Best HEALTHY Road Trip Snacks for Your Family

Traveling while dieting is never super easy, but you can easily pack healthy snacks for your family whether your taking a road trip or traveling by plane.

Like a lot of moms out there, my weight has been somewhat of a roller coaster since I had kids. With my first pregnancy, I was definitely eating for two!  I gained 70 pounds and have been working that extra weight off for the last 14 years.  After each of my pregnancies, I got my butt into gear and worked off some of those extra pounds, but I could never get back down to that pre-baby weight.  And as soon as I got closer, another kiddo was on the way making it impossible to lose the extra weight. 

Weight Watchers Journey

Even after I was done having kids, I still found my weight creeping up. I knew I needed to eat healthier and get my family to eat better too! About three and a half years ago, my sister and I decided to try Weight Watchers.  At the time, we worked together so we made great accountability partners.  We started going to meetings and tracked everything we ate. 

We lost weight, but it was a slow process.  I didn’t lose multiple pounds in my first few weeks; and neither did my sister.  We lost each week, but it was minimal—sometimes we’d lose half a pound and other times, we didn’t lose anything at all.  But as we stuck with it, we started dropping more each week.  We were actively changing our eating habits and started seeing results—not all of them being scale driven.  I stopped craving sugar and didn’t find myself bloated during my monthly cycle.

Within three months, both of us hit our goal of 20 pounds.  We maintained our weight for the next six weeks and became Lifetime Members on the Weight Watchers program.  I continued to lose weight and lost almost 10 additional pounds.  It’s been about three years since I hit my goal and I’ve kept the weight off!

After seeing my progress, my husband decided to begin his weight loss journey. I changed my cooking and was serving more nutritious food so all he needed to do was eat better at work! He’s had high blood pressure since he was in his mid-30’s and was considered obese, so making healthier choices was necessary. 

Staying Accountable

Although we don’t track our meals anymore, we still weigh ourselves weekly to stay accountable.  We try to eat as healthy as we can, but we still cave for sweets and other junk food.  Although we pack nutritious foods, I will be honest and tell you that there is typically some sort of chocolate, licorice, gummies, etc. in my bag too! We just follow the mantra, “everything in moderation.”

Sticking to a healthy diet when traveling is certainly harder, but it’s do-able.  Since COVID hit, we’ve taken quite a few road trips. I have always had snacks on hand. When my kids were younger, snacks always seemed to calm them down or divert their attention when they started to get bored.  At least when they get bored now, they are reaching for more nutritious options!

Healthy Road Trip Snacks

Before I started Weight Watchers, snacks like granola bars and animal crackers were always in my bag; however, now I know that those are full of sugar and not the best option. I like to have things available as we travel and also in our hotel/rental that the kids can easily grab.  Fortunately, there are a variety of snack options that support a healthy diet. And surprisingly enough, my kids reach for the healthy snacks (and water) over the sugary snacks and drinks. Here are the things I pack:

Apples & Dip

These are easy, pre-packaged snacks that the kids will grab over something not so healthy.  I am usually scrambling to get things ready before vacation so I usually buy these pre-packaged; however, you can make these up before you leave and save some cash! Tip: Soak your apples in some lemon-lime soda to keep them from browning.

You can also pack a dip or just pack plain apples. My kids do like caramel, which is sugary, but they use such a small amount. Peanut butter is another option if you have a kiddo who needs to dunk.

Protein Packs

You can make these up yourself as well or purchase prepackaged ones.   The ones I buy typically have a mixture of cheese, grapes and apples.  You can even include hard boiled eggs for even more protein and some dark chocolate for a touch of sweetness. The kids love the variety.

Nuts

Although these are higher in fat (and points on Weight Watchers), it’s good fat and they will hold you off longer than a sugar-filled snack. We love pistachios, cashews, peanuts, etc.

Light String Cheese

These are only 1 point on Weight Watchers so they are a perfect little snack.

Veggies & Dip

I get the small bag of pre-cut carrots, broccoli and cauliflower and the small ranch dip cups.  You can also make your own dip using Greek yogurt for an even healthier option!  Or try the Bolthouse Ranch Dressing.  It’s really good and low in points!

Bananas or Other Easy to Grab Fruit

My kids love bananas so these are an easy grab and go snack. Mandarins are another great option!

Sunflower Seeds

These are my husband’s favorite road trip snack.  He drives and eats them as he goes.

Beef Jerky

I am not a fan of jerky, but my husband and kids love it!  We’ve gotten some turkey jerky that is a healthier option and is still good.

Fiber One Bars

The 70 calorie bars are only 2 points on Weight Watchers and are a good sweet treat.

Yogurt/Gogurt

Although this is a messier option than the other suggestions, our kids enjoy it and it’s still a better option than a lot of other snacks. Greek yogurt is full of protein and typically lower in points so we typically stick to that!

Popcorn

Popcorn is actually a great snack! Since popcorn is a whole grain, it’s naturally high in filling fiber so it can help you curb your appetite. Plus you can add flavors to give it an extra kick!

Sandwiches

And if you’re trying to avoid stopping for fast-food, consider packing sandwiches.  Not only are they a healthier option, but they are also cost-effective.  Plus, if you’re trying to get to your destination quicker, it eliminates the extra stop!

What other options do you suggest?

We’re always looking to change up our snacks.  What are your go-to, healthy road trip snacks?

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