A pie and sauce washed down with soft drink from a roadhouse. Or maybe a burger and fries at a fast-food joint. Do these sound like your go-to options when on a road trip?
It might seem like a hassle to eat healthy food when you’re on the road, but it’s actually a breeze. Simply check out our list of healthy road-trip snacks and you can start your journey off on the right foot (or wheel).
These goodies are simple to prepare, or to grab on the go, and won’t hammer the holiday budget. Enjoy!
It’s true – popcorn can be a healthy road-trip snack.
1. Popcorn
Yes, you read correctly. Popcorn can be a healthy road-trip snack. There is a catch, though. The Heart Foundation states that ‘plain popcorn, popped without added salt or butter’ earns a nod of approval. So as long as you don’t pile on the butter or salt or opt for the coloured variety, you’ve got yourself a cheap, easy, and relatively mess-free snack to take with you on the road.
Tip: Add garlic powder or olive oil for more flavour without compromising on healthiness.
Like Torvill and Dean, cheese and crackers are a winning combo.
2. Wholegrain crackers with cheddar cheese
This versatile and tasty option is a certain road-trip winner. Sure, this combo would be better accompanied by a glass of wine, but save that for when you’re sitting on the balcony of your BIG4 cabin. Just watch for crumbs.
On the right trail: DJ Healthy recommends putting out this mix.
3. Trail mix
Whether you make your own or grab a bag from the supermarket, trail mixes are a great road-trip snack. With their combination of nuts, cereals, sunflower seeds, dried fruits, and more, they offer the palate plenty of variety. These ingredients have many health benefits, including being packed with protein that helps to keep you full. Better still, trail mixes have the ability to ‘keep’ for those longer journeys.
Warning: This snack is best kept away from small children when on a road trip, as they may make their own trail all over the backseat.
4. Rice crackers and dip
Not all rice crackers are made equal, and a bit of investigating will reveal that some brands are passable as a healthy option while others are not (note and compare sugar and salt levels). Once found, pair these crackers with a healthy yet delicious dip and you have a road-trip snack that’s sure to keep everyone happy.
Tip: Avoid consumption when driving over speed bumps or potholes.
Road-trip tip: if you simply can’t resist packing chips for your next road-trip adventure, compare brands when shopping and opt for a healthier product.
Fruit salad is loaded with goodness as well as deliciousness.
5. Fruit salad
Quick and easy to prepare and bursting with flavours, a fruit salad makes a wonderful road-trip snack. Simply throw in your favourite fruits and mix up a masterpiece within minutes. As well as containing a host of vitamins and minerals, a fruit salad has the added benefit of helping to keep you hydrated.
6. Wholemeal pita wraps
Versatile, filling, tasty, easy to prepare – what more could you want in a road-trip snack? Suggested fillings include tuna or shredded chicken alongside a bunch of veggies; then wrap in alfoil to avoid mess.
Ginger biscuits are ideal for those who suffer from travel sickness.
7. Cookies
Who doesn’t love cookies? We know what you’re thinking: cookies are full of sugar. Well put down that cup of judgement and keep reading – cookies can be both healthy and tasty, especially the likes of oatmeal and ginger varieties. There are many low or sugar-free recipes available that will help you whip up these cookies with relative ease.
Note: Ginger has the added benefit of minimising motion sickness.
Carrot and celery sticks combined with a healthy dip make a great snack when on the road.
8. Carrot and celery sticks
Cheap to buy. Tick. Healthy. Tick. Easy to prepare. Tick. Tasty. Tick. Boring? Maybe. If you need to liven up this healthy road-trip snack, serve with hummus, salsa, or guacamole or combine with low-fat cheese. These additions mean you have a snack with plenty of flavour while retaining abundant goodness.
Other items to pack on your road trip…
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Bottled water
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Hand sanitiser
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Ice packs and/or a small Esky
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Antibacterial wipes
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Plastic cutlery
Reproduced with the permission of BIG4 Holiday Parks. This article first appeared on BIG4.com.au https://www.big4.com.au/articles/8-healthy-road-trip-snacks and was republished with permission.
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