19 Healthy Packaged Snacks for Road Trips - Blue Nest Beef

June 16, 2023

Summer is fast approaching, making it a great time for you, your friends, or your family to go on a road trip. Aside from prepping your car, itinerary, and travel supplies, you should also bring healthy packaged snacks for the entire gang. Choose snacks that will keep you energized and alert while driving. Moreover, to make your eating sessions exciting and appetizing, ensure your packaged foods selection is diverse.

Consider the dietary preferences and food allergies of your travel mates as well to avoid complications later on. If you haven’t decided what to bring yet, here are 19 healthy packaged snack ideas that are perfect for road trips.

Frozen Fruit

Fruit

A frozen fruit snack bag consisting of berries, peaches, mangos, and pineapples is easy to pack and consume. You can immediately eat from the package without needing to use a peeler or knife. They also retain all the vitamins, nutrients, and natural sweetness of fresh fruit while not spoiling as quickly. Moreover, these fruit snacks don’t use preservatives or any added ingredients, making them safe for consumption.

Their cold texture likewise makes them more refreshing, especially if you plan on traversing warmer states and the countryside. Furthermore, frozen fruit is generally cheaper than its fresh counterparts. Thus, you’ll have more budget for gas or other snacks.

Popcorn

Aside from being the go-to snack in cinemas, popcorn is a great healthy snack for road trips. It is rich in fiber and polyphenols, which are antioxidants that enhance digestion and blood circulation. They are known to lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.

Furthermore, popcorn contains just enough calories, healthy fats, carbohydrates, and protein to give you extra energy when traveling and driving. Most popcorn variants are also gluten-free and sugar-free, making them better snack options for people monitoring their sugar levels. If the thought of eating just popcorn is a bit boring, there are several flavors like white cheddar, Tex-Mex, herb, spicy cheese, cinnamon sugar, and rosemary parmesan to choose from.

Roasted Chickpeas

Roasted chickpeas are great snacks for road trips since they are portable and dry. A large quantity of these crunchy and delicious legumes can easily fit in small plastic containers or lunch boxes. They also do not cause stains and are easy to clean up should they scatter in your car’s interior.

Despite their small size, roasted chickpeas are packed with vitamins and nutrients. They contain ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and vitamin A. Moreover, they’re a good source of fiber, magnesium, and calcium. Chickpeas likewise help in weight management, blood sugar control, and constipation prevention. However, to get the best chickpeas, always check the ingredient label and choose those with little to no additives.

Dried Fruit

If you don’t have a cooler or the right container to store frozen fruit, pick up dried fruit instead. Dried fruit is one of the most ideal snacks for traveling in the car since it is dry and compact. It is also more crunchy than conventional fruit snacks. Thus, get this snack if you want the nutritional value of fruits but prefer the texture and taste of standard packaged chips.

Dried fruit also contains a healthy dose of antioxidants and micronutrients that lessens your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. Moreover, vitamin K and boron found in most dried fruit promote good bone health.

Pumpkin Seeds

There are many ways to consume pumpkin seeds. For instance, you can make a delicious stew, soup, or broth out of them. However, it’s best to eat them raw or roasted if you want a healthy snack on the road. Aside from preventing misses, they also take less time to prepare and load up in your car.

These tiny seeds are packed with nutrients such as fiber, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, and copper. They likewise contain vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and many other vitamins. Moreover, they’re a great snack for boosting immunity, managing sugar levels, improving sleep, and reducing anxiety.

Hard-boiled Eggs

Hard Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs are arguably the most essential road trip snacks. They’re compact yet substantive food items that can keep the entire traveling group full and energized. Eggs are likewise relatively cheap considering the nutritional value they offer.

Just a single hard-boiled egg contains six grams of protein, one and a half grams of saturated fat, 206 milligrams of cholesterol, and 72 calories. This well-rounded snack is also rich in vitamins D, E, A, B5, B2, and B12. They also have lutein and zeaxanthin that promote improved eye health as well as calcium and iron that facilitate enhanced bone growth. Nevertheless, avoid eating too many hard-boiled eggs in one sitting as this can result in high blood pressure.

Whole Grain Crackers

Whole grain crackers are easy and convenient snacks to eat. Each package can conveniently fit in your pocket, too. Moreover, they have a long shelf life of around six to nine months. All of these make whole grain crackers good travel snacks for road trips.

Moreover, these snacks provide the health benefits of other whole grains. They are high in nutrients like antioxidants, protein, iron, magnesium, and manganese. Furthermore, they are rich in niacin, folate, thiamine, and other B vitamins. They likewise have good fiber content, which can help in managing weight and lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Salty Crunchy Snacks

Salty and crunchy snacks like sea salt crackers are fun road trip snacks. They are appealing to munch on, and they're a good alternative if you want to dial down on sugary food. You can make your own salty crackers or buy store-bought snacks instead. There are several good brands available in the market.

To get the healthiest option, choose a snack that is gluten-free, packed with protein, and has natural flavors. Moreover, look for salty crunch snacks that have wholesome or organic ingredients. You can even do a bit of research and look for brands that are approved by a registered dietitian.

BoboLinks Beef Sticks

If you want healthy snacks packaged compactly, buy yourself a couple of BoboLinks Beef Sticks. The standard pack comes with eight beef sticks, but you can order a pack with as many as 80 sticks. These naturally-fermented beef sticks are made of 100% grass-fed cattle. You likewise don’t have to worry about additives since no hormones, pesticides, or antibiotics were used on either the grass or cattle.

Furthermore, each stick contains six grams of protein and 70 calories. They are also dietarily flexible since they are gluten-free, casein-free, sugar-free, and soy-free. Hence, you should pick up BoboLinks Beef Sticks if you want delicious, pocketable, and super healthy road snacks.

Dark Chocolate

Do you like eating candies and chocolates on road trips but want to consume less sugar? If so, dark chocolate is the way to go. These healthy packaged snacks come in huge boxes, small wrappers, or standard bars. The latter two options are ideal for car trips and travel.

Furthermore, dark chocolate only contains a fraction of the sugar content of typical milk or white chocolate. It is also high in flavanols, which are good for the heart and improve blood flow, and contains fiber, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and other essential minerals. Furthermore, its increased caffeine content can help you be more alert while driving.

Pita Chips With Dip

Instead of picking regular potato chips, grab yourself a bag of nutritious pita chips. These healthy packaged snacks are available in convenience stores and supermarkets. They are also easy to pack, open, and dispose of. While the chips themselves lack flavor, they can be paired with delicious dips like baked asparagus, sunflower oil, roasted red pepper hummus, garlic olive oil, zippy curry, and mushroom caponata.

Eating pita chips also has health benefits. These include improved digestion, added energy, stronger bones, reduced blood pressure, increased metabolic rate, enhanced immunity, and better skin. This doesn’t even include the nutritional content you’ll get from your dip of choice.

Assorted Nuts

One of the best road trip snacks to buy is assorted nuts consisting of peanuts, pecans, walnuts, almonds, and cashews. Each of these nuts has different flavors and textures, making them fun to eat. Moreover, they are not messy to eat in a car since they are dry and small.

Nuts also have a lot of nutritional value. They contain fiber, omega-3, plant sterols, and unsaturated fats. This means they’re good for lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and the risk of heart disease. However, tree nut allergy can cause health issues and even be life-threatening, so you should ensure that all your travel mates are not allergic to nuts.

Kale Chips

If you have the time, you can make crispy kale chips at home before embarking on your journey. These healthy snacks consist of only kale, olive oil, sea salt, and Old Bay Seasoning. Each serving will yield around two grams of fiber, one gram of saturated fat, three grams of protein, and 101 calories. These chips are also rich in vitamins and nutrients such as ascorbic acid, vitamin A, B vitamins, potassium, and calcium.

These nutritious yet cheap road trip snacks can be stored in resealable plastic bags or lunch boxes. You can also pack some Greek yogurt, fresh herb, sour cream, or cheesy cashew dip for added flavor.

Chocolate Chips

If you have a sweet tooth, bring a bag of chocolate chips on your road trip. These tasty treats come in different shapes and sizes. They also usually come in compact packaging, making them perfect for travel. Just be careful not to drop melted chocolate on your car’s fabric seats since they can cause stains.

Aside from being delicious, chocolate chips are packed with micronutrients like calcium, copper, magnesium, and potassium. Furthermore, they are rich in antioxidants, fiber, polyphenols, and healthy fats. They can also give you an energy boost that is useful on long drives.

Trail Mix

Do you want dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and granola all in a single package? If so, trail mix is the road trip snack for you. Some variants of these healthy packaged snacks also contain a dose of maple syrup or honey, which is good news if you have a sweet tooth.

What makes trail mixes great snacks for road trips is that they don’t require refrigeration. They are also easy to pack in a bag or the back of a car. Most importantly, they are loaded with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Just make sure that the trail mix you pick doesn’t have too much added sugar as this can lead to weight gain.

Rice Crisps

Rice crisps are simple yet classic packaged snacks that can be eaten anywhere, even in cars during road trips. Some brands offer these snacks in various flavors like sour cream and onion, sweet and spicy chili, and buttermilk ranch. Meanwhile, others turn them into rice crispy bars.

These healthy snacks for trips are rich in minerals like iron, protein, potassium, and calcium. They also contain good vitamin D that improves heart health, boosts immunity, promotes calcium absorption, and lessens the risk for certain ailments. Moreover, each pack typically has 100 calories and 23 grams of carbohydrates, giving you the energy needed to endure long drives and travels.

Greek Yogurt

While Greek yogurt can be used as an amazing dip or ingredient for oats and smoothies, it can also be eaten by itself. You can likewise indulge in it while relishing the view from the car door window. This highly versatile and nutritious snack contains wholesome ingredients, being made of only low-fat plain yogurt and low-fat milk. There are no artificial colors or added sugar in the mixture.

Each serving contains a perfect portion of protein, calcium, iodine, carbohydrates, magnesium, fats, and calories. Moreover, Greek Yogurt is rich in probiotics. These good bacteria balance out your gut microbe levels and improve overall digestive health.

Vegetables With Cheese

There’s no travel snack as healthy, vibrant, and diverse as vegetables. These whole foods are filled to the brim with vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, folic acid, zinc, magnesium, fiber, and phosphorus. They can help reduce the risk of certain illnesses like cancer, mental degradation, and obesity.

For your trip, pack a couple of sliced carrots, celery, bell peppers, and green beans. Pick fresh vegetables only so that they’ll remain crunchy and delicious throughout your journey. To balance out their taste, bring some cheesy dip as well. If you’re lactose intolerant, you can use hummus or the previously discussed Greek yogurt instead.

Almond Butter and Strawberries

If you want the best snack combination for your long trip, almond butter and strawberries are the way to go. These two healthy foods complement each other in both taste and texture. However, be careful when eating them on a bumpy road since the nut butter can end up on your car’s floor or seats.

When it comes to nutritional content, these foods pack a wallop. Almond butter is rich in monounsaturated fats, which is good for raising HDL cholesterol. It also has omega-3 fatty acids that are good for the heart and vitamin E that helps enhance vision and blood circulation. Meanwhile, strawberries have high antioxidants, vitamin C, folate, potassium, fiber, and manganese.

Final Thoughts

No road trip is complete without tasty treats and snacks. From frozen fruit to beef sticks, there are several packaged snacks you can bring on your next journey. Aside from being delicious, these snacks are also nutritious and convenient to eat. If you want to know more about healthy foods and car snack ideas, visit our website.

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