From Our Family Album: Road Trips Down South

🌿 Why Good Snacks Matter When You’re Travelling

Summer adventures can be unpredictable. Whether it’s delayed ferry crossings, hours between food stops, or skipped meals while exploring, it’s easy to find yourself running on empty.

That’s where snacks come in—they’re a little lifeline between the big meals, and when you choose the right ones, they can help:

✅ Keep your energy stable

✅ Avoid mid-trip meltdowns (for both kids and adults 😉)

✅ Prevent impulse snack stops that don’t really satisfy

✅ Support digestion and hydration along the way

No need for anything fancy—just real food made from wholesome ingredients and a little planning ahead.

🧭 Is Snacking for Everyone?

I’ve come to see that snacking is personal. Some people are perfectly content with three meals a day, while others (myself included) feel better with a little something in between—especially during active or long travel days.  Personally, whether I am travelling or not I intentionally snack twice a day between meals to keep me fueled for the day.

Whether you need snacks or not, the quality of what you reach for matters. Choosing snacks with fibre, protein, and healthy fats can help keep blood sugar steady and give you that extra support you didn’t know you needed at 4 p.m. on the road.

Favourite Travel Snacks That Hold Up Well

Here are some tried-and-true snacks that I’ve packed (and enjoyed) on many family trips—easy to throw in a cooler or bag, and nourishing enough to keep you going.

Something Sweet:

🌱 Fruit-filled hand pies – A nostalgic treat that travels well and feels like a little moment of comfort or a similar childhood pop tart

🌱 Homemade energy balls – there's so many different ways to make these with different healthy ingredients like dates, nut or seed butter, oats, and chia; they're the perfect no-mess pick-me-up

🌱 Apples, clementines, and dried fruit – Naturally sweet and hydrating

🌱 A few dark chocolate chunks mixed with pecans, almonds or pumpkin seeds – Just enough to satisfy the sweet tooth without the sugar crash

Something Savoury:

🌱 Mini scones – Especially the savoury ones like cheddar-chive; great with a few cheese slices 

🌱 Roasted chickpeas – Crunchy, salty, and high in fiber

🌱 Whole-grain crackers or veggies with nut butter or hummus – Easy to portion and kid-approved

🌱 Olives with or your favourite cheese – Something about this combo just hits differently on a road trip

Easy Pairings:

🌱 Apple slices + almond butter - add some flax seeds and coconut to the almond butter and now you have a real flavourful treat!

🌱 Cheese + crackers + a small piece of fruit

🌱 Energy balls + your favourite coffee or tea in a travel mug

🌱 Scone or healthy muffins + hard cheese + a handful of grapes

🧊 How I Pack Snacks for the Road

Over the years, I’ve found a few simple systems that work well for keeping snacks fresh (and intact) on long drives or flights:

✅ Use reusable silicone bags or containers with tight lids

✅ A small cooler bag with ice packs is great for cheese, fruit, or anything that can spoil in the heat

✅ Pre-portion snacks so you don’t end up juggling open bags or having to dig through the cooler at every stop

✅ Mix up textures—sweet, salty, crunchy, soft—to keep things interesting

And if you’re traveling with kids, keep a small snack “kit” accessible for them with their favourites. It can make a huge difference on those longer stretches between stops and acts as a great seperator between them in the back seat ☺️

💧 Staying Hydrated on the Go

Dehydration sneaks up fast when you’re traveling, especially in warm weather. We’ve made it a habit to:

Bring water bottles for everyone

Add lemon slices, mint, or electrolyte powders for variety

Steer clear of sugary drinks that spike and crash

Pack a few herbal tea bags for calming sips during travel breaks

What I Try to Avoid (When I Can)

I try not to overthink it, but there are a few ingredients I’ve learned to steer away from—especially when we’re on the road and digestion already feels a bit off:

Artificial sweeteners or corn syrup – They just don’t sit well

Highly refined oils (canola, soy, corn) – Found in a lot of packaged snacks and can leave you feeling heavy

Preservatives and long ingredient lists – I aim for simple, recognizable ingredients as often as possible

My general rule: If I wouldn’t cook with it at home, I try not to eat it on the road.

A Thought to Take with You

So whether you’re headed to the beach, the cottage, or just out for a Saturday drive, I hope you feel inspired to pack a little something nourishing, a little something delicious, and a little something that reminds you of home.

And if prepping your own snacks isn’t in the cards this time around—that’s okay too. Healthy, feel-good snacking starts with Urban Baker Co. We’ve got a thoughtful selection of real food options made with wholesome ingredients, ready to take along on whatever journey lies ahead.  Start shopping now, because sometimes the best road trip prep is knowing you’ve already got the snacks covered.

CHRISTINA 💛