Of course, sweet, salty, crunchy and on hand is the name of the game. This doesn’t have to mean a “Supermarket Sweep” style in the grocery aisle. You can make lighter and healthier versions of many of these favorites at home. Fill it with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, plus water, and you’ll get your trip off on the right foot. Here are some options to consider from ours Recipe Finder.
Homemade Cheez-It. This riff on miniature crackers is thicker and sweeter than store-bought. They can be stored for up to a week, meaning there’s a good chance you’ll have enough for both legs of your trip, assuming they’re not all gobbled up at once.
Oat bars with nuts. So often a drive starts early in the morning, before we’ve had a chance to eat breakfast. For a meal on the go, these bars packed with oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit are a great option, whether you want to eat before or after you get in the car. Like a bunch of recipes here, this one is from our Nourish columnist, Ellie Krieger.
Honey Cardamom Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins. As with oat bars, Ellie offers a better-for-you bake, this one made with whole wheat flour, enhanced with the softening effects of yogurt and honey.
Fruit and Nut Energy Bars. There’s no flour, eggs or sugar added to these slightly chewy bars with an appealing crunch from the mix of seeds and nuts.
Delicious cereal snack mix. Of course, we all love the bagged Chex mix. Ellie suggests a healthier strategy that includes olive oil, chickpea snacks, whole-grain pita chips, and, yes, rice or wheat Chex.
Quick homemade hummus. Four years and one car later, I’m still reeling from letting our then-1-year-old son eat hummus during a pit stop on the way to the beach. However, if you’re not worried about baby smearing it all over the panel, then this favorite is an ideal thing to pack into containers for a protein-packed snack. Serve with whole wheat crackers or crudites.
Lunch box Fuel. Let all your travelers pick and choose their favorite mix of crackers, fruits, vegetables, cheese, and sliced meats, then pack in a convenient bento-style box. The combination allows everyone to eat as much or as little as they want, whenever they want.
