You’ve already got your coffee, a curated road trip playlist and your partner in crime riding shotgun – the only thing missing is a cooler full of road trip snacks to keep you full during the journey. Keep hungry feelings at bay with these road trip snacks, from healthy high-protein snacks to guilty pleasure sweets. Here’s what to stock up on before your next road trip
The Best Road Trip Snacks: Sweet Trip
Are you a sucker for all things sweet? Here are some sweet road trip snacks that are easy to pack, mess-free, and easy to eat on the road. They are not only packed with sweetness, but they also are cheap, and you can make them at home before your big road trip.
Trail mix
Let’s start the list off with something loved by everyone—trail mix. And no, this isn’t your average nuts and dried fruit trail mix. Our version of trail mix is full of colour, flavor, and texture. Topped with pretzels, mini marshmallows, M&Ms, and chocolate cereal, this trail mix gets a 10/10. It is super tasty and almost impossible to stop snacking on. Just don’t pack it in one bag—divide it up into smaller bags so that everyone gets their own.
Puppy chow
This homemade candy is known by many names. You might know it as monkey munch, muddy buddies, reindeer chow or doggy bag, but it’s all the same thing. This snack is simply delicious. Puppy chow is composed of rice cereal squares (ie: Shreddies) coated in chocolate or peanut butter and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It’s an irresistible dessert, the perfect sweet treat to feed a crowd on the road.
Cocktail nuts
Peanuts by themselves are a fun and salty snack. They are easy to prepare and you can have them anytime. However, cocktail nuts are the elevated version of the peanut. You can chomp on these nuts all day! They are prepared in sugar syrup, and once the syrup cools and sets, it forms a sweet, crunchy covering over the nuts. They are then finished off with a sprinkle of salt, giving a nice contrast to the sweet sugar coating. Easy to pop in your mouth while driving, you won’t want to put them away.
Papdi mix
Papdi mix is a gem. This sweet, savory, and salty mix is made from a variety of cereals, peanuts and whole grain oat cereal, finished off with a smooth garlicky and umami-rich sauce that ties all the flavours together. It then goes for a short stint in the oven for that extra crunch.
Chocolate chip cookies
There’s nothing more fun than chocolate chip cookies. This classic dessert is iconic for one simple reason – it is simply delicious. Prepare them as you like, adding walnuts as a surprise ingredient for a wonderful gooey and crispy combination.
Fire crackers
We can all agree on one thing – saltines aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of road trip snacks. But these aren’t the boring everyday saltine crackers – these are fire crackers: banging squares of golden crackers made from melted spiced butter drizzled on saltine crackers. The difference is simply wow!
Chocolate covered almonds
Almonds are great. Chocolate is great. Put them together, and you get a fantastic road trip snack. No should never be an answer when it comes to chocolate-covered almonds. They are the perfect combination of smooth and crunchy, sweet and nutty – absolutely addictive. You can buy them or make them yourself, with the latter being more affordable and they taste just as good, if not better.
Muffins
It’s always a good idea to bring muffins on a road trip. These quick snacks are easy to eat in the car, mess-free and delicious. You can settle for whatever flavor you fancy, but banana muffins do the trick for us. Made with sweet, overripe bananas, we don’t see how anything comes close.
Healthy road trip snacks
Snacking and boredom go hand in hand, and if you mind what you put in your body, here are some healthy road trip snacks to binge on as you drive. These snacks are not only delicious, but they are also filling and provide your body with all the nutrients it wants and needs, keeping you energised and happy on the road.
Roasted chickpeas
Chickpeas aren’t the first thing that pops to mind when you’re stocking up on road trip snacks, but trust us – you’ll want to take these wherever you’re headed. Simply drain and dry your canned chickpeas and toss them in olive oil. Season with salt and whichever spices you desire, then pop them in the oven and watch the magic happen. The chickpeas become crispy and so tasty – better hold on to your taste buds!
String cheese
You can never be too old for string cheese, particularly if you know its nutritional benefits. This tasty road trip snack is a low-calorie source of protein and calcium, and it is free of trans fats and sugars, making it ideal for the whole family.
Grapes
You can never go wrong with fresh fruit, and grapes are a tasty and healthy road trip snack. What makes grapes so great? They are healthy, clean and easy to eat – perfect for when you’re bored and want to eat something on the road. They will satisfy you, provide you with vital nutrients and help keep the boredom at bay.
Nuts and more nuts
Peanuts are great but think pistachios if you’re looking for a healthy road trip snack. These nuts are a great source of protein, fibre, and unsaturated fats. Moreover, they have a much lower calorie content compared to other nuts. Opt for the shelled pastichos so you aren’t scramlbing to open each nut as you drive. Another great nut you can pack for your trip is walnuts. Walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, meaning they will keep you full for a longer period of time.
Hard-boiled eggs
Not your typical road trip snack, huh? Hard-boiled eggs are not only healthy, but they are also easy. The prep time is short, packing is simple and eating is easy. They are mess-free, and they pack a lot of protein – everything your body needs on a road trip.
Ham and cheese wheels
Ham is packed with protein, and cheese has all the healthy fat you need. These two combined are not only delicious but also filling. Moreover, they are also great because this road trip snack is easy to prepare.
Granola bars
If you want something that will keep you energised the whole day, granola bars are the answer. The only downside is that they are a bit pricey. No worries, though – we have an affordable option for you. All it takes to make a granola bar at home are almonds, maple syrup, dates, oats, and peanut butter. With these ingredients, you can make delicious granola bars for a fraction of the price. The best bit – you can have as many granola bars as you’d like!
Popcorn
Popcorn is the ultimate road trip snack as it is a source of fibre and complex carbs. If you can, avoid microwave popcorn. Instead, go for regular popcorn – the three-ingredient version made only from corn kernels, oil, and salt. Better yet, pop some on the stove at home before your road trip. The only thing you need is corn, salt, and some butter.
Biltong
Packed with protein and one of the best ways to satisfy your hunger, biltong is a must-have road trip snack. However, don’t go for petrol station biltong full of preservatives and whose sodium levels are off the charts, go for the organic grass-fed option that you’ll find at your local natural foods store. Compared to the petrol station biltong, this option satisfies your hunger and has less sodium, fats and, most importantly, preservatives.
