It’s road trip season and they say that you should enjoy the journey and not just the destination, but you can’t enjoy the road trip journey without having some good snacks! We polled the staff here at Valley and put together a top ten list of all our favourites.
Read on to hear about the foods we love, and see if you can find something new to bring with you on your next journey!
10. Sandwiches
Sandwiches make a great snack while you’re on the road, especially since they are on the cheaper and easier side of snacks. You can whip up something sweet like peanut butter and jam or nutella, or something a bit more savoury like sliced turkey or ham! If you’re travelling in a group, make sure there are no allergies or sensitivities among everyone - tuna salad might sound amazing for you, but might bring on some nausea from others in a tight space. Depending on the type of sandwiches you’re planning to bring, you may want to bring a cooler as well and make sure you have the extra space in the car for it!
9. Gummy Candies
Gummy candies are the perfect snack to satisfy someone’s sweet tooth cravings. Whether you’re looking for sweet or sour, there is no shortage of candies to bring with you on the open road. These sugary snacks are best to eat with a drink close at hand, as they can lead to needing some hydration, especially any with a sour coating! If you’re looking for something for your sweet tooth, but without the calories and sugar intake, check out some fruit gummies instead or candies with an alternative sweetener or less sugar.
8. Chips
With potato chips, the opportunities are endless. There are the classics like original, ketchup, and salt and vinegar, but a road trip is the perfect chance to try something a bit more adventurous! Make this road trip the one where you grab that Wild Onion & Yogurt, the Honey Dijon, or even a Sweet Ghost Pepper. Chips are easy to stash in the backseat and are a great shareable snack! Make sure they don’t wind up in the bottom of a bag or underneath the drinks as they’re liable to wind up as crumbs before you even open the bag!
7. Chocolate
Some road trippers swear by having chocolate stashed in their snack bag, but there were varying answers for how our Valley staff like to enjoy their chocolate. Some staffers voted for chocolate bars, mostly in the mini size so they are easy to handle and you can have a couple without feeling full. Others chose chocolate-covered snacks like almonds, pretzels, raisins, and coffee beans! There is definitely a consensus that there is no wrong way to have chocolate on a road trip, but it is a necessary item to add to the snack list!
6. Protein or Granola Bars
Continuing to get all the right nutrients while you’re on a road trip can be tricky - we’re often eating more fast food and processed foods then we might be at home. Protein and granola bars are a great supplement to have in the car as they are both packed with fibre and protein, if you choose the right ones! Keep your eye on the nutritional information and watch for bars with low sugar and high fibre. Don’t feel dismayed at eating something healthy and full of fibre though, as these bars come with some tasty options like Lemon Blueberry or Peanut Butter!
5. Popcorn
Popcorn may not come to mind for a road trip, since the first thing you think of after popcorn is usually a microwave! These days there are so many different variations of popcorn to choose from, and many of them are pre-cooked and ready to eat: movie theatre butter, kettle corn, white cheddar, caramel, chicago mix, the list is neverending! Like chips, popcorn is a popular choice because everyone in the car can have their own flavour, and they are a super light option for snacking that won’t have you feeling uncomfortable afterwards.
4. Fruits & Veggies
Fruits and veggies ranked pretty high on our office polls, largely in part to the boosts they give to hydration, fibre, and other nutrients! Alongside the protein and granola bars, fruits and vegetables are a great way to keep yourself running and will keep you from feeling bloated or uncomfortable when you’ve been in the same position for a few hours. Sliced fruits and veggies that are already prepped are a great snack option to have, even if you just alternate them with your other more processed snacks. Depending on when and where you’re road tripping, consider planning a stop at a roadside stand and have fruit and veg as fresh as you can!
3. Trail Mix or Just Nuts
Trail mix or some variation of nuts were one of the top answers provided across our offices. This makes a great snack for the road because you can customize the contents in so many different ways, and if you’re travelling with a few different people, everyone can have their own snack-size trail mix at the ready! We heard about trail mixes that were heavier on the sweets, with chocolate candies and dried fruit, and mixes that were more savoury, focusing on dry roasted almonds and peanuts. Trail mix can also be homemade or store-bought, making it an easy choice for everyone!
2. Beef Jerky or Pepperoni Sticks
Beef jerky and pepperoni sticks are a tried and true road trip snack, and for good reason! Making your way through a stick of pepperoni or a bag of beef jerky takes some time, and this keeps your hunger at bay while not requiring an entire bag of salty chips to be eaten. Once upon a time you may have been stuck eating Original, but these days there are an assortment of flavour options available including Teriyaki and Sweet & Hot. We haven’t even touched on the variety of sizes you can pick up, making sure that you have exactly the right amount of meat for whatever length of journey you’re on!
1. Timbits
Timbits, or donut holes, were the most popular choice from our staff for taking with you on a road trip! These are the perfect size for popping one into your mouth while cruising and are super convenient to pick-up while you’re on the road. Like just about everything on our list, Timbits are a great snack because of the assorted varieties you can get and the easy shareability of these delicious treats.
–
Whether you’re hitting the road for a few hours or a few days, making sure you have the right snacks for a road trip is an important part of the planning process! We’ve added some links to our specific favourites so you can see what all the fuss is about the next time you hit the road, so be sure to comment on our facebook and instagram pages to tell us what you think and what your favourites are!