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Packing the right kind of snacks for your next road trip will be the difference between a car full of grumpy, hungry passengers who are either crashing from too much sugar or the opposite, passengers who have too much sugar and are tired of sitting in the car.
Both scenarios don’t sound fun, so we’ve got a list of 12 healthy snacks you need for the next road trip that will keep everyone full and fueled.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are one of the easiest road trip snacks you can take and they’re packed with nutrients your body needs. Nuts and seeds contain healthy fats, protein and fiber which helps keep you fuller for longer.
According to Healthline, eating this snack may decrease your risk of heart disease. Buy a pre-made mix from your nearest store, or mix your own by combining cashews, almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds.
Protein Bars
Let’s face it: chocolate bars, while delicious, are not the healthiest snack, and all that sugar is going to result in a low. Nip that sweet craving in the bud by having a protein bar instead. Not only does it give you much-needed protein, but bars often come with chocolate or other yummy fillings.
Those watching their sugar or calorie intake should consider buying a light or sugar-free version.
DIY Trail Mix
Nothing beats a good trail mix on your next road trip. It’s easy to pack and doesn’t make a mess in the car when eating. Save money and make your own trail mix with the things you actually like.
A good trail mix will have a combination of nuts, seeds and dried fruit. To add a bit of sweetness to your mix add a handful of dark chocolate chips. Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and may help lower your blood pressure.
Fresh Fruit
While an apple a day may not actually keep the doctor away, eating enough fruits daily is still good practice, and just because you’re on the road does not mean you have to skip this.
Pack some fresh fruit on your next road trip. Keep things simple by chopping up your apple into wedges and picking the grapes off the stem. For a spicy twist, try adding some tajin spice to some watermelon.
Vegetable Sticks and Hummus
Another great road trip snack you must try is vegetable sticks and fresh hummus. Precut your favorite vegetables like carrots, snap peas and cucumber to dip into hummus.
Not only are fresh vegetables good for you, but hummus is full of fiber, vitamins and minerals that are known to promote heart health and support blood sugar.
Vegetable Chips
Nothing beats a bag of potato crisps during a long car ride, but they’re not particularly filling and are loaded with unhealthy fats. Swap out potato crips for vegetable chips. These are basically dried pieces of vegetables that are crispy with added spices for extra flavor.
Popcorn
Make your popcorn at home before you leave and store it in an airtight container to stay fresh. You’ve got a great road trip snack that is tasty and healthy.
Not only is popcorn a healthy and filling snack, but it’s also full of fiber and nutrients. According to WebMD, popcorn without added butter or salt can help lower your risk of diabetes and aid in weight management.
Spiced Chickpeas
As an alternative to potato crisps and vegetable chips, you should pack some spiced chickpeas that are full of protein, fiber and zinc. You can make your own by drying out the chickpeas in an oven or buying a bag of already-dried chickpeas in your flavor of choice.
The crunch and flavor is similar to a potato crisps, just much healthier and filling.
Cheese
Cheese is the ultimate healthy road trip snack and can be used in so many different ways. You can have slices of cheese on whole-grain crackers, or you can just eat plain pieces of cheese. We’re not going to judge!
As a snack, cheese comes with plenty of benefits and is a good source of calcium, protein and loaded with vitamins.
Rice Cakes with Nut Butter
Instead of packing nut butter sandwiches, swap out the bread for rice cakes with a nut butter of your choice. Not only are rice cakes lower in calories than bread, but they are often free from harmful saturated fats, and they’re yummy!
Spread a healthy serving of nut butter on your rice and enjoy a fueling snack.
Dried Fruit
If you want to enjoy fruit on your road trip but don’t want the hassle of trying to keep your fresh fruit nice and crispy, dried fruit is a great alternative. Dried fruit, if eaten in moderation, is a great source of nutrients and may help improve your memory.
If you have the time, you can make your own dried fruit at home with a dehydrator, or you can just buy your favorite flavors from the store.
Greek Yogurt
While most yogurts are a great snack for a healthy road trip, Greek yogurt trumps them all. According to MedicalNewsToday, Greek yogurt is packed with probiotics, calcium and vitamins which are needed for healthy bones, good gut health and boosting metabolism.
Enjoy your Greek yogurt plain, or add some honey and berries for a sweet twist.
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