Healthy Snacks to Pack When Traveling

Monday, 27 September 2021 16:08

Healthy Snacks to Pack When Traveling

Written by Kayci

Summers and the holiday season are times for spending time with family and friends, and traveling to fun places. But on those long car rides, or even plane rides, what should you eat to prevent gorging on high-sugar, low-nutrient foods? I’ll give you my personal go-to’s when I travel long distances to avoid reaching for the quick, convenient snacks we might normally turn to.

I’ve always been a planner, and planning what goes into my body is no exception. Two times a year, I pack up my suitcase with clothes, my cat, and an arsenal of healthy options and drive 13 plus hours from the state of Florida to my home state of Pennsylvania. Along the way, I stop at gas stations primarily for bathroom breaks and refuel for myself and my car. But if you’ve ever browsed the gas station snack selection, most of the options include high-sugar, enriched carbs, and unhealthy fats that will have you feeling bloated, sluggish, and down-right sick for the remainder of your trip. What you need instead is protein packed, high-quality, and snacks with healthy fats to get you through to your ultimate destination.

I do commend those gas stations that are providing more fruit and vegetable options, and even healthier bar options such as RX Bars or Kind Bars. But let’s say you want to try and save money while en route to your destination. That’s when a little healthy pre-planning can come in handy.

These snacks usually get me through the 13-hour drive without feeling like I just ate a salt mine or sugar field. My top foods to pack on the road include:

• Bananas
• Apples
• Halo tangerines
• Grapes
• Cherries
• Carrot sticks
• Pepper slices
• Cucumber circles
• Celery sticks
• RX Bars
• Lara Bars
• Paleo Protein Bars (online at Julianbakery.com)
• Homemade trail mix (recipe at the end!)
• “That’s It” or “Kind” fruit bars

I believe in eating as whole and real as possible, so if you’re not sure what foods would be considered healthier than others, always read the ingredients list. Two good rules of thumb that I’m sure you’ve heard are if it contains “less than six ingredients” and/or “ingredients you can pronounce” to determine the snack options you should choose.

When I do a little pre-planning, I come out the other end of the country feeling energized, clean, and proud that I didn’t gorge on M&M’s, the bag of Doritos or convenience store donuts.

As mentioned in my list, I pack homemade trail mix for three main reasons: 1. It’s fun to make; 2. I know what’s in it; and 3. Some store-bought mix isn’t very healthy because of added oils or sugars to preserve flavor or freshness. So here are my ingredients for a simple, healthy, “less than six ingredients” and “ingredients you can pronounce” recipe!

¼ cup almonds
¼ cup walnuts
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
¼ cup goji berries
¼ cup mulberries
¼ cup 70% or higher dark chocolate
Combine all ingredients and place in a travel friendly container!

Remember, you can replace any of the above ingredients with your own preferences. It’s entirely up to you since it’s in your control and you know what you like more than anyone else (:

I hope this blog provided you with some ideas or inspiration for your next long trip.

Published in Travel

Healthy Snacks to Pack When Traveling

Related items