Healthy Snacks for Your Next Epic Road Trip

The options that are provided at gas stations, convenience stores, and fast food chains along the way leave us feeling like it’s okay to eat unhealthy while on the road, because what other options are there? If you’re lucky, you’ll find a stray banana or two to grab along with your bag of potato chips so you feel a little less guilty, but you’re only really fooling yourself. With the help of nutrition and wellness apps, you can locate healthier food options, nearby grocery stores with fresh produce, and even access recipes for quick and nutritious meals that you can prepare on the go. These apps empower you to make healthier choices while traveling, ensuring that you nourish your body with the nutrients it needs to stay energized and focused throughout your journey.

Packing Food for Road Trips

Most families go out to eat so often at home that the novelty has worn off. The next time you travel try packing your own food, not only to save money but also to experience something fun and different. You might even try half and half. Pack for one meal and eat out for another. And don’t forget breakfast. Sometimes getting on the road the first thing in the morning is such a rush that it might be easier to wait and eat breakfast after you have driven an hour or two.

Planning your Stops

Instead of prepping super hard and carrying a lot of food with you, one of the best food ideas for long distance traveling projects is to analyze the route you’ll be taking. If you are going by car, you will be able to stop wherever you want and you may want to know in advance what kinds of options your stopovers will offer. With a little bit of planning and research

Examples of Good Snacks Include Easily-Consumable Fruits

You could also choose wholegrain cereal bars, nuts and raisins, carrot sticks, homemade sandwiches (with wholemeal bread), oatcakes, etc. This list is endless and only limited by your imagination and general principles of safe snacking on the road. If you're travelling alone, remember to place everything within easy reach. You should be able to safely reach for something with one hand only and without taking your eyes off the road.

Fresh fruit and nut butter

During road trips, munching on hydrating, high-fiber foods like fruit may keep your bowel movements regular and help prevent constipation caused by inactivity (3Trusted Source). Apples, strawberries, and bananas are great paired with high protein nut butters like almond or peanut butter for a filling snack.

Parmigiano black pepper popcorn

This recipe with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, aromatic extra-virgin olive oil, and freshly ground black pepper is way more delicious than the standard bagged version you’ll find at the gas station. You can take a handful and concentrate on the road without much fuss.

Use a Filtering Water Bottle

Instead of bringing a pack of single-use water bottles, bring along a few reusable water bottles. These of course take up less space and are better for the environment. Also, consider using a filtering water bottle specifically. These water bottles will keep your water tasting fresh and clean.

Use Two Coolers

Using two coolers will not only help you pack more food, but you will also be able to keep things more organized. One cooler can be used as your fridge and the other as your freezer. Use big ice blocks to keep things super cold in the freezer.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are pretty much the best (and simplest) thing you can bring on the road with you, because not only do they keep you energized, but they also hydrate you. "Chia seeds absorb nine to 12 times their weight in water," says dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot, due to their hydrophilic properties.

Snack bars

These are some of my all-time favorite foods to pack for road trips. They are quick and easy and there are so many out there that are healthy. My ultimate favorite snack bars are Larabar. They are made with simple, healthy ingredients and taste so good.

A sandwich

A sandwich is a perfectly acceptable road trip food. However, we’re straddling the line between snack and meal. Its time to shine is on a long-haul ride when little bites just won’t do. Like leftovers, the smartest road trip sandwich is no muss, no fuss. Think PB&J, not meatball sub.