A proper vacation demands proper snacks.
One of the most important things to consider when traveling for long stretches is snacks. You gotta take a whole laundry list of things into consideration when selecting your snacks for a road trip. Are you going to be stopping frequently? Are you going to be camping? Are you going to pack everything at once or get snacks as you go?
Now, I’m firmly of the belief that food is meant to be enjoyed, and that goes for small snacks as well. What you need for road trip snacks are things that strike a good balance of nutritious, energizing, and tasty. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions.
Hummus
The original dipping king. Hummus is a perfect pairing to just about any small, dippable snack, from pretzels to pita bread. If you’re feeling crafty, you can use up a disposable cup of hummus, then fill it back up with hummus you make yourself! Just make sure to re-seal the lid with tape or something.
Jerky
A hearty snack for a hearty adventurer. Since most meat dishes don’t lend themselves especially well to portability, jerky is a nice compromise. Just make sure to get a decent brand; the cheap stuff is full of fillers and nitrates.
Nuts
Salted or unsalted, coated or uncoated, nuts can provide a variety of flavors and nutrients. Most commercial nuts come in as many flavors as chips, so if you’re craving a particular taste, nuts can often provide.
Popcorn
Light, airy, and crunchy, if ever there was a bagged snack that could be eaten with one hand, it’s popcorn. Popcorn tends to be healthier than chips, especially these days with all of the organic popcorn brands floating around. Just remember that popcorn has an occasional tendency to cause gas in some people, which you probably don’t want to deal with in a packed car.
Dark Chocolate
If we’re going to have at least one indulgence on this list, let it be dark chocolate. The smooth, slightly-bitter flavor is good for keeping yourself awake and alert in the wee hours, plus it’s good for your heart. Like jerky, though, make sure to get a good brand. The cheap stuff is no different from milk chocolate.
