9 delicious road trip snacks approved by dietitians

If you have a sweet tooth, you can feed the sugar beast without packing a big bag of cookies. Foods containing natural sugars like fresh or dried fruit and dark chocolate are healthier alternatives.

According to Pacific, “The natural sugars in fruit don’t elicit the same glycemic response as foods with added sugars (like cookies) because fruit contains fiber to help regulate those glucose levels.”

Choosing snacks with natural sugars will minimize the sugar rush and crash that occurs when eating high sugar snacks. This includes sugary drinks as well as snacks.

Fresh fruit is a no-brainer when packing for a road trip. Choose fruits that travel well and don’t need to be stored in the cold, such as apples and pears. Pacific recommends all fruits that are “individually sized like strawberries, grapes, and clementines.” It’s hard to overeat fruit, helping you stay on track with your healthy snacks for your road trip.

Since we aim to eat 5-10 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, adding a few to your travel snack pack will help you achieve that lofty goal.

Sometimes nothing can replace a chip – you have to have it. However, the satisfying crunch of salty crisps can lead to mindless eating – it’s easy to finish the bag without even noticing. Replace the high-fat chips with baked tortilla chips and add a dip of guacamole or salsa to spice it up.

You may have to enjoy these crunchy and somewhat messy snacks in a rest area, but it will also give you time to stretch your legs. A happy and healthy bonus of eating at a rest stop is that when it’s time to get back in your vehicle, it’s time to stop eating.

If you must have cheddar red fish—after all, it’s a snack-on-the-road tradition—buy the snack pack size. The single serving will give you a taste of these delicious little cheddar treats. The single serving size will help you control your total goldfish intake.

Snack sizing is a wonderful portion control aid. However, eating too many processed foods is not the healthiest snack. Save the processed snacks as a special treat throughout your adventure.

Buying a trail mix is ​​a good option, but making your own is even better. Purchased varieties can be stale and many are heavy with unwanted fats and carbs.

When making your own trail mix, you can select healthy ingredients that you like, pack them into snack portions, and keep an eye out for fat and sugar.

Pacific notes, “It’s fun to make a personal trail mix. Simply choose the items you like and mix them together in an airtight container. Below is a list of some of my favorite trail mix supplements.

• Nuts – peanuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, pecans, pistachios
• Seeds – pumpkin, sunflower
• Dried fruits – raisins, cranberries, cherries, pineapple, mango, apricot, banana chips
• Candies – chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate
• Salty – cereal, popcorn, crackers

Editor’s note: Not going to do any trail mix before your next road trip? We recommend the Made in Nature’s Climate Pledge Friendly and berry-forward fruit fusion because it breaks the old mold of trail mix!

“One of the best ways to stay satisfied while you’re stuck in the car is to eat mini meals,” suggests Pacific. “Protein-rich options like deli turkey, ham, pepperoni, and cheese served with crackers and carrot or cucumber sticks give you a nutritious, well-balanced snack that’s eaten like a meal.” These easy-to-eat mini meals won’t weigh you down and make for a tasty snack that increases your level of satisfaction.

Having a high-protein snack in the middle of the day will give you the energy to carry on wherever your road adventure takes you. When you get to your destination, you won’t be hungry for dinner, which can lead to overeating.

Bring the crispy, salty popcorn. When you absolutely need to satisfy that crunchy, salty craving, reach for popcorn.

“Popcorn satisfies the ‘need’ to snack without adding a lot of calories and has the added benefit of having fiber.” Pacific warns, “Watch out for flavors and added sugars, they can thwart your good intentions by sneakily sabotaging empty calories.”

Opt for single-serving packages of your favorite popcorn. They’re a great snack size and you can avoid having a tempting half-eaten big bag lying around.

Staying hydrated is important. Sometimes it seems easier not to drink water when you’re traveling. Too much water equals more frequent stops along the course. But stopping every 2 hours for a break is good for the driver, he can rest his eyes a bit and concentrate on the road. This gives you the option of using a bathroom; therefore, you have no excuse not to drink plenty of water. Bring an insulated water bottle to keep your water cool and refreshing.

Store a gallon jug of water in your cooler for quick water bottle refills. Adding ice to the jug will keep the water cold and help keep cooler items cooler.

“Dehydration will lead to headaches, fatigue, dizziness, irritability, and constipation,” warns Pacific. “It will turn your fun vacation into a not-so-pleasant trip.”