There’s nothing better than taking a road trip. Blaring music, spending time with friends or family, and gazing at the open road ahead… hitting the highway conveys a sense of pure freedom and possibility.
During a road trip, it’s important to have the appropriate trip essentials and keep your stamina up, especially when driving long distances. Healthy road trip snacks are the key to feeling refreshed, nourished, and energized.
In this blog post, we’ve gathered 20 of the best road trip snacks for your next car ride. Stock up on them for your next journey.
What Are the Qualities of Healthy Road Trip Snacks?
Before making your grocery list, it’s important to first understand what to look for in healthy road trip snacks. Make sure you’re choosing foods that are low in fat and sugar, but high in water and fiber.
This helps keep you full for a longer period of time (and prevents mindless snacking!)
It’s helpful to pair carbohydrates with the snack, such as pairing a veggie with hummus dip, or plain greek yogurt with blueberries.
Why Healthy Snacks Are Important on a Road Trip
Snacking gets a bad reputation. But when they’re healthy, the best road trip snacks can be an excellent energy source between meals!
When you’re in the driver’s seat or riding as a passenger on a long road trip, it’s easy to feel bloated, lethargic, or even cranky. That’s because when you nibble on common road trip snacks like salty chips or sugary candy bars, your body experiences a burst of energy that’s followed by a “crash.” Families who travel with little ones probably know this all too well!
So how do you avoid the crash? By packing healthy road trip snacks of course!
20 Healthy Road Trip Snacks For Your Upcoming Travels
You don’t need to stock the cooler with elaborate, homemade road trip snacks. Simple, grab-and-go foods and beverages can keep you full between meals on the road.
1. Meat Sticks
There’s a Chomps jerky for every occasion, and yes, this includes road trips! With up to 12 grams of protein, 0 grams of sugar, and under 100 calories, Chomps sticks keep you feeling full without the post sugar high crash.
If you have picky eaters in the group, original beef sticks are a safe bet. But if those you’re traveling with have a gusto for adventure, our spicy jalapeno beef or cranberry habanero beef sticks are the spice of flavor needed to break up the monotony of the open road.
If you have a little time to spend in the kitchen before the trip, you can even make these mini zucchini pizzas and stick them in a tupperware to enjoy while traveling!
2. Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and veggies are an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium. Plus, they’re rich in fiber, which promotes a healthy gut and prevents digestion issues. Not to mention there are many fruits and vegetables to choose from, which caters to different preferences and makes it easy to keep healthy road trip snacks exciting.
A few common road trip fruits are bananas, apples, grapes, and mandarin oranges. All keep well without refrigeration and can be easily grabbed from a knapsack in a crowded car.
Road trip snacks can include broccoli, cauliflower, celery, bell peppers, and carrots. These pair with a variety of dips, like ranch, hummus, or pesto, so you can avoid food boredom while feeling full and satisfied!
3. Nuts and Seeds
There are numerous health benefits of nuts and seeds. Since they’re so nutrient-rich, a little bit goes a long way and often just a handful delivers vitamins and minerals your body needs.
When on a road trip, there are a few nuts and seeds that stand out as the best boost of energy. These include walnuts, almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.
A great way to keep portions under control is to buy pre-portioned packs. It’s easy to overeat nuts when bought in bulk, so bringing pre-portioned road trip snacks keeps bored eating at bay!
4. Beverages
When you’re on the road, there are times when healthy road trip snacks just don’t sound appetizing and that’s okay! It’s also important to keep hydrated when in a hot vehicle, but sometimes plain old water won’t do.
While soda is a go-to road trip staple, it has high levels of sugar. Healthier beverage options are tea, black coffee, milk, fruit juice, or a smoothie. When you need to make a gas station pit stop, try to look for beverages with low or zero sugar content.
5. Veggie Spring Rolls
Veggie spring rolls make for refreshing and nutritious road trip snacks. Made with rice paper, filled with a variety of vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers, they are perfect for a light, crunchy bite on the go.
Pair them with a light dipping sauce for extra flavor. These healthy snacks for road trips are easy to prepare and keep well in a cooler, making them among the best snacks for a road trip.
6. Cottage Cheese Cups
In our book, cottage cheese cups are one of the best snacks for road trips because they provide a protein-packed option that stays fresh in your cooler. Top individual servings with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a few berries for added flavor.
These healthy road trip snacks are convenient and delicious. They’ll keep you satisfied and energized while traveling.
7. Turkey Roll-Ups
Turkey roll-ups are another one of our favorite simple yet healthy snacks for a road trip. Roll slices of turkey breast around a cheese stick or a slice of avocado for a high-protein, low-carb treat.
These healthy road trip snacks are easy to prepare and perfect for a quick bite. This makes them one of the best snacks for road trips whether you’re by yourself or with friends and family.
8. Greek Yogurt with Honey
Greek yogurt with honey offers a balance of protein and a touch of sweetness. This contrast makes it one of the best road trip snacks in our mind.
Pack small containers of Greek yogurt and drizzle with honey for a delicious, nutritious option. These road trip snacks are easy to keep cool and enjoy while on the go.
9. Smoothie Packs
Smoothie packs are ideal for those seeking healthy road trip snacks. Prepare packs with frozen fruit, spinach, and protein powder.
Blend them before your trip and keep them in an insulated bottle for a nutritious, refreshing drink. They make for one of our favorite healthy road trip snacks since they provide a tasty and convenient way to stay energized.
10. Energy Balls
Homemade energy balls are ideal road trip snacks. Make your own by packing them with oats, nut butter, chia seeds, and a touch of honey.
These bite-sized treats provide a quick energy boost, are easy to make, and can be stored in a cooler. Customize them with your favorite mix-ins like dried fruit, coconut flakes, or dark chocolate chips for delicious and nutritious road trip snacks.
11. Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers are classic road trip snacks that are both satisfying and easy to pack. Opt for whole grain crackers paired with slices of your favorite cheese for a balanced snack.
This combination offers protein, fiber, and healthy fats to make it one of the best road trip snacks you can take with you on your travels. We’re confident they’ll keep you feeling full and energized!
12. Popcorn
Next up on our list of the best road trip snacks is a bite-sized classic. Air-popped popcorn is a light and crunchy snack.
Season it with a little sea salt or nutritional yeast for added flavor without the extra calories. Popcorn is a whole grain snack that is easy to pack and munch on - both qualities that make it one of our favorite road trip snacks.
13. Cottage Cheese Cups
Cottage cheese cups are an excellent addition to a cooler full of road trip snacks. High in protein and easy to store, these cups can be paired with a sprinkle of spices or a dollop of salsa for extra flavor.
They’ll stay fresh as long as you store them correctly. These healthy road trip snacks are perfect for keeping you full and satisfied when you’re on the move.
14. Rice Cakes with Avocado
Rice cakes topped with mashed avocado, a sprinkle of salt, and a dash of chili flakes create a crunchy and creamy snack perfect for your travels. These healthy road trip snacks are easy to prepare and provide a good source of healthy fats and fiber. They’re no doubt a great choice for sustained energy.
15. Veggie Chips
Veggie chips, whether homemade or store-bought, offer a crunchy alternative to traditional potato chips. Options like kale chips or beet chips are nutrient-dense and flavorful. These healthy road trip snacks are easy to pack and provide a satisfying crunch without the added calories and fats of regular chips.
16. Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds
Have a sweet tooth? A small portion of dark chocolate covered almonds can satisfy your cravings while providing healthy fats and antioxidants.
These are another one of our favorite road trip snacks that are easy to pack and offer a delicious balance of sweet and savory flavors.
17. Guacamole Packs with Veggie Sticks
Individual guacamole packs paired with veggie sticks like bell peppers, cucumbers, and carrots make for a flavorful and healthy snack.
These convenient packs are perfect for dipping and provide a good source of healthy fats and fiber. Who wouldn’t think a pack of guac makes for one of the best road trip snacks?
18. Edamame
Shelled edamame is an excellent plant-based protein source that is easy to pack and enjoy on the go. Seasoned with a bit of sea salt, these healthy road trip snacks are not only good for you but also incredibly satisfying. Edamame is a great choice for those looking for a protein and fiber boost while traveling.
19. Hard-Boiled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are among the best road trip snacks. They offer a portable and protein-packed option that keeps you full and energized.
Easy to prepare ahead of time, they can be stored in a cooler for freshness. Packed with essential nutrients like vitamins B12 and D, hard-boiled eggs are a simple yet nutritious choice for healthy road trip snacks.
20. String Cheese
String cheese is a convenient and delicious snack that’s perfect for road trips. Individually wrapped and easy to pack, string cheese provides a good source of calcium and protein.
They’re fun, mess-free road trip snacks that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike. Their wide appeal makes it one of the best snacks for road trips.
The Perfect Travel Companion for Your Empty Stomach
Again, when in doubt, Chomps variety of meat snacks are a great go-to! Their convenience and satisfying flavors make them ideal for any trip.
Enjoy a variety of tasty, protein options to keep you fueled and happy on your journey. Happy snacking!
