The tastiest road trip snacks

There are some important things to remember when you’re planning a road trip.

• Have you done your basic maintenance checks?
• Does the car have a full tank of petrol?
• Have you taken out temporary car insurance?
• Packed all the essentials?
• Compiled your playlist?
• Most importantly, have you got your snacks ready?

What makes a good car snack?

In this guide to road trip snacks, we’ll suggest some tasty eats for everyone travelling - from healthy to hearty and those that won’t melt to the mouth-watering. Don’t Waste the Crumbs suggests the following rules for road trip snack criteria:

• Make sure the food is easy to digest.
• You need to want to eat it.
• It leaves minimal crumbs and is easy to eat.
• It doesn’t have an overpowering smell.
• No utensils required.

It’s also imperative that you check nobody in the vehicle has allergies to different types of food before you start packing.

While eating and drinking while driving is not illegal, the RAC states you could be prosecuted for careless driving if the police consider you to not be in proper control of the vehicle. This offence carries:

• £100 fine.
• Three penalty points.

Non-refrigerated road trip snacks

There are plenty of road trip ideas that don’t need refrigeration. This is ideal for long trips in warmer weather as the food won’t melt, it can be left in the car while you’re out and about and will stay just as tasty as when you packed it.

• Trail mix - A blend of dried fruits and nuts that can be stored in a small container and kept in your cup holder will keep hunger at bay while you enjoy the views.
• Fruit and vegetables - Cups of pre-sliced fruit or your favourite veggies like carrot sticks are a delicious healthier option.
• Protein bars - Just make sure they don’t have any chocolate or chocolate chips as they melt too easily.

Homemade road trip snacks

You don’t have to use shop-bought snacks. Sometimes part of the journey can be making your own treats. Muffins, sandwiches and granola bars could all be options.

If you want to eat lunch on the go, maybe a closed pitta or tortilla sandwich filled with your favourite non-messy ingredients could be an option.

Energy snacks for long drives

Starting to flag while you’re behind the wheel? Stop in a safe place, let someone else take the wheel with temporary car insurance and boost your energy levels with a dose of sugar or sweetness from your favourite confectionery or oats, oats or even a banana. Just make sure you throw away the peel when you stop.

It’s important to stay hydrated (and caffeinated) while on the road. Make sure you fill up everyone’s water bottles before you go and have coffee or soft drinks ready to drink while on the go.

Travel snacks for kids

If you’ve ever been on a long journey with a child in tow, you’ve probably heard two phrases: “I’m bored” (check out our family car games to deal with this) and “I’m hungry”. There are a number of tasty treats to help you manage this - for all ages:

• Baby food pouches.
• Veggie sticks.
• Dried fruits.
• Cream crackers.
• Packets of biscuits.
• Sweets.

The only issue with kids’ road trip snacks are you can’t guarantee your car will be as clean as it was before you set off. Check out our car washing guide for tips on keeping your car interior in tip-top condition.

Still hungry? There are so many great places to eat across the UK. Find out near you in our Social Feeds Map.

Sources

https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/25-best-snacks-for-road-trips/

https://www.nikodouniko.com/post/best-kids-snacks-for-travel

https://www.bigbravenomad.com/blog/the-best-road-trip-snacks-for-kids