First thing’s first: This post is not for the health nuts of the world, more for those who identify as “healthy-ish”. Because we all know how it goes, we set out with the best intentions. We will pack lunches, bring celery and peanut butter (vomit emoji), and we won’t drink soda this time. Then we pass by our favorite fast-food restaurant, or grab our favorite candy at the gas station, and suddenly we’re living off of sugar and carbs feeling bloated and tired. Not a great fit for a long drive. However, part of the fun of a road trip is doing what you want when you want, raiding a gas station for your favorite snacks on a late-night stop, and trying all kinds of new foods even if they are piled high with cheese and you’re lactose intolerant (I’m guilty of this).

So, now that we’ve established that I enjoy sugar and carbs too and that I’m not here to tell you to eat celery all day, but I know it’s important to eat healthy(ish). Let’s get into my 10 choices for healthy road trip snacks.

Southern Grove Trail Mix From Aldi

This might seem like an obvious one, but I specify Aldi because their trail mis is so good! Plus, they have a ton of variety and you get a good sized bag for cheaper than at any of the competing grocery stores. My favorite is the Asian Mix or the Chocolate indulgence mix, although downside to the indulgence is of course extra sugar and it is more likely to melt in hot temperatures. Of course just about any trail mix is a great idea to get healthy nutrients from nuts and fruits. The two trail mixes I like are probably the least healthy (worry laugh face) but as long as you watch your portion sizes this is a better alternative to a bunch of candy bars.

KIND and Larabar Granola Bars

Yes these are in the healthy bars section, no not all bars in that section are healthy (looking at you Cliff Bars). However, KIND and Larabar are incredibly transparent about their ingredients and they taste great! If you don’t like dates stay away from Larabar as that is usually their first ingredient, but it also makes them high in fiber which keeps you full and less likely to over-snack. KIND bars are amazing if you want a healthier version of a traditional granola bar in a variety of flavors. My favorite is the cranberry almond bar.

Grapes

I love grapes, green, black/blue, and red grapes are sweet and easy to eat but still good for you! Wash them and take them off the vine and throw them into a Tupperware container and you have an easy road trip snack to eat while you drive. The plus side is, like candy, it’s easy to eat a lot of grapes, unlike candy they are refreshing and have more complex sugars in them.

String Cheese

As mentioned before dairy and I really don’t mix but I do love string cheese and I’m lucky enough that eating just one won’t completely ruin me. I mostly bring these for my husband, but they’re a good source of calcium and healthy fat, plus the Sargento Light brand doesn’t have carbs and offers a good source of protein. They do present a storage issue if you don’t already have a cooler, so buying the smaller packs may make more sense. These are a “passenger only” food in our car because i cant peel them while driving and biting directly into string cheese feels… Wrong.

Beef jerky

Combine this with the grapes and string cheese and you’ve created your own road trip charcuterie board. Beef jerky is a great source of protein that you don’t have to worry about storing in the right conditions. Of course, it can also be high in sodium so I wouldn’t recommend eating it as your entire meal.

Hippeas Chickpea Puffs

I have recently discovered a love for roasted chickpeas, so when I saw these I had to give them a try. They are gluten free, vegan, and help curb the craving for a crunchy snack like Cheetos but without all the unnecessary calories/carbs/sodium/etc. Make no mistake! I am not saying these are as good as Cheetos, but, if you’re looking to fill that puffy crunchy snack void without killing your calorie intake for the day, these do the trick.

Organic GoGo Squeeze Applesauce

These are not very budget friendly to me probably because of how quickly I will consume the entire pack. I love applesauce, and I know slurping it out of a pouch really puts people off, but I am not one of them. These are a great easy snack to take because they are mess free for any age, tasty, and free of added sugars, gluten, dairy, and nuts! Plus they’re naturally sweet so if you’re always fighting to curb your sweet tooth like I am, these, like the grapes, are a big help.

Popcorn

Skinny Pop Popcorn has no artificial ingredients, it’s a good source of fiber, and it has a generous 3 ¾ cup serving size. I’d be lying if I told you it was my favorite because I always grab SmartFood Popcorn, that white cheddar flavor is addicting! The serving size is smaller but compared to Skinny Pop it isn’t that much different overall, especially if you prefer one over the other, pick the one that will make you feel satisfied.

Dry Cereal like Chex, or Cheerios

This is a great solution if you have young ones as well. These healthy grains may be a little messy if you’re renting a car, but are easy for any age to eat and enjoy. I know plain cheerios are the best but I’m currently obsessed with the cinnamon ones. These are easy to portion out ahead of time as well, grab a box, measure out the serving sizes into a baggie or Tupperware, and you have a good for you snack that you won’t risk over eating.

Veggie Packs from the store

You know those mini veggie trays of baby carrots, broccoli, celery and ranch dip? The baby carrot and ranch ones are my absolute favorite. Is ranch the best for you? No. Is it delicious? Absolutely. And its better to munch on baby carrots and ranch than a full bag of Dorritos. I said better as in better for you (winking face). Seriously I even pack these as sides, maybe I’m just really craving chicken nuggets from Wendy’s, so I’ll get that but instead of making it a meal, I’ll just get the chicken nuggets and eat my carrots and ranch dip instead of the French fries.

I may have made some enemies with the last one, but my point overall is do what works best for you. Find your healthy-ish alternatives and find ways to integrate them into your trip snacking that you aren’t going to hate. Obviously if you don’t like the snack, you’ll consume it trying to be healthy, feel unsatisfied, then stop for something you really wanted like a “shareable” size of M&M’s which you won’t share, and now you’ve just doubled your calorie intake for no reason. If you are really craving M&Ms just eat some M&Ms! The trip is supposed to be fun and you’re supposed to focus on where you’re going not what you’re eating.

A lot of us tend to use vacations as F-it moments for our overall wellbeing and if you’re going on an extended road trip that just isn’t feasible. Pack some of these snacks or stop at grocery store gas station combos so you have more options when you’re browsing what to grab for the next leg of the trip. And, of course, a road trip isn’t a road trip with some of your favorite junk food, my go-to’s are salt and vinegar chips, M&Ms, and a cream soda Dr Pepper.

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