Healthy Road Trip Snacks for Summer Travel

Twice a year (in November and May) I take a cross-country road trip between Philadelphia, PA and Scottsdale, AZ. You may be wondering why I drive instead of fly. Believe me, it would be wonderful to get across the country in one day, instead of four, but our dog Dexter can’t fly so we make the trek by car.

If you haven’t driven across the U.S., I would encourage you to do so! We’ve taken several different routes over the years and seen some beautiful parts of the country that we wouldn’t have seen had we not traveled by car.

As a registered dietitian, I’m not a fan of fast food so four full days in the car definitely requires planning healthy snacks to take on the road.

Whether you’re planning a one-day road trip or will be on the road for several days like me, these snacks are healthy options to bring along.

Fruits:

Packing fruits that won’t bruise is key. For example, apples, grapes, and clementines will stay fresh and firm stored in a cooler or at room temperature.

Vegetables:

Bringing along vegetables that are easy to eat while driving, such as carrots, celery, sliced peppers, and snap peas.

Hummus:

If you take a break at a rest stop, you can bring out some hummus to have along with your vegetables. One of the many benefits of snacking on fruits and vegetables is they have fiber which can help prevent constipation that can happen when sitting for long hours.

Protein Foods:

Three protein foods that I pack in my cooler are:

·       String Cheese

·       Hard-boiled Eggs

·       Whole Foods roasted deli turkey

String cheese is great because they’re vacuum sealed and keep well in a cooler with ice packs. I keep the shells on my hard-boiled eggs until I’m ready to eat them, but peeling ahead of time works too. The hard-boiled eggs work great for breakfast if your hotel doesn’t offer breakfast and you want to get on the road early.

Whole Foods roasts their turkey in-house, so it doesn’t have the added fillers like many other deli meats.

Whole Grain Crackers:

Triscuits and Wheat Thins are two examples of whole grain crackers that can be paired with hummus, string cheese, or deli turkey in place of a sandwich if you don’t want to stop for lunch when on the road. Be aware that many crackers look like they’re whole grain based on the packaging, but many times they aren’t made with whole grains. The best way to know if your crackers are really a whole grain is:

1. Check the Nutrition Facts label. They should contain at least 3 grams of fiber per 1-ounce serving.

2. Check the ingredients list. The first ingredient should be whole wheat flouor or other whole grain flour. NOT enriched wheat flour. That’s basically white flour.

Popcorn:

Popcorn is another great road trip snack not only because it tastes great, but also because it’s a whole grain and contains fiber. My go-to brands for popcorn are Skinny Pop and Boom Chicka Pop. They are lower in fat than many other brands and not too high in sodium.

Heritage Flakes Cereal:

This is a less obvious snack, but I enjoy this cereal dry by the handful like I’d eat popcorn or combined with yogurt in the morning for breakfast. Many of the hotels we stay in as we travel across the U.S. offer breakfast, so I’ll combine yogurt with the fruit they offer and add the Heritage Flakes cereal on top. It’s a high-fiber cereal that’s healthier than granola and a healthier option than most cereals the hotel offers.

SkinnyDipped Almonds:

SkinnyDipped almonds

I was thrilled when this company reached out to me asking if I wanted samples to try. They arrived in time for my cross-country road trip. These SkinnyDipped almonds are such a delicious treat that works great on the road!

Instead of a thick layer of chocolate, these almonds are thinly dipped and have ½ the sugar of most chocolate-covered almonds. With four delicious flavors to choose from (including Lemon Bliss for the non-chocolate lover), they really hit the spot when you’re looking for something sweet, yet healthy.

If your road trip involves several days, I highly recommend researching hotels that have a small refrigerator in the room to store your perishable snacks. If your hotel fridge doesn’t have a freezer, ask the front desk staff if they can store your ice packs in their freezer. Typically, they will have a freezer where they store medicines and other items for guests and they’ll gladly store your ice packs so they’re frozen and ready to go for you the next morning.   

Happy Summer Travels!