Healthy & Fun Road Trip Snacks For The Whole Family, From An RD

Whether you're traveling for three hours or three days, there's one crucial thing you can't forget: snacks! While you'll also want to stop for healthy meal options along the way, snacks are vital for keeping hunger—and thirst—at bay. Plus, they certainly come in handy for lifting everyone's mood when traffic slows to a crawl. 

No nutritionist-approved list would be complete without fruits and veggies! Obviously, you could put any piece of fruit in your weekend bag, but the truth is that some produce travels better than others. Harder fruits, such as apples, oranges, cherries, and grapes are all great picks. Plus, they offer extra hydration and no added sugar to keep the mindless munchies at bay. Carrots, sugar snap peas, and celery sticks make great travel companions, too. 

As a seasoned mom, I've learned that if you think you've packed enough snacks for the road trip, you should go back and add more. Kids like variety just as much as we do—and trust me, keeping their bellies happy and full is key to a pleasant road trip. 

Another thing to keep in mind with kids is that while you definitely want to keep them hydrated in hot weather, you don't want to be constantly looking for the next rest stop. That's where pouches can be your little helper—they're an easy (aka no mess) snack that also helps to provide hydration, without too much liquid. Applesauce pouches are always a great pick, and you can give your little one an added brain boost with Brainiac Kids' applesauce. Each pouch provides 120 milligrams of choline and 160 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids: two vital nutrients for brain health. 

There always comes a time on any road trip when you run out of conversation topics, start to get bored, and just want something to crunch on. Chips are perfect for that, but if you want to keep munching on the mindful side, you'll want to grab something made with better-for-you ingredients.

Hippie Snacks' almond crisps offer major crunch and 5 grams of plant protein per serving, plus they're certified gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, and Paleo-friendly. I personally like the zingy cheezy chive flavor. I also love keeping a bag of nutritious granola on hand, like Purely Elizabeth's chocolate sea salt probiotic granola.

When you're starting to get hangry, an energy bar can help you get through those last 80 miles. If you're looking for a bar with extra benefits, check out Luna with 2.5 grams of prebiotics. Both the wild cherry and tangerine twist flavors have a tangy-sweet taste plus 8 grams of plant protein and are a good source of fiber, including prebiotic fiber from agave. 

When you've played 10 rounds of "I Spy" and people start getting cranky, it may be time for a cookie. Not a giant cookie that will set you and your kids on the path to a sugar crash but rather something delicious that's light on added sugar. Our family likes the birthday cake stroopwafels from Rip Van. Each stroopwafel is made with a base of chicory root fiber, wheat flour, and chickpea flour—providing 6 grams of prebiotic fiber per wafel. The ones from Sweet Amsterdam are great too. 

The summer heat can melt even the sturdiest of snacks, so I recommend bringing a small, soft-sided cooler to keep water bottles icy cold, your grapes refreshing, and those pouches nice and cool. My family has been bringing Yeti's hopper flip, which comes in three different sizes, on the road with us. It's perfect for sitting on the floor of your minivan or SUV, without banging around when you take a tight corner. It has a wide-mouthed opening, so your kids can see into it and even help themselves when they get peckish. Plus, it will keep your cold stuff reliably chilled for hours. 

Another easy-to-carry option is an insulated backpack cooler, which is smart if you plan to do any sightseeing on the way to your destination. The Igloo Star Wars R2D2 daypack backpack is roomy enough for a day's worth of snacks, plus it holds two refillable water bottles in the side pockets. The force will definitely be with you, even if you've got tons of miles to go.