{"id":99492,"date":"2024-10-14T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-14T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/?p=99492"},"modified":"2024-10-14T17:52:55","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T17:52:55","slug":"road-trip-foods-and-snacks-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/road-trip-foods-and-snacks-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"15 road trip snacks for kids that will keep them from getting ‘hangry’"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve ever taken a road trip with kids — or been around kids, for that matter — you know that food is central to their existence. In fact, if you’re hitting the open road with your family in the near future, rest assured, the words “can I have a snack?” will be the ones most frequently uttered from the back seat. <\/p>

And while kids’ penchant for nonstop noshing can seem downright perplexing (“You just ate!” “We haven’t even pulled out of the driveway!”), the truth is, it checks out. <\/p>

“Because kids are growing and developing so much, their calorie needs in relation to their size are actually bigger than that of adults,” explains Aubrey Phelps, a registered functional nutritionist specializing in perinatal and pediatric nutrition, owner of Matrescence Nutrition<\/a> and author of “The Big Book of Baby-Led Weaning.” “Because of this, snacking plays a huge role in meeting their nutrient and caloric needs each day. Kids also have smaller stomachs, so trying to get all their nutrition in just three meals a day is nearly impossible.”<\/p>

Put another way: Snacks — all of the snacks — and healthy meals are key for kids.<\/p>

If you’re road tripping it with kids, be prepared. (And, no, we’re not talking about getting the oil changed.) Here, nutritionists share 15 of their favorite road trip snacks for kids.<\/p>

Road trip snacks for kids<\/h2>

Next to gas, snacks are pretty much the most crucial element for a road trip — particularly when traveling with little ones.<\/p>

“It’s important to keep kids’ snack healthy or nutrient-dense because it can provide stable energy for use in between meals to prevent them from having unstable blood sugar that can lead to behavior changes such as ‘hangry,’ cranky or tantrums,” says Tok-Hui Yeap, a registered dietitian, board certified specialist in pediatric nutrition and owner of Kinder Nutrition<\/a> in Eugene, Oregon. “You can still include ‘fun foods’ or less nutrient-dense food in the mix to create a well-balanced snack to add some exciting elements for kids to look forward to at snack times.”<\/p>

Here, some of Yeap’s and Phelps’ favorite road trip snacks for kids<\/a>.<\/p>

No-bake, no-cook snacks<\/h3>

According to Yeap, these snacks will ensure kids get an “in-between energy delivery or boost so that they don’t get too hungry or tired and become cranky easily.”<\/p>

1. Cheerios or a granola bar with fruit leather and string cheese<\/h4>

This is a favorite snack of Yeap’s for little ones, as it provides “additional macro and micronutrients, such as calories, protein, fats, fiber, calcium, iron and vitamin D to support healthy growth and development.” <\/p>

2. Homemade trail mix <\/h4>
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Both Yeap and Phelps recommend trail mix as a solid road trip snack for kids. Yeap suggests using Chex, mixed nuts, mini M&M and dried fruits.<\/p>

3. Pretzels with nut butter<\/h4>

Another choice of Yeap’s, who also notes that almost any nut butter — peanut, almond, cashew, etc. — will do. You can either put nut butter in a small container or opt for the individual packets offered by brands like Justin’s and Jif. <\/p>

4. Veggie sticks with hummus<\/h4>
@nourishandtempt<\/a>

Hummus and vegetabke stick snack jars!🥕🥒 A tasty fun snack to meal prep. #mealprep<\/a> #mealprepping<\/a> #mealprepsnacks<\/a> #hummus<\/a> #hummuslover<\/a> #healthysnack<\/a> <\/p> ♬ I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Single Version – Marvin Gaye<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote>