21 healthy summer road trip snacks

The summer travel season is here! That means long car rides, lots of questionable gas-station restrooms and, if you don’t head into your summer road trips prepared, even more junk food.

“Stopping at gas stations and fast-food restaurants for quick snacks is so tempting when you aren’t prepared,” says Alex Caspero , a St. Louis-based registered dietitian and founder of Delish Knowledge . But putting together an arsenal of healthy and tasty snacks can be just as easy.

[See: Healthy Snacks for When You Feel Hangry.]

To prove our point, we teamed up with top nutritionists to identify 21 easy, healthy snacks that are perfect for on-the-road snacking. All you need is a little planning, a cooler and maybe a few wet wipes for easy clean up.

**1. Better-than-drive-thru soda.** Take a mason jar and put 100 percent pomegranate juice in the bottom along with a few lime slices. Keep in the cooler and, when ready to drink, top it with sparkling water. (Thinkstock)

Trail mix with dried fruit and nuts — **2. Air-popped popcorn trail mix.** Combine pre-popped air-popped popcorn with nuts and dried fruits. (Thinkstock)

3. Pistachios. Full of plant-based protein, unsaturated fat and fiber, these little nuts make a great option because they’re so small and pop-able. Each nut contains 4 calories. Compared to a bigger nut like a Brazil nut, which contains 33, that’s a bargain. (Thinkstock)

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Spiced almonds and walnuts on a baking sheet — **4. Walnuts.** Another excellent nut option, they contain more plant-based omega-3 fatty acids than any other nut, helping keep you feeling fuller longer. These can get expensive, so consider buying in bulk and then dividing into snack-size baggies. (Thinkstock)

**5. No-added ingredient dried fruits.** Many bags of dried fruits contain added sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, oils and other chemicals. Check labels to make sure that any you buy contain fruit, fruit and nothing but the fruit. Another option is freeze-dried fruits, which typically don’t contain added sugar or sulfates like many air-dried ones do. (Thinkstock)

**6. Sprouted barley cracker sandwiches.** Sprouted barley crackers are a great source of protein and fiber. Stick a slice of your favorite cheese in the middle, and you’ve got an easy on-the-road snack that has an ideal balance of carbs, protein and fat. (Thinkstock)

Raw fresh meat Beef Steak Sirloin for two. in iron grilled pan with herbs — **7. Meat bars.** For all of the Paleo travelers out there, meat-based bars are a great way to get in protein. These aren’t available in stores everywhere, so hop online for the widest array of options. (Thinkstock)

Healthy Roasted Seasoned Chick Peas with Varies Spices — **8. Baked chickpeas.** For a fiber-filled chip substitute, toss drained-and-dried chickpeas with olive oil. Season to taste with salt and other spices such as curry or cayenne pepper. Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes at 450 degrees, until crunchy. For some extra flavor, toss your baked chickpeas with sunflower seeds and dried cranberries or pineapple. (Thinkstock)

Crackers with tuna salad on wooden plate — **9. Tuna and crackers.** Many tuna brands now make grab-and-go, tuna-and-cracker snack packs. That makes upping your intake of seafood (and heart-healthy omega-3s) a whole lot easier. (Thinkstock)

10. Apple and string cheese. Apples are the ultimate portable fresh fruit. They don’t need to be refrigerated and, unless you have finicky eaters in your car, don’t need to be cut or sliced. Eat them alongside string cheese for a balance of whole carbs, protein and healthy fat. (AP)

Cream Cheese isolated — **11. Ham and cream cheese roll-ups.** The combination of protein and fat will help fend off cravings. Plus, they are just fun. Spoon a small dollop of cream cheese into the middle of a slice of ham or other lunch meet, roll it into one long tube and then slice into bite-sized pieces. You can secure them with toothpicks. (AP)

12. DIY trail mix. Mix ½ cup of your favorite whole-grain cereal with 2 tablespoons pecans, 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut shreds and 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs. (AP)

13. Veggies and hummus. You don’t need a full veggie tray to get your five daily servings. Carrots and celery can both be stored at room temperature, and many brands make single-serving containers to eliminate potential in-the-car messes. (AP)

**15. Almond butter strawberries.** Wash and dry strawberries and dip them in almond butter. Drop them in sturdy container and store in the cooler for a grab-and-go delicacy. (AP)

Sliced green Peppers — **16. Sliced bell peppers and guacamole.** Slice some bell peppers in strips and throw them in the cooler along with some guac. Opt for single-serving containers, so you can dig in without worrying about everyone else’s guac getting brown and nasty. (Thinkstock)

In this photo taken Wednesday Nov. 2, 2011, garlic chili pepper gourmet beef Krave Jerky is shown in the foreground in Sonoma, Calif. As football heads toward the season-ending showdowns, gourmet jerky lovers have more choices. High-end jerky is available in everything from the traditional beef to turkey, lamb, and even fish. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) — **17. All-natural jerky.** Better for your health and taste buds than traditional gas-station jerky, a new wave of jerkies offer loads of protein without all of the questionable chemicals and additives. Check your local health foods store for brands with the shortest ingredient list possible. (AP)

This Sept. 11, 2015 photo shows dirty coconut snowballs in Concord, N.H. These cookies are from a recipe by Alison Ladman. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead) — **18. No-bake protein balls.** Simple, fun and sweet, there are endless options for protein ball recipes on the internet. Here’s the concept: Combine rolled oats, natural nut butter, dried fruit and other mix-ins like chopped nuts, shredded coconut, protein powder and chocolate chips. Roll them into bite-sized balls and pop them in the cooler. (AP)

Bowl of edamame soybeans — **20.** **Shelled edamame.** A veritable powerhouse of plant-based protein, not to mention fiber, edamame is perfectly pop-able. Buy it shelled and snack away. (Thinkstock)

Strawberry fruit drink — **21.** **Protein shakes.** Read the label to make sure you aren’t loading up on more added sugars than protein. In general, the shorter the ingredient list, the better. (Thinkstock)

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Sources: Rania Batayneh, nutritionist and author of “The One One One Diet”; Alex Caspero, registered dietitian and founder of Delish Knowledge; Jim White, registered dietitian and spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Daphne Olivier, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator.

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21 Healthy Summer Road Trip Snacks originally appeared on usnews.com