CAR TRIP---snack ideas?

hey there!
I'm 19-----recovering from anorexia...
been living in FLORIDA for 18 weeks completing an EXTERNSHIP....
traveling home TONIGHT to PA....
it will be a 17 hr. drive which we are thinking about doing NON-STOP
MY QUESTION: I know we will be making rest stops etc. but I think I should take snacks along,..because I have accustomed myself to eating every 2-3 hrs.
I began this habit because I did not like the FEELING of being FULL when I would eat reg. huge meals. Anyway---so now I am adjusted to eating every few hrs. and I KNOW that I will feel the 'hunger' during those times.
What is easy to pack for healthy snacks?
would LOVE tons of ideas......maybe ones I haven't  already thought of
I am sure fruit would be good-----cereal? nuts?
don't want anything too messy or hard to eat while DRIVING-
THANKS GUYS!

I hate most packaged foods, but for car rides they're usually your best bet because most natural, whole foods need refrigeration, but I think the ideas below are pretty healthy even though most are processed/packaged:

peanut butter & crackers
nuts
granola bars, Special K bars, Finer One Bars, etc
cereal bars or rice krispie treats
energy/meal replacement bars
carrot & celery sticks
cherry tomatoes
any fruit or dired fruit
popcorn
trail mix
PB & J sandwiches
pretzels
graham crackers
applesauce
rice cakes and/or soy crisps
bagels
homemade muffins
cereal or granola
tins or cups of chicken, tuna, or salmon (unrefrigerated) - they also have the little snack/meal packages of them I think
Ensure or other nutrition drink

If you have a cooler: pudding, jello, sandwiches, yogurt, string cheese, laughing cow cheese cubes or other cheese cubes, sandwiches or wraps,

I love mixing together unsalted soy nuts and yogurt covered raisins - little salty, little bit sweet :)

Original Post by alle0299:

I love mixing together unsalted soy nuts and yogurt covered raisins - little salty, little bit sweet :)

 ooo, that sounds good ;) thanks for the idea :)

Remember to bring lots of water.  Keep hydrated! 

(if you are traveling on I95 thru Washington & Baltimore towards Philadelphia - good luck with the traffic.) 

minie13 gave you a pretty good list. i'm exactly like you--i eat every 2-3 hours. if it were me i would also buy a couple boxes of cereal and just eat it by the handful. mmmm lucky charms (:

ewwxroflzz---oh my gosh---I am TOTALLY the same way with cereal....hence---I DON'T keep it on hand much!! I will sit there and chow down on a whole BOX of OH'S...or cheerios,....or ANYTHING!!_----so maybe not the safest idea,...specially when I'm trapped in a car :) ha ha

OMG I love those OH's too.  They are soooo good, but sooo full of sugar : (

I recently made the same aprx trip.  Next time I will avoid anything salty as being thirsty then drinking extra required me getting off at every single exit hunting a restroom. 

My favorites were whole wheat buns, made into sandwiches, with lots of lettuce.  Popcorn, to munch.  The individual boxes of cereal, grape tomatoes.  Low calorie cookies, bananas and green peppers cut into strips.  A box of Jr. Mints on trip down, and bag of Star Burst candy on way home.  Also had power bars, which is like a treat to me, but provides some protein.

have a safe trip.

I wouldn't reccommend the cereal idea. Too much sugar isin't a good thing in the car; trust me, you don't want a sugar rush when all you can do is stay strapped into a seat. xD

I second the soy nuts thing - I love soy nuts no matter how you put them. I add 1/3 cup of them into a trail mix with two tablespoons of raisins, 1/4 cup of Kashi Go Lean CRUNCH, and ten almonds. It's delicious and healthy too. Clif bars are great for snacking, but be careful on their sugar content.

Whole fruits (apples, oranges, grapefruits, grapes, tangerines, berries), vegetables (carrots, celery, cucumbers, baby tomatoes), nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts), natural peanut butter or almond butter, low-fat bran muffins, and cheese sticks are great too. If you have a cooler, pack some sliced turkey or chicken, canned light tuna or salmon, fat free or lowfat cottage cheese, lowfat string cheese, skim milk, and lots of bottled water.

oh yeah, I also always bring beef jerky and cracker jacks on car trips with me

I just drove home to PA after visiting my parents in NJ. I usually bring these for the trips:

clementines
apples
glenny's soy crisps
glenny's spud delights
water (of course- I like to talk during car trips!)
grapes
carrot sticks
rice crackers
single-serve nuts

On my last couple of road trips I have taken:

Veggies and a container of hummus
Peanut butter and banana sandwich
Kashi TLC crackers
Apple slices and PB for dipping (I can dip and drive... I don't know about you!)
Granola bars
Trail mix, mixed nuts, etc.
Miniature PB and saltine "sandwiches"
Dry cereal in a baggie (I like cinnamon Life because of the individual squares, but there are tons of good options)
Sandwiches made with low fat meats, cheeses, hummus, veggies, etc.  (Or you could stop at Subway, they're everywhere!)

If I think of more I'll let you know!  Have a great trip!

Edited to add: Also, if you end up without enough time to prepare yourself something, gas stations often have granola bars, fresh fruit, little tins of tuna, crackers, and several other healthy items.  You just have to look beyond all the junk.  Even those packaged nuts (like Lance brand) are good for you, except for the salt.  They at least have protein and healthy fat to give you energy for driving.  Some gas stations even have unsalted or raw nuts as well.  Last time I traveled I got myself a little package of the honey roasted peanuts (guilty pleasure!) and they lasted me forever.

Last spring my Fiance and I drove from NY to FL and back - what a LOOOOOOONG drive! We went to Bj's {like Sam's Club or Costco} and got a big can of Unsalted mixed nuts, A box of the Kashi TLC's {tasty little crackers}, some of the Laughing Cow Cheeses {the ones in the red and yellow wax} and a case each of  Vitamin Water and Powerade. We also had some apples and bananas - lots of gas stations have fruit now - we stopped more often for bathroom breaks and to refuel the van than we did to eat :)

Have a safe trip back to the chilly north!

100 calorie packs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (you can find at most any grocery)

 

I love all the varieties..they're a perfect "snack" size...

drive safely! 

Original Post by lileberly:

ewwxroflzz---oh my gosh---I am TOTALLY the same way with cereal....hence---I DON'T keep it on hand much!! I will sit there and chow down on a whole BOX of OH'S...or cheerios,....or ANYTHING!!_----so maybe not the safest idea,...specially when I'm trapped in a car :) ha ha

If you have a hard time not bingeing on the cereal try putting some in ziplocks and take as much as you think you could be comfortable munching on in a day... maybe 2 or 3 cups spread out.

The yogurt raisins and soynuts sounds like it might be a good one to take also and yes I love 100 calorie packs too especially the Peanut butter ones.