How to Prepare Healthy Road Trip Snacks (with Pictures) (2024)

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Co-authored byCourtney Fose, RD, MSand Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: February 16, 2022References

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   Make whole grain tortilla wraps. Whole grain tortillas can serve as a neat wrap for sliced meats, vegetables, and spreads that will give you fuel and energy without making a mess in the car or making it difficult to drive.^[2]

   • Choose fresh-sliced lean meats like chicken or turkey for a healthy serving of protein. Add fresh vegetables and avocado or hummus, which won't drip the way salsa or salad dressing would.
   • Make smaller wraps so they'll hold together easily in one hand, and fold wax paper around them for easy holding.
   • Keep in mind these snacks are only ideal for shorter road trips (less than 2 hours). Only bring them on longer road trips if you plan to carry a cooler in the car. Otherwise, your vegetables will wilt and your meat may not keep at room temperature.
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   Pack turkey jerky for longer trips. If you're going to be on the road for several hours and don't have room for a cooler, consider buying some turkey jerky. Look for a low-sodium brand to get a healthy helping of protein in a palm-sized snack.^[3] There are organic jerky options available as well.

   • Kale chips also are a healthy snack that won't require refrigeration, or you can bring nuts and seeds for a little protein. Split larger containers into single-serving bags before your trip so you aren't tempted to overeat.
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   Try almond butter and banana sandwiches. The flavor of almond butter and bananas goes together well, and the fiber, healthy fat, and protein will keep you energized and alert on the road. Use whole-grain bread to limit your carbohydrates.^[4]

   • Keep your sandwiches in plastic containers with a lid so they're easier to access while you're on the road and don't get squished. You might also try cutting them into quarters so they're more bite-sized and you don't have to try to manage a whole sandwich with one hand.
   • Peanut butter and jelly is another option. Instead of sugar-laden commercial jellies, use preserves or a whole-fruit spread.
   • These simple sandwiches typically will keep for several hours without refrigeration, as long as you don't have them laying in direct sunlight.
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   See Also

   The Best Road Trip Snacks for Kids

   Bring along some hard boiled eggs. If you've got a cooler on board, hard boiled eggs are a great snack that doesn't take long to prepare. Peel your eggs before you store them in the cooler so you don't have to deal with egg shells in the car.^[5]

   • Make sure to keep the eggs between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent them from spoiling and making you sick.

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   Freeze grapes or blueberries the day before your trip. Grapes and blueberries freeze well, making them better for travel. On the road, they'll provide you plenty of vitamins and fiber to keep you feeling full and satisfied. Separate big bunches into single servings before your trip.^[6]

   • If you don't plan to bring a cooler with you, spread your individual serving bags of frozen grapes or blueberries throughout your food bag to help keep your other food cold for a few hours.
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   Bag up fresh fruit in season. Fresh fruit is a filling snack that will give you plenty of sugar, as well as fiber and an antioxidant boost. If your road trip occurs during warmer months, you'll typically have plenty of different types of fruit to choose from.^[7]

   • Make sure that you wash fresh fruit with some clean water before eating it.
   • Most fresh fruit can be stored at room temperature, which can be a benefit if you're going on a long road trip and don't have a cooler. Just remember to keep it out of direct sunlight.
   • Aim for fruit that doesn't require a lot of work to eat. Oranges, for example, might not be the best road-trip snack because peeling the orange can be a bit difficult and messy in a car.
   • If you bring apples or peaches, make sure to bring a bag you can use to dispose of the cores and pits when you're finished. Just because it's food waste doesn't mean it's okay to throw it out the window of your car.
   • Smaller fruit, such as raspberries and blueberries, will be easier to portion out and store, and you won't have to worry about the mess of pits or cores.
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   Dip dried fruit in yogurt. Yogurt on its own is a healthy snack, but dipping larger dried fruit such as dried apple rings makes it easier to eat on the road. Even better, you don't have to worry about dirty spoons.^[8]

   • To save space and pack everything together, try a mason jar. You can drop the yogurt cup into the bottom and fit your dried fruit in around it. When you want to eat your snack, you can put the yogurt cup in your car's cup holder so your snack doesn't get all over the car.
   • Fresh fruit can work as well, but keep in mind that if you slice fruit ahead of time for dipping purposes and don't store it properly, it's liable to turn while you're on the road.
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   Shake up your own trail mix. Dried fruit mixed with whole-grain cereal and low-fat granola can make a healthy and filling snack that's easy to take on the road. Use larger pieces in the mix so you don't have to worry about crumbs all over the car.^[9]

   • Trail mix gives you the opportunity to mix sweet and salty treats together to satisfy any craving. Try dried pineapple and raisins mixed with whole-grain cereal, sunflower seeds, almonds, and coconut.
   • You can even mix in organic chocolate chips for an extra sweet treat. The caffeine and sugar can give you a short energy burst if you need it to stay awake on the road.
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   Indulge your inner child with fruit bars. Just because you're traveling during the winter months doesn't mean you can't have a healthy sweet fruit snack. Several different companies make dried whole fruit bars that pack a whole serving into a tiny package – perfect for travel.^[10]

   • These sweet treats are made for (and marketed to) little kids, but that doesn't mean you can't get in on the fun.
   • To make the healthiest choice, look for fruit bars made from whole fruit, with no additives or preservatives. There are organic options available as well.
   • Keep in mind these snacks can be pretty sticky, so if you include them, make sure you have antibacterial wipes handy to clean your hands after eating one.
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   Try all-natural licorice. When you think licorice, you may think of American sugary treats, but all-natural licorice of the type made by European companies is certified organic, with real licorice extract and pureed fruit, making it more of a fruit snack than a candy.^[11]

   • All-natural licorice comes in many different flavors, including sweeter flavors such as raspberry and strawberry, so don't worry if you're not fond of the taste of licorice itself.

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   Keep snacks in individual bags. Smaller bags or containers allow you to portion out snacks so you can be sure you're not eating more than you should. With a larger container that contains several servings, you could end up mindlessly eating the whole thing.^[12]

   • Keep all of your snacks in a large tote or basket so everything remains contained in your car.
   • You can buy a set of plastic containers with a variety of sizes at relatively low cost at most discount or kitchen stores. Hard-sided containers often work better than bags because they keep food from getting crushed or damaged.
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   Bring along a small cooler. Particularly if you're going on a longer road trip, a cooler will enable you to bring a greater variety of healthy snacks and whole foods, so you won't be tempted by roadside diners and convenience store fare.^[13]

   • You can get "disposable" coolers relatively cheaply if you don't anticipate using it after you get back home from your trip. You also can find coolers that collapse when not in use, if you're concerned about storage.
   • If space is at a premium, consider getting a smaller lunch-bag sized insulated bag, and just use it for the food that absolutely must stay cold. Put ice packs inside to increase the cooling power.
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   Use thicker dips. Salad dressings may drip all over the place, and can easily spill if you roll over a pothole or speed bump. Anything you want to use as a dip should be thick enough that you can turn the container sideways without it running out.^[14]

   • Peanut butter and hummus work well as dips that won't drip or spill on bumpy roads.
   • You also might consider using a cup that fits in your cup holder for a dip, if you have something that's thinner that you still want to bring.
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   Spread dips on the bottom of containers. If you spread a few tablespoons of thicker dip along the bottom of a plastic container, you can pack in vegetables or crackers on top. Then you don't have to balance two containers while driving or riding on a bumpy road.^[15]

   • For example, you might make a munchie tray by spreading hummus or peanut butter on the bottom of a plastic storage container, then topping it with baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and celery sticks.^[16]
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   Choose snacks that are simple and odor-free. You may not care if your car smells like apricots for miles, but having a car that reeks of garlic for days may be a different story. Save the onions for meals at home, and pack whole foods with no assembly required to minimize damage to your car's interior.^[17]

   • The same can be said for particularly juicy fruits or sticky foods. Particularly if you also have children in the car, don't pack anything for a snack that you wouldn't want on your upholstery.
   • Things can be difficult to do in a car that are relatively simple to do anywhere else. Depending on the road conditions, just spreading cheese on a cracker can be a difficult proposition. Stick to things you can prepare ahead of time, and that can be eaten using only one hand.
   • If you're planning to stop for a picnic, you may want to pack some more complicated fare – but keep it out of reach for snacking purposes while the car's in motion.
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   Use containers that can do double duty. Pack your foods carefully in lidded containers that can double as receptacles for any litter. Once you reach your destination, you can rinse the containers out and use them again.^[18]

   • In most cases, going on a long road trip means an equally long trip back home. Reusable containers generally mean less waste, and also mean you won't have to purchase additional supplies for your trip back.

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