Packing Snacks for a Road Trip

Packing snacks for a road trip is so important, especially if you’re going to have kids in the car. No one wants to deal with a hangry driver, and even the best of travel plans can go awry. A flat tire, a car issue, inclement weather, there are always possibilities for getting delayed between stops. Road trip snacks have to fill several requirements: they can’t be too messy, they can’t require heating up, and if they need to stay cold, you have to have a cooler in the vehicle. They also have to not require eating utensils. If you’ve got someone with food allergies, like being allergic to peanuts, this shortens the list, too. It’s also preferable to carry items that won’t result in a lot of trash to stow until your next stop.

So much work! To help out, we’ve put together a list of suggestions of road trip snacks for your consideration.

• Granola bars: they come in a lot of varieties, can be focused on providing additional protein, and they are low on the messy list. 
• Popcorn: if you get or prepare a low-salt version, it won’t make you thirsty, it’s low in calories if not covered in butter and cheese or caramel, but if you want those flavors, they’re easy to buy or make. Popcorn is a bit high on the noisy meter though, so maybe pack those earbuds. Popcorn’s also cheap to make at home and can be packed in disposable plastic bags. 
• Fruit: apples are amongst the easiest, but they can be pre-sliced if sealed carefully. (A slight bit of lemon juice squeezed into a plastic snack bag, then sealed tightly, can prevent browning.) Grapes can be quickly sliced in half, bananas require no prep, melons can be peeled and chopped or sliced in advance, and while oranges can be messy, pre-slicing them and eating from quarters can also provide an extra dose of vitamin C while giving a bonus of natural orange oil scent to the vehicle! And don’t forget berries, which leave almost no waste and prep.

• Breakfast cereal: not all cereals are full of sugar, so don’t discount them all because some are not healthy. Individual plastic bags of everyone’s favorite choices are easy to pack. 
• Nuts: provided no one has any allergies, there are so many kinds of nuts that can be purchased in cans or small bags. Nuts are more filling than sweet snacks and add to your protein intake. 
• Coconut: shaved, chopped or fresh, it’s filling and nutritious. It’s often found near other dried fruits, but watch for added sugar. 
• Vegetables: baby carrots, sliced sections of celery, jicama, they’re all good on their own and require no dips. Peanut butter is a good dip for the celery if needed, and a few tablespoons can be put into a small snack bag before hitting the road. More protein, little mess and additional flavor. 
•  Beverages: refillable water bottles are ideal for the environment, but not necessarily realistic in a rental car when you may not be able to stop to fill them up often. Purchase water bottles, freeze them and use them to help keep other items cold in the cooler without leaky ice that gets everything else wet. Stick a lemon slice in the top of each before you leave home to change things up a little, or pack some protein powder in small baggies so you can poke a hole in the corner, eliminating the use of a funnel. 

Packing snacks for a road trip doesn’t need to be timely or expensive. One trip to the store, list in hand, grabbing the storage items you need and an hour at home prepping. Done! (And don’t forget to pack a trash bag!) Travel safe and enjoy your road trip!