7 healthy snacks to prepare on your road trips

Sure, sweet, salty, crunchy, portable treats are the name of the game. That doesn’t have to mean a “grocery sweep” style running down the snack aisle. You can make lighter, healthier versions of many of these favorites at home. Supplement with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, plus water, and you’ll start your road trip off on the right foot. Here are some options to consider from our Recipe Finder.

Homemade Cheez-Its. This riff on the miniature cookie is thicker and cheesier than what you buy at the store. They can be stored for up to a week, which means there’s a good chance you’ll have enough for both legs of your journey, assuming they’re not all consumed right away.

Walnut Oat Bars. Very often, a car trip starts early in the morning, before we’ve had a chance to eat breakfast. For a meal on the go, these bars packed with oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit are a great option, whether you want to eat before or after you get in the car. Like many of the recipes here, this one is from our Nourish columnist, Ellie Krieger.

Get to know your oatmeal, and all the types and ways to eat it

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins with Honey and Cardamom. As with the oatmeal bars, Ellie offers a better-for-you bake, this one made with whole wheat flour, enhanced with the softening effects of yogurt and honey.

Fruit and Nut Energy Bars. There’s no flour, egg, or added sugar in these lightly chewy bars with an appealing crunch from the seed and nut mix.

Search our Recipe Finder for more than 9,800 post-tested recipes.

Salty Cereal Snack Mix. Sure, we all love bagged Chex mix. Ellie suggests a healthier approach that incorporates olive oil, chickpea bites, whole-grain pita chips, and, yes, Rice or Wheat Chex.

Back-to-school snack recipes and tips that encourage healthy eating habits

quick homemade hummus. Even four years and a car later, I’m still reeling from letting our 1-year-old eat hummus during a pit stop on the way to the beach. However, if you’re not worried about a baby staining your dashboard, then this favorite is great for packing into containers for a high-protein snack. Combine it with whole grain crackers or crudites.

How to make the best and easiest hummus, starting with a can of chickpeas

Sausage Lunch Box. Let all your travelers choose their favorite combination of crackers, fruits, vegetables, cheese and sliced ​​meat, then pack in a convenient bento-style box. The combo allows everyone to eat as much or as little as they want, when they want.

5 Adaptable Lunch Recipes for Kids Going Back to School — and Parents Too