Don’t let hunger pangs ruin your long-awaited drive! Even the best-planned road trips can go awry if you don’t pack enough snacks for the drive. Ensure you have a stash to munch on – here are the top 10 best road trip snacks to keep you company.
So you’re all set for that road trip you’ve been planning for so long – your bags are packed, the gasoline tank is full, and you’ve decided all the pitstops along the way. As the famous quote goes, it’s the journey that’s important, not the destination. However, it won’t take long for the open road and blue skies to feel repetitive – that’s when your mind starts wandering, and your stomach starts rumbling!
Let’s face it – though all you’re doing is sitting in one spot, driving can get pretty tedious. It demands your full concentration to avoid any untoward incidents on the road. That being said, it’s fun to take routine breaks to refresh both mind and body! However, it’s not always healthy to eat from convenience stores or fast-food restaurants on the way – it’s much healthier (and much more fun) to pack your own snacks for the trip!
Here are our top 10 favorite road trip snacks to chow down on when you hit the road the next time.
1. Protein bars: A handy, portable road trip snack
Portable, compact, packed with energy – protein bars offer a lot for their size! They are convenient to carry as they don’t need to be refrigerated or stored anywhere special. You can dig into a protein bar even without stopping anywhere – they come pre-packaged and snack-size, as healthy road trip snacks should be! However, you should choose a brand that does not contain too much sugar or additives. Instead, go for one that contains more natural ingredients.
2. PB&J Sandwich: A slice of home on the road
This one’s a fan favorite – plus, you’ll have loads of childhood memories associated with it as well! We all remember munching on these delicious sandwiches in the backseat of the car with our parents upfront. When you’re driving, PB&J sandwiches will give you the right amount of energy boost to stay upbeat for the remaining drive! The calorie-conscious among you can skip the jelly and also choose a quality peanut butter brand with less sugar. If you want it to be more filling, you can even throw in some sliced bananas as well!
3. Pistachios: A nutty way to make your road trip great
A handful of these nuts are filled with plant-based protein, unsaturated fats, and fiber – making it the perfect snack to take on a road trip! Munching on crisp pistachios will be more than enough to keep your stomach full (but not bloated) until you reach your destination. Not to mention they contain a much lower number of calories than other kinds of nuts!
4. Walnuts
Nuts, in general, are a perennial favorite on road trips, which is why walnuts make an appearance on this list, closely following pistachios! Walnuts are rich in plant-based omega-3 fatty acids – that’s just a fancy way of saying that you’ll feel full for a longer time after eating a smaller portion! Besides, walnuts also show very little nutritional variation whether they are eaten raw, toasted, or baked! That’s just a perfect road trip snack – especially for kids!
5. Dark Chocolate: This is one BAR you can indulge on the road!
We can already hear you sit up and take notice! Did we just really add chocolate to this list? As you may already know, there are numerous health benefits to eating DARK chocolate – lower risk of heart disease and higher brain function being among them. And when driving on a road trip, you really do need your brain function to be in tip-top shape! So break off a few strips and nibble on them when driving – but we do NOT recommend finishing the entire bar in one sitting!
6. Trail Mix: The OG road trip snack
The OG travel snack will never go out of fashion! Originally created as a quick, portable snack for mountain hikers and campers, this mix of nuts, dried fruits, granola, and candy is easy to customize based on individual preferences. For that reason, it is a popular road trip snack idea among families and road trippers! To be on the safe side, we’d recommend avoiding pre-packaged trail mix and instead of making your own healthy version to munch on in the car.
7. String Cheese
Pairing string cheese with a few apple slices is a road trip snack you never knew you needed! It gives you the perfect zing while covering everything you may want from a healthy road trip snack – good protein, carbs, and healthy fat. Though string cheese may feel like a light snack, it will keep you energized enough to prevent you from running on fumes!
8. Carrots
There’s a reason Bugs Bunny is constantly saying, “What’s up, Doc?”. Munching on carrots can leave you healthy and wise, just like Bugs Bunny. The best things about carrots are that it’s a great snack to have when you’re bored on the road. It is rich in fiber and will keep you occupied enough that you don’t reach for other, sugary, unhealthy alternatives.
9. Beef Jerky
Chewy, delicious, and packed full of protein, beef jerky is one of the most satisfying road trip snacks you can have! Coming in thin, manageable strips, you can also easily regulate how much you eat! However, don’t buy jerky from the gas station or fast-food hotels that comes loaded with preservatives and whose sodium levels are high. Instead, try buying a more sustainable alternative like organic, grass-fed beef jerky.
10. Water
The stress of driving can quickly make you thirsty when on the road. Often, you may reach for a snack without realizing that you are actually thirsty, not hungry! Keep yourself hydrated at regular intervals to avoid headaches and other issues. You can also mix things up if you feel regular water is too “boring!” You can choose flavored water or even carbonated water, as long as it doesn’t have added sugar.
Looking for other ways to keep yourself occupied during a road trip? Check out our Ultimate Road Trip Playlist and these amazing road trip games you can play in the car! Also, don’t forget to book affordable and convenient parking at your destination using the Way.com parking app.
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