10 Easy Snack Ideas For Road Tripping With Your Kids
Picture this: you load up the car with all of the luggage. You make sure all of the boxes are checked, and you have plenty of forms of entertainment for the kiddos.
You have your destination mapped and are excited for the family road trip that awaits. You pull out of the driveway and make it onto the interstate just to be hit with the inevitable…
“I’m hungry!”
As a parent, I’m sure you can relate to this scenario. It never fails that wherever we go, our kids always ask for a snack the second we get into the car.
And honestly, I can’t blame them! I love a good road trip snack, too, but that doesn’t mean that it’s realistic to stop 100 times to grab a gas station snack every time someone says they’re hungry.
After experiencing this struggle one too many times on our family vacations, I made sure to add LOTS of snacks to our packing list to ensure that everyone was taken care of and we weren’t faced with the no-snack dilemma.
So, suppose you’re a parent preparing for your next vacation and want to make your life a little easier. In that case, I suggest taking note of these 10 easy snack ideas and adding them to your grocery list or picking them up on your next Costco haul so they’re always on hand and easy to grab out of the pantry before you hit the road!
My Top Road Trip Tips When Traveling With Kids
Before I get into the list of our family’s go-to’s, there are a few tips I want to share with you that seem to work well when traveling with kiddos!
Eat a full meal before you leave 🍽️
First things first, one of the best ways to alleviate the constant snack question is to eat a full meal before you hit the road! Often when traveling, it’s tempting to rush through breakfast or lunch before you leave, but the meal that you eat before you leave is one of the most important.
Ensuring that you serve your kids a full meal that consists of protein and healthy fat can help alleviate their snack cravings at least for a little while. This can buy you some time way more than a bowl of cereal or pop tart will.
2. Plan for certain meal stops along the way 🛑
Next, intentionally plan for specific meal stops en route to your destination. Sometimes, when traveling, food becomes an afterthought, and the next thing you know, you’re in the middle of nowhere with no restaurants in sight.
To avoid this, I suggest planning these stops along the way so that when the snack question comes up, you know exactly when the next meal stop is planned and can give the kids something to look forward to.
3. Limit the liquids 🧃
I’m all for hydration, but nothing can derail a road trip more than stopping to use the restroom multiple times along the way. This is why I always try to limit the liquids for myself and my kiddos before we set on our adventures!
4. Invest in a snack caddy 👝
Instead of bringing a bunch of bagged snacks, investing in a snack caddy, such as a snackle box or snack spinner can make snacks so much more fun and can be customized for each kiddo so everyone can have their own without having to fight over the good stuff!
These containers also make it super easy to pack things for travel without taking up too much extra room in the car.
5. Bring their preferences 😋
Lastly, one of the best ways to win the snack situation on road trips is to pack your kids' preferences. As parents, we typically go for the healthy options, but I’ll be honest… if you skip their favorites for a road trip, it’s likely going to defeat the purpose and could cause more chaos for you.
My rule of thumb is to let each child choose 1-2 of their favorite snack options (which are typically more like yummy treats) and then pack better options for them to have once their favorites are gone.
10 Easy Road Trip Snack Ideas For Kids
Now let’s get into my go-to snack ideas for traveling with kids!
When packing, I always try to pair super simple ingredients together to create delicious and healthy snack options that can hold them over until we reach our destination.
Chomps Beef Jerky Sticks
I love to buy these in bulk at Costco or on Thrive Market, always to have plenty on hand!
2. Apples + Peanut Butter Cups
Apples are always an easy option, so I’ll often cut up a few into slices so they can easily be dipped in peanut butter so that healthy fat is present and keeps everyone full a little longer.
3. Homemade Trail Mix
While you could simply buy pre-packaged trail mix, sometimes I find that it’s more cost-effective to make our own and it allows me to have more control over the ingredients and add all of our favorites!
4. Applesauce Pouches
These have been a go-to since my kids were young and they continue to be a family favorite.
5. On-the-go Yogurts
A great protein source that’s often overlooked is yogurt and these days there are so many on-the-go options that are perfect for travel.
Check out our recommended yogurt containers for when you're on-the-go!
6. Homemade Muffins
Instead of ransacking the grocery store snack aisle, I always like to think about what I can make at home ahead of time that will give us a larger quantity than a bag of cookies or chips and homemade muffins are ALWAYS a go-to!
Again, this allows me to control the ingredients and mix up the flavors based on what my kids like best.
Real Food By Dad's Morning Glory muffins are bursting with mouthwatering ingredients like carrots, coconut, raisins, and nuts, making them the perfect way to add some extra veggies to your diet. These muffins are also incredibly convenient for road trips, so you can indulge in a delicious and healthy snack while on the go.
7. Pretzel + Hummus Cups
When giving my kids things like pretzels, chips, or other carbs, I always try to pair those things with healthy dips so they aren’t just consuming empty calories all day.
Hummus or guacamole cups are super easy to travel with and are the perfect addition to pretzels and chips!
8. Cheese Cubes or String Cheese
Another healthy favorite that you can’t go wrong with are cheese cubes or string cheese.
9. Berry Fruit Mixture
Most kids LOVE fruit because it tastes like a sugary treat, so if you’re trying to limit the candy on your road trip, mix up a berry fruit bowl and divide it into ziploc bags before hitting the road!
We love using these reusable Ziploc bags, which are super helpful when traveling.
10. Protein Bars
Lastly, you can’t go wrong with protein or granola bars. When purchasing bars, I always try to make sure they are more than cereal or granola, but they pack a punch with nutrients as well!
Looking for some healthy snacks on the go? Look no further! Whether you're planning a road trip, getting ready for sports practice, or simply running errands, I have got you covered with some fantastic travel snacks and accessories that you are going to absolutely love!
Plan Your Next Family Vacation With Confidence
We’re big fans of vacationing as a family and fully believe that it doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming when you plan accordingly!
Even though something as simple as snacks might feel like a small part of a road trip, it really can make a difference when you plan ahead.
For more streamlined and stress-free travel tips, browse the blog and follow along on Instagram.
And if you need a hand planning your next family vacation, I’m here to help! CLICK HERE to learn more about our Done-for-You Family and Personal Travel Services where you can get a travel guide designed specifically for you!
Comments