Summer has been a little slow to come this year but it still seems everyone is on the move. People are visiting family, headed to the beach or checking out the National Parks. I can’t wait til we get to hit the road. Beyond the hassles of packing, boarding the dog and planning the trip, one of my biggest concerns is what to bring for car snacks. I don’t want to undue all the healthy eating we have been doing at home by failing to be prepared!! It never fails that we have barely made it out of the driveway and the kids are already asking what we have to eat. I have been giving this a lot of thought and this year I am prepared. Here are five snacks I will be packing.
Blueberries. Blueberries are an amazing car snack. Pick or buy them, wash them and then store them in your container of choice. They are a tasty, healthy, sweet alternative to candy and other junk food you might be tempted to pack. Plus they provide a shot of anti-oxidants, vitamin C and fiber. Perfect to keep you regular when your routine is out of whack. Read more about the benefits of eating berries here.
Nut Butter Stuffed Dates. These portable little beauties offer a hint of sweetness with a little bit of salty thrown in. There are currently so many options for different nut butters. I often use pistachio but experiment with what is your favorite. Here is a recipe but they are so simple to create. Just slice the date down one side, remove the pit and then stuff with the nut butter of your choice.
Trail Mix. The great thing about trail mix is it can be completely customized to your own individual taste. Take the kids to a store with bulk bins and let them choose what they would like in their own “special” trail mix. Chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, sesame crackers- it is all good! Just be aware that some dried fruits have added sugar. Once the kids have chosen their ingredients, you can pack each kid their own bag of “special” mix.
Fermented Blueberry Ginger Soda. This snack takes a little more planning because creating the ingredients for the ginger bug takes about a week. However, having a cool, refreshing, healthy alternative to soda while on the road is well worth it. Plus it will provide your gut with healthy probiotics to keep your digestion humming along while you are traveling. Here is the recipe for Fermented Ginger Blueberry Soda.
Granola. buy it or make your own. Granola is portable, healthy and no refrigeration is required. If you are interested in making your own, Jane’s Chocolaty Gluten Free Granola is a great road trip food.
These are just a few ideas! I would love to hear about what other families take on their road trips.
