50 Healthy Road Trip Snacks to Share with the Kids


road-trip-snacks-for-kids-in-container

[ad_1]

Hitting the road with the family is usually equal parts exciting and daunting. To help, these 50 healthy road trip snacks will get you started packing and eating healthy meals and snacks for yourself and the kids.

road-trip-snacks-for-kids-in-container

Road Trip Snacks

We’ve taken a few long trips as a family and boy oh boy, I know how unpredictable they can be when little kids are involved! But one thing that is easy to prepare is the food you bring.

And while there’s of course no rule that you bring all of your food, I’m of the belief that packing food is one of the easiest ways to keep the kids (and yourself) happy when in the car for hours and hours.

TIP: Packing your own food is also an easy way to limit stops and get to your destination a little quicker. Win!

road trip snacks in containers

Road Trip Snacks for Kids

This list includes my go-to snacks for kids and adults. Adjust how you serve some of these for littler kids as needed. And pack in a cooler or cooler bag if traveling in the summer to keep everything cool and in good shape.

Snack Bars

Snack bars are an easy (and often less messy) snack to pack. Here are some of my favorites.

  1. Mini Larabars
  2. Dino Bars (these are my favorite snack bar for one year olds since they’re so easy to eat)
  3. Perfect Kid Bars
  4. Kashi Cereal Bars
  5. RX Kids Bars
  6. Made Good Bars
  7. Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars
  8. Kind Breakfast Bars
  9. Homemade Granola Bars
  10. Peanut Butter Energy Balls

TIP: Find more of my favorite healthy snacks to buy here.

crackers and cheese

Crackers, Puffs, and Cereal

Crackers and puffs are easy to pack in a reusable container. Here are some options to consider for kids.

  1. Whole grain crackers
  2. Cheese crackers
  3. Cheerios
  4. Kix
  5. Chex
  6. Snap Pea Crisps
  7. Veggie Straws
  8. Puffs
  9. Soft Baked Chickpeas
  10. Coconut chips

Healthy Muffins to Pack

I love making and packing muffins for the whole family. Dice them up as needed.

  1. Chocolate Protein Muffins
  2. Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Muffins
  3. Spinach Banana Muffins
  4. Blueberry Date Snack Cake
  5. Cinnamon Muffins

TIP: Check out my full list of healthy muffins for kids.

peanut-puffs-and-blueberries

Less Messy Fruit and Veggies to Pack

It’s totally okay if the kids eat a little differently when you’re on the go than most other days. If you want to pack some produce, here are some less messy options.

  1. Blueberries (halve them if needed)
  2. Applesauce pouches
  3. Clementines
  4. Pears
  5. Bananas
  6. Raisins
  7. Dried apples
  8. Banana chips
  9. Dehydrated or freeze-dried fruit
  10. Apple chips
  11. Baby food pouches
  12. Snap peas
  13. Baby carrots
  14. Mini bell peppers
  15. Mini cucumbers

TIP: You can always pack a smoothie in a reusable pouch too.

toddler-travel-food-in-containers

Easy Proteins and Lunch Ideas to Pack

If you’re needing more meal ideas, here are some simple ones that can round out road trip food.

  1. Nut butter packets
  2. Chia pouches
  3. Sandwiches
  4. Lunchmeat
  5. Shredded or diced chicken
  6. Pizza Rolls
  7. Pizza Pockets
  8. String cheese
  9. Babybel cheese
  10. Yogurt pouches
  11. Yogurt tubes
  12. Overnight Oats with Yogurt and Berries
  13. Single serve milk

TIP: Find more ideas for Travel Food here.

TIP: I like to pack more snacks than the kids usually eat at home since they tend to eat more while we’re traveling in the car. This is fine and if it worries you at all, remember that this is just one day and you’ll get back to normal eating the next day!

travel food packed in containers for kids

10 Tips for Happy Kids on Road Trips

Now that the food is covered, here are some ideas to keep your tots happy even if they’re strapped into the car. And as with all things toddler related, try to be flexible, silly, and open to new adventures. I mean, who knows what fun will come your way while out on the road!

  1. Leave early so the kids can (fingers crossed) sleep a little as the sun comes up.
  2. Plan overnight stops—with a pool if possible. This is a perfect reward and it’s a fun way to let them burn off energy after being in a carseat all day.
  3. Get creative when you run out of toys. I always pack a roll of painters tape and let the little kids play with water bottles (sealed!) and my sunglasses case.
  4. Keep an extra activity or toy stashed in case of emergencies. A new Water Wow book Is great for this!
  5. Let the littles stretch their legs at rest stops and try not to rush through them too much.
  6. Plan audio books and podcasts for the trip. We love the classic Pooh stories, Wow in the World, Circle Round, and Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls. (Circle Round is very soothing to listen to if you need a bit of a break!)
  7. Look at a map together and talk about where you are, what you’re passing, and where you’re going.
  8. Think through the layout of the hotel room before you get there and have a plan for where everyone will sleep. (We’ve put our littlest in a big bathroom to preserve an earlier bedtime!)
  9. Consider a movie night or family book time to help everyone unwind at night when you get to where you’re going.
  10. Don’t stress about a little extra snacking. Let food be fun for the day.

TIP: Find my full list of tips for how to eat well when traveling with kids too.

I’d love to hear your best tips for road trip snacks and activities, so please comment below with your ideas!


[ad_2]

Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *