With spring and summertime road trip season on the horizon- we know a lot of people will be on spontaneous road trips or planning for upcoming road trips– so we thought it might be fun to put together a list of some road-trip-friendly snacks!
What makes a good road trip snack?
- Satisfying: but not heavy, We think a good road trip snack will give you the energy to keep going to your destination without being too heavy, or a full meal. For example- think energy bar instead of chocolate bar.
- Mess Free: A good road trip snack won’t leave crumbs, sauce, or a ton of garbage all over your car. This could mean choosing to put your leftovers in a wrap, instead of right out of the tupperware.
- Easy to Eat: This one is pretty common sense, but it’s easy to overlook. Make sure your road trip snacks still allow you to focus on the road- you shouldn’t have to use both hands, look away for the road or remember cutlery. ie. choosing Finger Foods like veggies and dip instead of a salad.
- Healthy-ish: Okay, they don’t have to be healthy- but your road trip snacks shouldn’t make you feel sick, sluggish or moody. Avoid excessively salty, greasy, or sugary snacks- especially in large quantities. That doesn’t mean you have to meal prep for your road trip, just that when you grab candy- maybe grab some nuts or veggies as well!
Best Savory Snacks
Not everyone has a sweet tooth, and even if you do- candy gets old and it’s great to mix in something salty, more satisfying or savoury. These are our top 3 picks for a savoury road trip snack:
Beef jerky, pepperoni, and other meat snacks
A lot of meat is ill-suited for eating in the car. Dried and cured meats are an exception. Pepperoni sticks or beef jerky are car ride classics- or your grocery store’s deli section might offer a single serve prepared meat and cheese tray. One of our favourites are the Schneiders Snack Kits
Trail mix or nuts
Healthy and satiating, this pick is getting you from A to B with energy because they’re a great source of fat, fiber, vitamins and protein. If you have allergies- try making your own trail mix with things like dried fruits (raisins, craisins etc.) sunflower or pumpkin seeds, and something fun like chocolate chips or smarties. For Pistachio lovers, why not try a resealable package of shelled pistachios like the ones from Wonderful Pistachios for easier eating and to cut down on mess!
Pringles or Popcorn
Don’t get us wrong, we love all chips- and others could be a great choice too. But for a road trip, The resealable container makes Pringles a great one-hand-snack with minimal mess. If pringles aren’t your speed, maybe try a resealable bag of popcorn, or bring a chip clip with you to keep your chips fresh, mess free, and more easy to share.
Best Sweet Snacks
Long drives can get tedious, and tiring. A sweet treat can be the perfect solution for a quick pick me up to keep your blood sugar where it needs to be and keep you and your passengers from getting grumpy. Here are our top 3 picks for a sweet road trip snack:
Candy
What is a road trip if it’s not a chance to treat yourself to everyone’s favourite gas station snack- candy. Discuss with your road trip buddies to find out what your favourite candies are- If they’re the same you can grab a big resealable bag to share, if they’re different, opt for several smaller bags or a variety like the Koala King Cone or Haribo Star Mix which are available at most gas stations and grocery stores.
Chocolate
We know it’s technically Candy too, but there’s something a bit different about chocolate. As an added bonus- this can be a great opportunity to repurpose your leftover holiday chocolate if you have some mini Halloween bars, Easter Eggs, Valentines day treats or anything else you’ve been slowly working on. Chocolate comes with individual wrappers usually- so try to keep your shopping bag to keep your garbage in to avoid a messy car.
Baked Goods
Whether you do your own baking, buy things like muffins or pastries when you’re grocery shopping or decide to grab a donut when you stop for coffee on the trip- these are always an easy one hand snack (as long as you watch out for crumbs). Baked goods are a great option as a sweet treat that offers just a little more sustenance than candy or chocolate.
Best Healthy(er) Snacks
Road trips, especially long distance road trips are exhausting, and foods that are too salty, sugary or greasy (like the ones you get in a drive-thru) can make you feel even worse. Here are top 3 Healthy Road trip snacks:
Sandwiches (or wraps)
Sandwiches are a great road trip snack because they’re filling- but not too heavy and as a bonus you can eat them with one hand. The trick is that they just straddle the line between a snack and a meal. To avoid crumbs and mess, eat your sandwich holding it from the bag you packed it in- or choose packaged sandwiches from the deli section of your grocery store. If sandwiches are a little too much food for you, choosing a wrap might make it a bit lighter, plus they’re a bit easier to eat without a mess.
Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and veggies are a refreshing and wholesome choice to snack on during your long road trips. The easiest options are things like baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, grapes, cherries, and bananas. Another easy option is grabbing a small fruit or veggie tray from a grocery store as they’re resealable and easy and ready to eat.
Snack Bars
The most convenient way to choose a healthier option on a road trip are grabbing some individual snack bars, or a small pack. For something filling and satisfying- opt for protein and energy bars, For something quick and easy- pick up some granola bars. There are so many options with so many flavours and that helps snack bars be an easy and healthy alternative to heavier snacks or sweet treats like chocolate and baked goods.
