack because they require no preparation.
14. Seltzers Waters
Stay hydrated over the summer with delightful seltzer waters in different flavors. Naturally, bottled water is quite healthy, but plain old water can become boring, especially on a lengthy road trip. To spice it up, try some different flavors of sparkling water! The choice is endless, and they’re quite reasonably priced! You may pick from lemon, grapefruit, raspberry, black cherry, and more!
15. Lupini Beans
Lupini beans, popular in Mediterranean nations, are a simple yet filling savory snack high in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Although it might seem odd to carry beans with you, companies like Brami provide pickled beans in a selection of flavors suitable for eating right out of handy single-serving pouches.
16. Dark Chocolate
Of course, a road trip wouldn’t be complete without some sweets, and dark chocolate is a classic that is both sweet and healthy. Whether you blend chocolate chips into a snack mix or carry different flavors of dark chocolate bars, there’s something for everyone in the car. Remember that the melting point increases with the amount of cacao, so if you anticipate hot days, choose at least 70% dark chocolate. It may surprise you to learn that 85% dark chocolate requires 114 degrees Fahrenheit to melt.
17. Avocado
Although it may be tricky to eat avocados while driving, they are great road trip snacks for passengers at rest stops! Due to their self-contained nature, avocados are easy to cut in half and consume directly from the skin for a satisfying source of fiber and healthy fats. They can be eaten on their own, sliced on top of crackers and vegetables, or sprinkled with hemp seeds for an additional omega-3 boost.
18. Crackers
If you want a crispy snack, crackers are a wonderful choice. You can make them into nut butter crackers, tuna crackers, or cheese crackers. Whatever you decide to do with your crackers, make sure to prepare them before starting your journey.
19. Dried Fruit
You may always use dried fruit in place of fresh fruit. But, like most prepackaged goods, your dry fruit mix may have a lot of added sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Choose products that just have fruit in them. Additionally, be aware that most dried fruit, and prunes in particular, may have a laxative impact. That’s something you should absolutely avoid when driving,
20. Candy
Candy is one of the simplest, mess-free foods that will satisfy your sugar cravings. Everyone has their favorite candy, and there are many options available. However, we advise against packing candy that has been coated in sugar or tiny candies that are individually wrapped. It’s a pain to get rid of the wrappers, and the sugar will get all over you and the car.
21. Muffins
Another great road trip snack option is bite-sized muffins, which can be baked at home or purchased from the supermarket. Remove the wrappers and put the muffins in a container so that extra garbage doesn’t build up in the car.
22. Applesauce Cups
Applesauce cups are a tasty and nutritious snack, but watch out—if your kids aren’t the neatest eaters, things might get out of control very fast. Remember to bring a spoon, or better yet, go for the squeezy applesauce ones.
23. Juice Boxes
Juice boxes, despite their amusing look, are a fantastic option for road trip drinks. They are convenient to carry in a cooler, taste good, and hold the ideal amount of liquid. However, read the ingredients list carefully before buying a juice box because some of them include a lot of added sugars and additives.
24. Fruits
Nothing is more healthy than fruit! Even when traveling by car, you still need to take breaks. Pre-cutting juicy mangos, oranges, and any type of melon into a container helps prevent unpleasant stickiness. On-the-go snacks like berries and grapes are easier to eat as they are. Fresh fruit snacks are the best.
Conclusion
There you have it—our favorite road trip snacks! They are the perfect fuel for adventure. A mix of nutritious, tasty, and convenient options keeps energy levels high and hunger at bay. From classic treats to creative twists, these snacks ensure a delightful journey and memories to savor long after the trip ends. Thank you for reading!
