By Bryce Gruber
Updated Aug 23, 2023Photo: Roberto Caruso
There will be cheers of excitement from the backseat when you pass back these fudgey morsels. They’re made from dates and only have a teeny bit of cocoa powder, no refined sugar. Get the recipe: No-Bake Brownie Bites
Skip the chip stop and choose parsnips instead. A sweet and mild cousin to carrots, they’re addictive when crisped up in the oven. Get the recipe: Parsnip Chips
Homemade granola bars are totes within your grasp. These no-bake bars are easy to make and you’re in control with how much sugar you add. Get the recipe: Blueberry-Cinnamon Granola Bars
Skip the cooking and baking and order a family-sized pack of GimMe Teriyaki Seaweed snacks that come perfectly portioned. They're the ideal mashup of sweet and savory in a healthy, good-for-you snack that's totally guilt-free. And when you're done road tripping, these on-the-go portions fit perfectly in the best lunch bags for kids.
Your road trip snack roster needs some tangy, sweet popcorn. Put your fave pop hits on the stereo, pop open the bag and pop some in your mouth. Get the recipe: Ketchup Popcorn
Why buy fruit leather snacks when you can make them at home? This easy-to-make, mess-free snack will be your little one’s new favourite thing to eat. Try not to be smug about their newfound love of fruit. Get the recipe: Blueberry-Apple Fruit Leather
If you think we're just going to say pack some apples—no. We're not. We're going to tell you to grab a boatload of Stemilt Rave apples, because holy moly—they're the best we've ever tasted. Really, ever. Though they look somewhat ordinary (and are priced like typical supermarket apples would be), these reddish-hued beauties are actually a cross between Honeycrisp and MonArk varieties. They're somehow both tart and sweet and bursting with so much flavor they legitimately taste like candy.
We fed them to our kids and got rave reviews demanding more. And then even more after that. Frankly, we bypassed lunch one day because we ate so many Rave apples with almond and peanut butter. It's a perfect road trip food because there are no crumbs to get stuck in your toddler car seat.
All you need to make these fruity bars are five ingredients and 10 minutes of hands-on time. Wrap ’em up individually for the long open road. Feel free to skip the baby carrots—these have even more fibre. Plus, there's less risk of choking on these when compared to other fibrous options like celery sticks. Get the recipe here: Fruit and Sunflower Seed Bars
Yep, another granola bar. But this one is sweet and salty. Make it a reward for the kid who asks the least are-we-there-yets. Be sure to pack water bottles (they'll leave you thirsty!), and feel free to add extra nut butter to the recipe if that's your thing. Get the recipe: Chocolate Pretzel Granola Bars
This legume will take you places. Roasted chickpeas have an addictive, salty crunch. The fact that they’re high in fibre and perfectly filling—a really nice bonus. They beat crummy food at rest stops by a mile, and promise a protein-packed punch. Get the recipe: Oven-Roasted Crispy Chickpeas
Not too sweet, nutty and a little bit salty, these cookies are made with sesame seed paste (tahini)—a next-level version of everyone’s favourite PB biscuit. We love these globally-inspired travel snacks you'll never find at a gas station or quickmart. Get the recipe: Tahini Cookies
Make a batch of muffins ahead of your family road trip and you can roll out of bed and into the car for an early start. Eat 'em with some hard-boiled eggs for a full meal. Get the recipe: Peaches and Honey Muffins
Trail mix is for trekking, snack mix is for speeding over the open road. Little paws will get super grabby for this combo of popcorn, cereal, pretzels and dried cranberries. It's one of our favorite healthy snacks to customize, too. Get the recipe: Kettle Corn Snack Mix
Apple slices go brown, so try these thin crisps instead. They’re the perfect way to eat your fruit on the go. Make some extras for school lunches—dried fruit is easy to pack and even easier to feel good about. Feel free to skip the potato chips with this crunchy, great option. Get the recipe: Apple Chips
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