Portable Snacks for Your Summer Road Trip

If you’ve ever organized a road trip, then you know how tricky it is to locate desirable dining options on particularly remote stretches of road. And if your travel companions are picky eaters, it makes the challenge all the more impossible come mealtime. Snacking in the car may not seem like the most-glamorous way to experience the open road, but it’s often our most-reliable (and most-affordable) option. Perhaps you’re worried about turning your vehicle into a greasy spoon on wheels — a valid concern, especially if you’re traveling with kids. Do your co-pilots a favor and avoiding packing foods that tend to be oily, crumbly or pungent. You’ll keep your car clean and your spirits high. Not sure what dishes fit the mold? Here are a few suggestions. suggestions.

Pasta Salad

As long as you have an insulated cooler bag or some other reliable source of refrigeration on your journey, there are no holds barred on pasta salad. We recommend something light and bright, with minimal dressing, or else you’ll be chomping on wilted, soggy greens. Rachael Ray’s wholesome Spinach-Artichoke Pasta Salad would definitely do the trick, as would this hearty Tomato-Feta Pasta Salad.

Spiced Nuts

You’re determined to save your appetite for your final destination, but an endless slew of rest-stop chains are tempting you at every exit. A handful of high-protein nuts will curb your hunger — without making a mess in the car. Try Ina Garten’s Chipotle and Rosemary Roasted Nuts, a crunchy, satisfying mix of walnuts, pecans, almonds and cashews. For something a little bit sweeter, try Alton Brown’s Spiced Pecans, which are coated in a mixture of light brown and dark brown sugars.

Road-Trip-Friendly Sandwiches

Sandwiches are tricky. Depending on the bread, protein and condiments you choose, you’ll unwrap either a soggy sandwich that falls apart in your hands — and onto your upholstery — or a perfectly fresh and compact meal. If you decide to go the sandwich route, we recommend using a firm baguette with a slight chewiness to it, as you’ll find in Food Network Magazine’s Roast Chicken Salad Sandwiches and Tyler Florence’s Fresh Mozzarella BLT with Pesto. Toast the bread at your own risk; you may end up with an explosion of tiny crust shards all over your back seat.

Chips & Dips

Make a batch of pita or tortilla chips the night before you hit the road, along with a hearty dip to stave off hunger between points A and B. Giada De Laurentiis’ White Bean Dip with Pita Chips will keep everyone pleasantly sated. Classic Hummus will hold up well in a storage container, as will Ellie Krieger’s Babaganoush, a smokier alternative. Whatever you do, skip the guacamole. It’s almost guaranteed to turn brown.

Loaf Breads

Unlike cornbread and muffins, which are likely to crumble and get all over the car, this moist and somewhat dense loaf of Banana Bread is ideal breakfasts in motion. For a more seasonal option, try this Zucchini Bread with Lemon-Honey Butter.

Snack Bars

If you’re traveling with young kids, you’ll want something to keep them placated in the back seat. These sweet and nutty Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars can be made ahead of time and doled out on the road as a buttery bribe for peace. Our No-Bake Healthy Strawberry-Almond Cereal Bars and S’mores Cereal Treats are just as easy — and road-trip-friendly.

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