Taking a road trip with the whole family can be one of the most incredible experiences you will all have together. Road trips allow you to truly take in the landscape and the attractions while you travel, and you have the freedom to go wherever you want at your own pace. Travelling with kids can be a little challenging though if you aren’t fully prepared, so it helps to have a few things sorted out before you leave. Entertainment and snacks seem to be the two biggest issues when it comes to keeping everyone happy on a road trip, so taking the time to organise this pre-trip will definitely help everything to go a lot smoother.
When it comes to snacks, you want to find things that are healthy, tasty and nutritious. This might seem easy, but when you are travelling in a car for hours on end, you also need to consider the mess factor! If you’re planning on going away with the whole family for a car adventure, here are 4 mess free snack ideas for your kids while you’re on a road trip.
Fresh Fruit Slices
While some fresh fruit can be messy, if you stick to pre-prepared slices of apples, peeled oranges, small strawberry segments and grapes, you have the chance to give your kids a fresh healthy snack that won’t get smeared throughout the car and onto their clothes. Just remember to refrigerate the fruit prior to leaving, keep the segments in a zip lock back and preferably store it in a cool bag to keep it fresh and firm. A packet of wet wipes is great to have on hand to stave away any sticky fingers after the snack.
Homemade Potato Chips
Making your own potato chips is a quick and healthy alternative to other highly coloured and processed savoury snacks. Simply slice the potato finely, lightly season, then bake in the oven with a light spray of canola. Once crisp, remove and leave to cool before popping into small Tupperware boxes for the trip. Your kids will love the feeling of having a treat, and you can relax knowing that they’re snacking healthily.
Whole Grain Sandwich Snacks
Sandwiches and crackers can get messy on long trips, so try these bite sizes whole grain snacks instead. Using a moist whole grain bread reduces the amount of crumbs, and cutting the sandwiches into small bite sized pieces means less opportunity for the filling to spill. Keep it simple, ham and cheese is a firm favourite, as is peanut butter and jam for the sweet tooths in the family.
DIY Trail Mix
Making your own trail mix is a great way to keep an eye on what your kids are actually snacking on. Rather than trusting commercial mixes which can be high in sugars, make your own from your kid’s favourite dried fruits and nuts. Package these into small portions and seal in zip lock bags for a quick, easy and tasty treat for even the longest road trip.
When planning a road trip with the kids, the last thing you want is sticky fingers and smeared food mashed into the beautiful upholstery of your brand new Suzuki Kizashi. To avoid heartache, stick to these simple and mess free snacks that your kids will love, without redecorating the interior of your car! These wholesome and healthy treats are easy to make and are tasty enough that your kids will really enjoy their special road trip snacks for the whole duration of your adventure.
About the Author
Amanda is mother of 3 young boys who is an active blogger amongst the online mothering community.
Image Credit:
ImageryMajestic – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net
Trail Mix is one of our favorite snack at home. I learned to make this when I got invited from son’s school.