Snacks are vital on a long car ride. I need them and so do my kids!
Anyone else???
But taking food/snacks on a trip can be a headache. One kid wants a snack, so the passenger adult (usually me) unbuckles, reaches behind the seats or in between, finds the large bag of snacks and the then starts to divide them up among the different children. All the while, someone is complaining, while another is refusing the snack they JUST requested, while yet another screaming for the snack the sibling is refusing.
And don’t even get me started on drinks. Any of this sound familiar?
So what can you do? Planning ahead will save you a lot of frustration when the day of travel arrives.
One way that I have attempted to remedy this situation is or each child to have their own snack containers and drinks within their reach, already divided up and ready to go.
What kinds of containers should I use??
These are the totes I have gotten for my kiddos – I chose these because my kids are young and therefore I wanted a smaller tote with limited options for them to have as choices. These larger ones are another wonderful option and I have heard great things about them! Especially if your children are older.
With drinks, I LOVE the Contigo brand cups for the car. It has a handle for easy holding/reaching, and doesn’t really spill which keeps the mess to a minimum. Plus there are multiple sizes depending on the age of your child. In all reality though, think about what is your kid’s favorite cup. Just make sure you have a good lid.
So what do I pack for a snack???
I try my hardest to provide healthy snacks for my children at home. However, I am a cheese cracker fan myself so my kids have also learned to love Goldfish. Who doesn’t!?
But on long road trips my motto is: Just be happy! So I break out all the good stuff!
Here is a list of possible items to put in your small snack container:
- Goldfish crackers (or something similar)
- Pretzels (We like the mini-rods)
- Raisins
- Yogurt covered Raisins
- M&Ms
- Skittles
- Cheese-its
- Granola
- Dry Cereal (Fruit loops, Cherrios, etc)
- Fruit Snacks
- Mini-Marshmallows
- Shredded Coconut Flakes
- Popcorn
- Nuts (Cashews, Peanuts, etc)
- Granola Bar Bites like these – depending on the size of your container)
To keep it interesting, I like to have the kids pick what they would like in half the compartments of their tote before we head out on the road. I fill up the rest with my choices. This way my children will not simply eat all the chocolate. Then when we stop, I access how they are liked it (what is eaten and whats not) and refill/change if needed.
All the original containers of snacks, which are used to refill, are placed in a grocery bag in the food zone of the car and only messed with when we stop. See my post here about the zones. This cuts down on twisting and reaching of the adult while traveling and also cuts down on the mess.
In the individual cups, I typically stick with water. I try super hard to stay away from juice and milk on the road. If that spills in your car, not only is it hard to get completely clean, but it can cause the car to smell (especially in the heat of summer). YUCK!
Anything else??
In addition to this snacks, I also bring a small cooler filled with individual snack bags of fruit and veggie options. These include celery sticks (with nut butter), carrot sticks, apple and cucumber slices, pre-peeled clementines, and grapes (cut if needed). I use this fruit saver to keep everything fresh on the road. You can get it from Amazon, but I have also found it at Walmart.
Depending on how far your drive/trip is, you can also pack meal food, such as pre-made sandwiches. I also make sure to pack water bottle and ice in the cooler, which I then place directly behind the middle console for easy reaching and only open during stops.
As for the adults, I prefer to have my food closer to me. So I tuck in the zone up front some of my favorite jerky, granola/protein bars and chips. This also keeps little eyes from seeing my loot and wanting to steal (although I swear my kids can hear the wrapper of a candy bar from across the car, but I have to call their names 30+ times before they respond). Why is that?? Tell me it isn’t just my children!
So there you have it! My go-to tips for food on the road. Hope this helps!
