8 Healthy Road Trip Snacks that are Non Refrigerated

Road trips are often the perfect opportunity to create memorable moments. These trips make for the best adventures, especially if you like to take the scenic route, appreciate nature, and make some unexpected stops along the way.

These are incredibly unique ways to travel, and anyone who has been on a road trip or two will know that carrying the right amount and type of snacks can make a big difference. Perhaps a few bags of chips and a candy bar can work occasionally, but if you are committed to eating healthy, this may not be the most attractive option for you.

If You plan to bring some healthy snacks but you’re not able to refrigerate your food while you travel, we’ve got you covered. There are many non-refrigerated snack options that you can easily take with you on any of your trips. We’ll show you how you can best prepare your healthy, non-refrigerated snacks in advance to have them ready for the road. We will also leave you with some simple and easy options if you want to prepare your own healthy snacks and some ideas of non-perishable healthy snacks that you can buy and easily take with you.

How to Prep the Best Healthy Road Trip Snacks that are Non-refrigerated

Organization can make the difference between a good or a terrible trip. When it comes to snacks, you could just throw all your snack bags or containers in the car, and get going, but preparing your healthy snacks in advance and neatly packing them can save you time and hassle on the road.

There is a wide variety of healthy snacks that you can buy that come prepackaged. You just have to store them in a safe place and in a way that you can easily find what you are looking for. But, if you prefer to prepare your own snacks and are wondering how to prepare the best healthy non-refrigerated snacks for road trips, you’ll be relieved to find that it’s relatively straightforward. Here are some tips to have all your snacks prepared at the beginning of your trip:

Make a Checklist

Create a quick list of items and snacks for your road trip that you can check as you pack. This way, you will ensure that you have everything you need and avoid forgetting the essentials.  

Wash and Cut Vegetables and Fruits  

By prepping your fruits and veggies, you make it easier to eat them while traveling. You can cut up carrot and celery sticks and pack them in a container, or you can cut up some apple slices and have them ready and put away for later. Whatever vegetables and fruits you decide to take with you, prepare them in advance for more practical access when you want to eat them.  

Prepare a Bag for Snacks or a Snack Tote 

If you package your snacks in a bag or a tote, you will have the snacks organized in one place, and you will be able to locate everything more easily. Remember to pack non-perishable snacks. It is the most practical option for road trips because they are usually prepackaged and portioned to enjoy conveniently whenever you like.

Bring a Cooler (if possible) 

If you can carry one with you, a cooler can be very useful on your road trip. It can help you keep your drinks and anything else you need to refrigerate cold and safe. If you plan to bring any perishable food or food that needs refrigeration, keep it in the fridge overnight and pack it in the cooler just before you start your trip.

Nonperishable Healthy Road Trip Snacks that are Non-refrigerated

Snacking is inevitable on any road trip. Sometimes the road calls for some extra energy and if you don’t bring your own snacks, you’ll find yourself buying a bag of chips, chocolates, or cookies in some gas station. 

But if you’re committed to a healthy lifestyle and want to stick to your diet, bringing healthy snacks can be ideal. This doesn’t mean you have to prepare snacks at home or bring a cooler to keep your food. There are many non-perishable, non-refrigerated healthy snack options available in many grocery stores or online. Some of the healthy non-refrigerated snacks that you can take to your road trips are:

Turbana Plantain Chips

If you are a fan of crunchy snacks but want to stick to a healthy diet, you will love these plantain chips. They may not be the fried chips you regularly find at roadside stores, but they’re a healthier option. Turbana uses completely natural ingredients and offers different flavors for you to choose from. You can eat these plantain chips on their own or accompany them with hummus or some other dipping sauce if you wish.

Seaweed Chips

If you’re into healthy and innovative snacking, seaweed chips are a gluten-free, dairy-free, completely vegan, and guilt-free option that may surprise you with their tasty crunch. There are different brands available both online and in some stores and even different flavors that you can choose from.

Whole-grain Pretzels.

Regular pretzels may not be the healthiest option for a snack on the go. But if you are a fan of this snack, you should know that you can still get many options of pretzels made from whole wheat, probably available in your nearest supermarket and many online stores. These types of pretzels are perfect for the entire family, and you can accompany them with hummus or any other dip you like. Unlike regular pretzels, whole-grain pretzels are a healthy and nutritious option that you can enjoy without any regrets about your diet.

Healthy Homemade Road Trip Snacks

Healthy packaged snacks can be convenient and even fun to choose from. There is a wide variety of options and different types of healthy snacks for all kinds of tastes that are easy to take with you on your road trip. Nevertheless, nothing beats home-cooked food, and if you have the time and disposition, healthy road trip meals or a homemade snack can undoubtedly be the best option to stick to your healthy diet during your road trip. Don’t worry if you don’t have a way to refrigerate them during your trip, as there are many recipes for non-refrigerated snacks that you can easily prepare at home in batches to take with you on your trip.

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are one of the most viable options when it comes to non-refrigerated snacks for road trips. You can make them healthy by using whole wheat bread instead of regular white bread and filling them with whatever you like. Try to make sandwiches from foods that don’t require refrigeration and can travel well without spoiling. You can go for a classic PB&J and use low-sugar peanut butter and jelly for a healthier twist, or you can make some tasty turkey sandwiches with some veggies for a complete meal. The best thing about sandwiches is that you can adapt them to your tastes and make them as rich and heavy or as light as you want. Be sure to pack them well to protect them during your trip until you want to eat them. You can use regular food containers, zip bags, or sandwich boxes to ensure that your sandwiches are as if they were freshly prepared until the moment you take them out to enjoy them.

Roasted Crunchy Apple Slices

If you’re more of a sweet-snacking kind of person but feel committed to maintaining a healthy diet, a few crispy roasted apple slices may be the perfect healthy sweet snack for your next road trip. You can prepare this delicious and healthy snack very quickly at home the day before starting your journey. All you need to do is cut as many apples as you like into thin slices, preheat the oven to 200°F, place the sliced ​​apples on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake the apples for about two and a half hours. You will have a deliciously sweet and nutritious snack that all your travel companions will love, so make sure you make enough. You can season the apples with cinnamon before baking if you wish, or you can check out one of the many apple chip recipes available online. If you’d like to make chips from other fruits just choose the fruit you like the most and search online to learn how to bake it in the best way.

Healthy Fruit and Veggie Road Trip Snacks that are Non-refrigerated

When it comes to healthy eating, fruits and vegetables are undoubtedly our best friends, and when you go on a road trip, this is no exception. Not having a way to refrigerate food in your car shouldn’t have to break your diet. There are many healthy non-refrigerated snacks that you can prepare from vegetables or fruits, and this is one of the most beneficial ways of snacking during your road trip. Don’t worry if you are unsure what kind of fruit or vegetable-based snacks you can prepare for your trip. Here are some recipes that you can easily prepare at home before starting your adventure.

Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is a delicious healthy snack option that can go great with yogurt, cereal, granola, or muffins. You can also eat them plain if you wish. Although different brands sell dried fruit already pre-packaged, there is a widespread belief that they are much better when you prepare them yourself. Making your own dried fruit at home is actually quite simple. It just takes some time. You can make dried fruit with pears, peaches, berries, bananas, blueberries, apples, pineapples, apricots, and just about any fruit you can think of. You only have to wash, peel, and slice the fruits of your choice. Then preheat the oven to 170°F and place the fruit slices on a single layer on nonstick baking sheets and bake for 4 to 8 hours depending on the thickness of the cuts. Bake with the oven door slightly open, stirring the fruit every 30 minutes. Fruits should be chewy, not roasted or crunchy. After drying your fruits in the oven, we recommend letting them rest for at least 12 hours, so if you want to make this type of snack to take on your road trip, keep in mind that you must do it well in advance.

Roasted Legumes

Although they may not be the most common snacks, you can roast different types of legumes in addition to potatoes and sweet potatoes. Chickpeas, kidney beans, and black beans can all be roasted and crisped up to enjoy as a healthy snack during your road trip while being high in protein, iron, and other nutrients that are great for digestive and overall health. The process for each type of bean can vary a bit, so choose the type of bean you want to roast, do a little research on the internet on how to do it correctly, and you will end up with some great healthy road trip snacks ready to take with you and enjoy with your traveling companions.

Fresh Clementines

After spending hours at a time cooped up in a car, we often feel thirsty or a little hungry, but perhaps not hungry enough to stop to eat. It’s times like these that a piece of fresh fruit can come in handy. Especially a juicy fruit full of vitamin C like a Clementine. Clementines are a type of mandarin orange characterized by being seedless and slightly sweeter, making them perfect for a road trip. Clementines are basically nature’s candy, and to take them with you on your trip, simply pick up the number of clementines you want to take and pack them along with your snack load or food for the trip. If it’s hot during your road trip, these delicious fruits will cool you down for a while, and if it’s cold, they will be the perfect natural chewy candy with that zesty citrus flavor that will awaken your senses.