Gas stations may be convenient for travel snacks, but the cost of shopping there sure can add up. If you're looking for easy, on-the-go snacks that fit into your travel budget, look no further. We've got 12 kid-friendly, portable food ideas you can make before leaving on your journey. You'll be amazed by how much money and time you will save with these satisfying travel snacks.
1. Five-Ingredient Granola Bars
Taking only 30 minutes to make, you can make these no-bake 5-ingredient granola bars from Minimalist Baker. These dreamy bars are customizable and protein-rich to keep you full for hours.
2. Banana Chips
Ditch the bulk-bin banana chips and bake your own. They take almost no time to assemble, but do need two hours to bake in the oven. You could easily throw a batch of banana chips in the oven while you pack—be a master multitasker!
These baked banana chips from Naturally Ella are a tasty, crisp treat to keep your mouth occupied and your stomach satisfied during your travels.
3. Crispy Chickpeas & Edamame
If you're anything like me, traveling makes you crave salty and crispy snacks. These roasted chickpea and edamame beans from The Garlic Diaries will leave you feeling better than a bag of Lay's potato chips will.
4. Chocolate Trail Mix Bites
If you dig sweet and salty snacks, you'll love these chocolate trail mix bites from Dessert Now Dinner Later. They're extremely easy to whip up and a great combo of crunchy and chewy to satisfy all your snacking desires.
5. Slow Cooker Chex Mix
Sit back and let your slow cooker do the work. Here's a crunchy and savory gluten-free Chex mix from Slow Cooker Adventures that you can make in three hours with only a stir or two every hour or so. Plus, it tastes better than the store-bought stuff.
Slow cooker hack: if your slow cooker doesn't have a hole for air to escape, avoid soggy, condensation-laced Chex mix by putting a dish towel between the lid and the slow cooker's base.
6. Homemade Beef Jerky
Skip the sodium-rich gas station jerky, and make your own! You can use an oven set to a low temperature to dehydrate marinated meat into flavorful beef jerky. Check out Brady's guide for the full instructions.
7. Pancake Muffins
Early travels call for breakfast treats you can eat in the car. All Day I Dream About Food transformed pancakes into a portable pancake muffin. They're light in sweetness and texture, yet made fresher and more colorful with the addition of berries.
8. Pigs in a Blanket
If you're leaving before lunch, make sure to pack some of these pigs in a blanket from Food Network. They can be made just minutes before leaving the house and can be enjoyed either hot or cold. Plus, kids absolutely love them. Skip the mustard and ketchup for the car ride, though.
9. Whole Wheat Goldfish Crackers
Before you buy your kids (or yourself) a bag of Goldfish crackers, check out this easy recipe from Super Healthy Kids to make whole wheat goldfish at home. These crackers are healthy, wholesome, and free of preservatives. And let's face it—they're super cute.
10. Homemade Cracker Jack
Cracker Jack is an American classic. A bite of Food 52's homemade Cracker Jack is a comforting caramel snack that will take you back to your childhood days. Plus, it's the perfect combo of sweet and salty to keep you crunching away during your travels.
11. Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bite-sized is the best size for travel, but I bet you can't eat just one of any of those supposedly one-bite snacks. Stash some of these mini chocolate chip cookies from Butter with a Side of Bread in your travel bag for when your sweet tooth takes over. And if you portion them in snack-size bags, you may be tempted to eat fewer of them... maybe.
12. Chocolate-Filled Raspberries
These chocolate-filled raspberries from Add a Pinch are another bite-sized treat to soothe a case of backseat boredom, and are less messy than chocolate-covered raspberries. You can fill your raspberries with melted milk, dark, or white chocolate. They're simple and delicious!
Travel Smart
Say no to convenience store junk foods, and yes to these tasty travel snacks. Bringing treats from home is healthier and could save you money (and possibly time) in the long run. All it takes to craft these simple snacks is a little bit of preparation and planning.
When your stomach starts to rumble in the car or your kids get cranky on the airplane, you'll be happy to have these travel snacks coming to your rescue!
More Snack Hacks:
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