Two Kids and a Map

When I was younger, the main way that we traveled was in a car…usually for thousands of miles at a time.  Because I was a military brat, our road trips usually coincided with major moves across country.  A few days before our road trip, we would begin the preparations.  The two things that I always looked forward to were the trip to the bookstore to pick up brand spankin’ new books for the trip (which my mother would then hide in her closet so I didn’t manage to read them all before we left!) and the trip to the grocery store to pick out a few special snacks.  One of the snack traditions that I have continued from my childhood is the little box of cereal.  The ones that come in sets of 8 or 10?  The cereal that is so far away from being good for you but makes a perfect snack? 

One of the new traditions that we have started is Swedish Fish.  Don’t ask me why, because I have no idea.  All I know is that all of the sudden, I find myself gravitating towards the Swedish Fish in the candy aisle.  I buy the huge bag and divide it into smaller baggies that I can toss into the back of the mom-mobile when needed.  Before knowing if the Swedish fish are in the car, the kids will actually ask for “fishies” when we are on a road trip!  They are our special treat.  Some other snacks that we always pack are cheese cubes, crackers (not the crumbly kind!), apple slices and mandarin oranges. 

I asked a few of my blogosphere cohorts to share what snack they make sure they always pack on a road trip:

“Before setting out on road trips, we make our own snack mix. I go to the local grocery and purchase a variety of ingredients. Each member of the family gets their own baggy (with name on it) and they fill it with their favorite goodies. This way, everyone has a healthy snack they like and they don’t have to worry about someone else eating their yummy stuff.  Things we include: peanuts, cashews, sesame sticks, M&Ms, raisins, cereals (Cheerios, Chex, etc), pretzels, bagel chips.” -Shannon Hurst Lane, Twitter- @Cajun_Mama

“My favorite snack for the kids on the road are fresh grapes, washed and pulled in a baggie so the kids can help themselves without spilling. It gives them a non-messy, healthy fruit course that lasts for awhile because they can keep popping them in.”  -Lorraine of Keeps Me Smiling, Twitter -@keepsmesmiling

“My favorite road trip snack is practical, portable, requires little refrigeration, but is not necessarily healthy.  I usually pack some canned squeezy cheese and Ritz Crackers.  If I have a refrigerator pack, I bring along some salami as well.  It is super easy, the kids like it, and it is easy to throw in a backpack for an outing or roadside stop.  Fruit leather made with 100% fruit also comes in handy on the road.  For mom, those Starbucks lattes in glass bottles keep me alert enough to push on to our next stop.” -Bridget of Family Adventure Guidebooks, Twitter- @bridgetasmith

“My tried-and-true take-along snack is Goldfish crackers.  I know my daughter will always eat them, and I assuage my guilt by buying the whole grain ones.  They actually have some protein, calcium, iron, and fibre, and in moments of low blood sugar, I don’t mind snacking on them either. Unfortunately they make a right mess when they’re dropped on the floor and ultimately stepped on, but luckily my husband takes care of the car cleaning and maintenance! For emergencies, I always have a few lollipops hidden away.” -Corinne of Have Baby Will Travel, Twitter- @hvbabywilltrvl

“When we road trip, our snack foods must comply with the following requirements: they have to be entertaining as well as edible, they have to be non-messy, and they have to be a novelty (a rare treat). They do not, however, have to be healthy, necessarily. Our favorites that fit into these categories are: 1. gummy worms (I buy them in bulk at the supermarket)  2. Jelly Belly jelly beans (we all spend more time than is healthy trying to figure out the flavors and combining them)  3. Babybel cheese (the unique wax coating is fun to play with like silly putty when the cheese is consumed)  4. Ring Pops (yep, they still make ‘em!)  5. various pretzel shapes (stick them in the cheeses to make things!).” -Amy of Pitstops For Kids, Pitstops with Kids Facebook Fan Page

“We usually travel with a big Sam’s Club box of Rice Krispies Treats or Golden Grahams Treats. A tiny bit nutritious, not too messy, and prepackaged so we can keep them in the car or throw a few into our daytrip bag.” -Linda of Travels with Children, Twitter- @minnemom

Tags: Road Trips