Many of us live super busy lives that just seem to get busier by the day. Our days and weeks seem to go by faster and faster, making our time so much more valuable. When we make the decision to take a trip, whether it be for a day, a weekend, or longer, we often forget to think about our nutrition on the road. This can lead to multiple stops at fast food restaurants and gas station convenience shops. While there may be healthier options available at some of these locations, there will be far more unhealthy options that can be very tempting, since we are on vacation after all, right? Keeping our hunger at bay with healthy snacks that are also convenient, will make it much easier to resist those high calorie, high sugar, and bad fat options that will just have us craving more food in short order. I have put together a list of some of my favorites:
Grab and Go Smoothies
A ready-made smoothie is just too easy to toss into a bag or cooler. When you are choosing your smoothie, just be aware of the sugar content and calories. There are many out there that are loaded with both, and you’ll want to avoid those . Give yourself a taste test of a few of these before grabbing enough of them for your entire trip. I have found some that have given me a bad aftertaste. With all the flavor options out there, though, you’re bound to find something that suits your palate. Also, watch out for those smoothies that are meant to be meal replacements. These will be higher in calories, intentionally. You probably won’t want to drink a meal replacement and still eat a full meal on top of it. If you ARE looking for a meal replacement, you can check out my post discussing some of those here. Very seldom do I travel anywhere without a few prepackaged smoothies on hand. The exception being air-travel due to the carry-on liquid restrictions. However, you can sometimes find a smoothie or two in an airport shop once you have passed the security check points. I have also been known to stash a couple in my checked luggage.
Dried Fruits
Craving something sweet? These may help keep that sweet tooth under control. Much better for you than that candy bar you think you want. Just be careful not to grab those with added sugar. The natural sugar content of the fruit will already be high. Moderation will be key here, because these will be higher in calories, and are easily overindulged upon. You may want to try a few different types of dried fruits to find one that you like. Just because you like a particular fresh fruit, doesn’t necessarily mean that you will like it dried. Prepackaged dried fruits are super easy to pack for those road trips. Take care to check out that nutrition label, though, and avoid those with added sugars or sulfites.
Chips, that’s right, I said chips!
Believe it or not, there are quite a few healthy chip options out there. From root-vegetable chips, to bean chips, blue corn chips, or kale chips, there are loads to choose from, so if you’ve never tried these, give them a shot, you may just find one that you like. Kale chips are my favorite, and they are really easy (not to mention inexpensive) to make yourself. 
Just spray a cookie sheet with some olive oil spray, and place some washed, broken up kale pieces on the sheet. Then spray the kale with the olive oil, sprinkle some sea salt and some garlic over them and stick them in the oven. Bake at 275 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until the kale is crispy. If you have larger pieces, you may want to flip them halfway through. Super simple. I usually put these in a gallon-sized zip lock bag with extra air to keep them from crumbling on the road. If you opt to grab those prepackaged chips, keep an eye on those nutrition labels. My favorite root-vegetable chips are the Terra chips. At 150 calories per serving with a bit of vitamin C and vitamin A, they make me feel good about snacking on chips.
Snack Bars
Another super handy, grab-and-go option. Be careful, though, these bars can be very deceiving. Granola bars, protein bars, fruit bars, meal replacement bars, and I’ve even found cookie bars. Don’t let the picture on the box fool you. These can be loaded with added sugars, low in nutritional value, and very high in calories. They can also be an awesome snack option. You just have to do your homework here. Also, be sure to taste a few before loading your bag with them for a road trip. Some of those protein bars can be difficult to swallow… literally. You are looking to avoid ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and trans fat. Watch out for those bars that are meant to be meal replacements, unless you are actually looking to replace a meal, because they will be much higher in calories.
Stock up on Healthy Snacks for the road
When you are constantly on the go, you’ll be tempted by whatever is quick and easy. Especially if you wait too long to eat. We are all guilty of it. Having those convenient grab-and-go snacks on hand can save you from getting h-angry. Taking a good supply of quick and healthy snacks on the road can help us to resist those fast food and convenience store stops. A quick trip to the grocery store or search online will show you that there are loads of healthy, prepackaged snacks out there. Try out a variety of them and then stock up on the ones that you enjoy. If you keep them handy, it’ll be super easy to pack up for a spontaneous road trip. You’ll have all the wellness benefits of traveling, and be keeping up with your nutrition as well. That’s a win, win!
Do you have a few favorite go-to prepackaged snacks? I’d love to hear what everyone’s favorites are! Drop a comment and let me know!
