I recently took a road trip to spend a long weekend in North Dakota. I know…that’s not a typical vacation spot, but my husband and I have a goal to travel to all 50 states. Since we haven’t yet been to North Dakota together, we decided it was time to explore the state so we can cross it off our list!

When we travel, we eat out more than normal and enjoy some treats that we don’t eat on a regular basis…last year in Michigan it involved gluten-free pizza and homemade fudge! I always plan to bring along some healthy snacks, though, to balance out the indulgences. 

Today, I’m sharing 11 of my favorite healthy road trip snacks with you…several of which were packed with us on our most recent trip!

11 Healthy Road Trip Snacks

• Vegetables and Dip: My favorite vegetables to bring on a road trip are cut up carrots, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower. To make them more exciting, I bring along travel size packs of guacamole, hummus, or a jar of sunflower seed butter to dip them in.

• Fruit: Some fruit travels better than others and is easier to eat in the car. My personal favorites to bring on a road trip are grapes and apples.

• Beef Jerky: Having a quick source of protein also comes in handy. I usually make my own beef jerky, but if you buy some at the store, look for a gluten free version that doesn’t contain a lot of added sugar. Most stores also carry Epic bars, which are a good protein source as well.

• Homemade Trail Mix:  I love to throw together my own trail mix! Some ideas on what to include in your trail mix might be 2-3 kinds of nuts, unsweetened coconut flakes, cut up pieces of beef jerky, unsweetened dried fruit, and dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs.

• Toasted Coconut Flakes: If you’ve never tried these before, they are tasty! I make my own with unsweetened coconut flakes. Simply lay them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, sprinkle some cinnamon over them, and then bake them in the oven at 350° for about 5 minutes, or until they start to turn golden brown.

• Protein Balls: The protein and fat in these make for a satisfying road trip snack.

• Protein Shake: Another healthy snack option is to bring some protein powder along. This can be a great way to tide over your hunger until your next meal.

• Lara Bars: I don’t buy these bars on a regular basis, but they’re a fun treat to bring along on a road trip. These bars usually contain a minimal amount of ingredients and are sweetened with dates, so they are a decent option when you’re looking for a processed snack bar.

• Roasted Seaweed Snacks: Ok, I know this might seem like an odd choice, but seaweed snacks contain some great nutrients and have become easily available in many grocery stores.

• Dark Chocolate: My list of snacks would not be complete if I didn’t fess up to taking a bar (or two!) of dark chocolate with me on any road trip I go on! Just be sure to look for one that is 70% cocoa or higher.

• Bottled Spring Water: This one may seem obvious, but it’s easy to not drink enough water while traveling if you don’t have it on hand. Often, when you feel like snacking in the car, drinking some water just might curb those cravings for snacks.

Being prepared makes all the difference to maintaining a healthy lifestyle! So the next time you’re traveling, take some time to pack up a few healthy snack options.

Do you have any favorite healthy road trip snacks that I missed in this list? Please share in the comments below!