I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately – about going to visit my parents. But you see, they live in Northern Washington, and we live in Northern California. Which is not exactly a hop skip and a jump away…
Which leads me down the path of thinking…. road trip?!?
I’ll be honest I haven’t yet attempted a long haul road trip with all three littles, and this adventure would most likely be just me and them, but here are my thoughts on the matter. I think that all kiddos should have to endure a long road trip, if only for the sake of learning some kind of patience and how to endure to the end. You might be laughing, but I am 100% serious. In this day and age of instant gratification, fast food, and a fast pace life, it’s often so much easier to just give in to my littles whims than to argue or explain a better way with them. But a road trip… 3 days in the car with minimal stops teaches you something. Even if that ‘something’ is simply the best way to annoy your sister, I still feel that it’s important to learn to stick it out and keep going. Since that’s what real life is all about. Enduring to the end, and doing it in style.
So naturally, while thinking about this road trip my mind started thinking about the types of snacks I should think about brining to help keep everyone’s belly’s happy. Here are my top 10 tasty road trip treats for the whole family:
1. Fruit.
Fruit’s fiber and high water content will help keep you full and hydrated as you travel. But, unless you want a messy car, it’s best that you either choose fruit that doesn’t have a stem, a pit, or an outside covering—namely, blueberries, figs, and grapes—or prepare fruit ahead of time and place it into Tupperware containers. Strawberries, banana slices, peaches, and nectarines are great for this.
Calories per serving: 85–105
2. A Better Nut Butter and Jelly
The trouble with most sandwiches is that they require a cooler…unless you like eating warm chicken salad. Peanut (or any nut, frankly) butter and jelly is one that doesn’t. Make it with whole-grain bread (my personal favorite is Oroweat Whole grain wheat bread.), an all-natural nut butter, and all-natural fruit spread from Trader Joes. Raspberry for us, of course. 😉
Calories per 1/2 sandwich: 150 (varies depending on ingredients)
3. Shakeology Packets
Want to take your Shakeology on the road? Just mix a single-serving Shakeology packet (available in Chocolate, Vanilla, Greenberry, Chocolate Vegan, and Tropical Strawberry) with water and shake!
Calories per serving: 160–170
5. Eggs
You might find the idea of taking eggs with you on the road a little odd, but hard-boiled eggs are great for a quick power-up. Plus, they’re loaded with B vitamins, which may help keep tempers cool on long trips. This is seriously one of my kiddos favorite snack items!
Calories per serving: 78
6. Nuts
Nuts are highly caloric, but they’re also high in healthy omega-3 fats and travel well. Choose raw, unsalted nuts like almonds or walnuts that don’t require you to dispose of a shell.
Calories per serving: 130–180
7. Baby Carrots
Maybe we’re weird, but we think baby carrots are fun to eat, and they don’t make a mess! Quinn will eat a whole bowl full for snack, any day of the week. They’re sweet on their own, or you can combine them with hummus for a yummy, crunchy treat.
Calories per serving: 30
8. Other Veggies
It’s a classic for a reason. Slice up your favorite veggies—snap peas, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and celery all travel well—and pop them into a sealable container. Cucumbers and sliced bell peppers, our faves, are also a yummy single-serving snack.
Calories per serving: Less than 20
9. Dried Fruit
On day 2 of the road trip, when you’ve run out of regular fruit, try dried fruit. It’s higher in calories by volume than fresh fruit, so just be mindful of how much you eat and look for options without sulfites, but it’s better for you than a candy bar. Or a Fruit Roll-Up.
Calories per serving: About 150
1o. PopChips
This is probably the least healthy option on this list since they’re made with potato flour and not whole potatoes, but you could do a lot worse. Plus, they’re a Tony Horton–approved road trip snack. Original PopChips contain just potatoes, salt, a touch of rice flour, and oil, so you can feel like you’re snacking on chips without loading your body up with who knows what.
Calories per serving: 120
