7 Healthy and Simple Road Trip Snacks

By Christine Ascher on March 20, 2017

Spring break is upon us, and with it comes one of the most popular spring break activities for college students: the road trip. A road trip is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to travel with your friends — provided that you’re properly prepared.

In addition to your flip-flops and swimsuit, make sure you remember to pack some food for the road to avoid being stuck on the highway for hours on end with nothing to eat. While it’s easy to pick up a bag of chips from a gas station, you can bring much healthier — and more delicious — snacks along with you. Some easy and healthy options for road trip snacks include the following.

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Dried Fruits

Whether you’re the driver or a passenger, it’s always best to stick to foods that minimize the mess when you’re in the car. Dried fruits are a delicious and healthy choice for snacking and they won’t leave your hands feeling sticky on the steering wheel.

According to Andrea Cespedes, a writer for the website Livestrong, dried fruits are a great source of fiber and antioxidants — especially dates and figs. They are more concentrated than fresh fruits in terms of their nutrients, but they also contain more calories per serving, so be careful not to consume too much. A good way to limit yourself is to plan ahead of time how much you want to eat and only pack that amount; that way, even if you find yourself craving more, you won’t be able to give in to temptation.

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Veggies and Dip

It’s a great idea to bring some veggies along on a road trip, as the crunchiness can help keep you awake if you find yourself drifting off — not to mention the fact that they’re a much healthier choice than the junk food that you may be tempted to munch on. In addition, the high water content in vegetables such as celery will help you stay hydrated while you’re on the road.

Baby carrots and celery are easy snacks to pack and eat; other mess-free options include cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and snap peas. If you don’t like eating plain veggies, bring some dips along to make for a more exciting snack. Ranch and hummus are typically crowd-pleasers; you can also try out some different types of hummus to keep it interesting.

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Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Satisfy your craving for chocolate and caffeine all at once by packing some chocolate covered espresso beans. This is a great treat for when you’re on the road, as it’s easy to eat and will give you an extra jolt of energy. Instead of bringing a whole box, pack yourself a small snack bag so you won’t be tempted to keep munching on them throughout your trip. To avoid consuming too much sugar, stick to dark chocolate.

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Granola Bars

If you don’t have time to make your own snacks, grab some granola bars as you head out the door; they’re a good source of fiber and will keep you full longer, so you don’t have to worry about over-snacking on your trip. Avoid granola bars that have a lot of sugar; you don’t want to crash while you’re on the road.

Bring a variety for yourself and your friends so that you have different choices and don’t get tired of them. If you’re not sure you’ll have enough time to stop for full meals, bring along some protein bars to keep your energy up.

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Plain Popcorn

Popcorn is a great alternative to chips when you want a snack with some crunch; pop some plain popcorn before your trip, add a dash of salt, and separate it into snack bags for you and your friends to enjoy during the trip. Skip the butter to avoid that extra fat — the other benefit being that you won’t end up stuck with buttery fingers for the remainder of your trip.

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Trail Mix

Trail mix is a favorite for taking on the go for a reason: it’s simple to make, easy to eat, and if you’re making your own, there are endless possibilities to ensure you never tire of it. For a road trip, try making it spicy with cayenne pepper or wasabi peas — this is a tasty way to wake yourself back up if you find yourself getting sleepy at the wheel. Replace the M&Ms with dark chocolate or peanut butter chips for some variety, and throw in some almonds or peanuts for extra protein.

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Simple Sandwiches

If you know you won’t have time to stop for lunch, or you’re trying to keep expenses down, pack a simple, mess-free sandwich to keep you full until you reach your destination. If you have a cooler, you can expand your sandwich recipes far beyond the average peanut-butter-and-jelly. Cream cheese and cucumber is an easy and refreshing option, or you can throw together a simple turkey sandwich with lettuce and cheese — it’ll keep you full and is easy to eat in the car.

Avoid overfilling your sandwich with ingredients, so you don’t have bits of food falling on your seat and the floor — for your own sake or for the sake of the car’s owner.

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