Road Trip Food that Will Leave You Happy & Energized

I’ve been waiting all summer for August to roll around because we have  two fun road trips planned this month! Tomorrow we leave for our first one which will be to Connecticut for one of our annual mediation retreats with our teacher. This retreat will be take place in the little town of Woodbury, nestled amongst the woods. It’ll be lovely to spend some time among like-minded friends, old and new :)!

Being both gluten-free and vegetarian, I’ve found my eating options are drastically limited when driving through rural and not-so-rural parts of the United States. And, on long road trips, I don’t really like to veer too far off our route just to track down a place where I might or might not be able to find something that I can eat….and enjoy.

So instead, we graze on our traveling picnic basket and really only stop for breathtaking vistas and when nature calls :). To keep us happy and energized throughout the drive, I like to be prepared with a mixture of fresh, light (but filling) snacks. Here’s what you can often find in my traveling picnic basket….

My Top 7 Road Trip Favorites

1. Quinoa and Black Bean Cakes  – These little patties travel nicely and make for a great lunch alternative on the road. I make them the night before, while making the cookies listed below as well. Both take about an hour together, which is so worth it the next day. The overall patty is tasty, but the quinoa is light and the black beans are filling, so they leave you quite satiated.
2. Rice Crackers – I’ve always been a salty over sweet person, so I like having a bag of good rice crackers on hand. They’re great on their own, but also pair nicely with hummus and other dips.
3. Potato Chips – No road trip is complete without a little junk food :). However, these days I keep it to a small bag and instead rely more on the rice crackers for my salty + crunchy fix.
4. Hummus – I think most of know by now, but I’m a huge hummus fan. It’s so versatile, filling and easy. You can make a quick batch at home or just pick up your favorite at the grocery store and you’re all set!
5. Cucumber Slices & Baby Carrots – Like the rice crackers, these veggies are great on their own, but also perfect for dipping in the hummus. I especially am LOVING cucumber these days. It’s just so refreshing and light.
6. Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies – I bake a small batch of these the night before and boy do they disappear fast :). The beauty of these cookies is the sugar content is low and the nutritional value is high.
7. Fresh Fruit – Sweet red cherries, apple slices and berries are my favorite, but I also enjoying stopping at fruit stands along the way for fresh peaches and summer pickings.
8. WATER – Staying hydrated, even if we have to stop several times for bathroom breaks :), is so important. I find that if I stay properly hydrated, I’m not as tired when I arrive. Plus the extra bathroom breaks are great for stretching!

Well friends, I hope your summer is going well! Do you have any last trips planned this month before summer comes to a close and fall routines begin? I’d love to expand my snack list, so leave a comment below with your favorite go-to road trip foods….and tell me where you’ve been this summer!  

Wishing you an August filled to the top with sunshine and happy vibes!

Safe travels,
Kajal