When I was in fifth grade, my friend’s parents took me on vacation with them to Chincoteague, VA. We were eating snacks in the back of the car. I ripped open a bag of pretzels the wrong way, and they exploded all over the back seat. Crumbs and salt everywhere. Took a while to clean up that mess.
Now I’m more careful when I eat in the car, and when I pack snacks for my family. I try not to bring anything that will make too many crumbs. (Even when I open pretzels the right way, they can still be too messy, depending on the kind.) I also avoid snacks that are too sticky and/or too stinky! And I avoid anything that would go bad quickly or need refrigeration (I don’t usually bring a cooler).
So what does that leave? I usually stick with healthy granola bars (chewy, not crunchy—the crunchy ones can be so crumbly). I also pack Ziplocs of trail mix, fruit snacks, carrots, or sliced apples or grapes, if I know I won’t have them out for too long.
Here are some other good ideas for healthy (and non-messy) car snacks for you and your little ones, from Disney Family.Com. Happy Travels!
– Lauren A.
If you have any good ideas for healthy, non-messy road trip snacks for kids, leave a comment for us below.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
For a short trip, yogurt is healthy and the kids will love it! Especially candy-cookie crunch: The yogurt packs have protein-packed yogurt and crunchy toppings to keep them satisfied.
http://www.yocrunch.com/products/indulgent-crunch.html
Granola bars are always a good idea for a traveling family. Now they even make cereal bars . . there are plenty of dry foods out there kids love, be creative and let them choose.
awesome info. thanks
I always bring something to drink. I usually have a case of bottled water in the trunk of the car, so when the kids get thirsty while out and around, I pop open the trunk and give the kids bottled water. Its quick, easy, and saves me time and money. In addition to, I carry ziplock bags of nuts mixed with cereal. On a hot day, the kids are hungry, give them a bag of treats without having to deal with melted chocolate pieces or sticky fruit pieces.