Registered Dietitian Approved Road Trip Summer Snacks

Living in the Midwest, we go on a lot of road trips. Being from the East Coast and then living for a decade on the West Coast, long road trips were a new-to-being-in-STL thing for me, but after being here for ten years, I get their appeal.

It’s easier to pack up the car and head out, without worrying about flight delays or renting a car at our destination. My in-laws are 8 hours away, and arguably easier to reach by car than by plane, and many of our favorite little towns are just a few hours away.

That said, with two kids under 8, road trips mean snacks. Lots and lots of snacks. Think of how many snacks you think you want to take, and then double it– that should get you there.

While road trips of my youth often contained Slice, Mountain Dew, Gushers, and Doritos, I prefer to choose something a bit healthier for my kids.

The key is choosing items that are higher in protein and fiber to satisfy hunger, yet fun enough that it still feels like ‘road trip’ food.

These are my mom-approved dietitian summer road trip snacks.

Three Cartons Of Willa’s Organic Kids Oat Milk Are In Focus, With A Chocolate Flavor Carton In Front And Two Blue Original Cartons Behind—Perfect As Summer Road Trip Snacks. Blurred Oat Milk Cartons Sit In The Background.

Willa’s Kids Oat Milk

Chocolate milk, but better. I love these individual containers of chocolate oat milk from Willa’s Kitchen (find them online, at Target, or Amazon!)

They are shelf stable, which makes them great for taking with us, though I usually pop them in the fridge overnight and then into our cooler for a chilled beverage to sip on as we ride.

My kids love the rich chocolatey taste, and I love that they are made with simple ingredients (plus certified organic, vegan, kosher, and glyphosate-free), along with containing 8 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber.

That’s just as much protein as dairy milk, plus gut-friendly fiber from whole oats.

Roasted Seaweed Snacks

Road trips beg for salty snacks in my opinion, and these roasted seaweed snacks fit the bill. My kids like the Sea Salt or Teriyaki flavors, and I often pack at least a few packs to keep everyone satisfied.

Perfect For Summer Road Trip Snacks, This Set Includes Two Packs Of 365 Organic Roasted Seaweed And Two Solely Mango Fruit Jerky Bars On A Gray Surface. The Seaweed Is In Green And White Packages, And The Mango Jerky Is Red And Yellow.

Homemade Oat Brownie Balls

For a little dessert treat, I often make a baked good to pack with us. Go-to favorites are any of our PBJ balls (especially the chocolate cookie dough or granola ones), but these brownie bites have become a new favorite. Can you tell my kids love chocolate?

I’ve adapted these from Making Thyme for Health by adding a little less cacao powder and subbing in peanut butter for the coconut oil.

Here’s how to make them: Place 1 cup of walnuts in a food processor and blend on high until they are finely ground. Add in 1 cup softened medjool dates, ¼ cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, and ¼ teaspoon salt and blend until a dough has formed.

Pulse in ¼ cup chocolate chips until evenly combined. Using your hands, scoop out one tablespoon worth of dough at a time and roll into balls.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature for up to one week!

Apples

For natural sweetness, I like to pack in a few apples. Unlike other fruit, they don’t get squished when placed in the bottom of a bag and can stay fresh for a while.

They also don’t become so juicy that they are too messy to eat in a car—I can’t say the same for other whole fruits like plums, peaches, and oranges!

Individual packets of raisins work the same way—a little natural sweetness and easy to eat in the car without a mess.