Our favorite low-carb snacks for on the road

On travel days, we spend a lot of hours in the cab of the truck. We stop fairly often to fill the gas tank (and empty our bladders). We know that every time we stop, we will be drawn to the shelves of high-carb or sugary snacks, and we want to avoid those (well, for the most part).

Be prepared for snack time

Before setting out on the road, we pack up a snack box. Because we try to keep our diet low-carb, we choose some snacks that we like. We enjoy a selection of delicious and satisfying low-carb snacks that are perfect companions for our road trip. Here’s an example of what we might have in a snack box:

• Water - depending on outside temperature, water bottles might be in the cooler instead. Bottled water is usually just a backup plan; I typically fill my travel bottle at every stop.

• Carbonated water - while I am happy to drink plain water all day every day, Tony isn’t such a fan; however, he does like flavored carbonated water. There are so many choices nowadays and even I will pop open a can on a hot day

• Cashews and pistachios - low in sugars, rich in fiber and protein

• Shredded coconut - I like to mix a bit of coconut with her cashews for a tropical treat

• Cheese crisps - just baked cheese with various spices added for flavor

• Fried pork rinds - we like the original or the vinegar and sea salt. Puckertastic!

• Seaweed snacks - full of antioxidants and fiber plus a great salty, savory flavor. They are thin and crispy for a satisfying crunch, without feeling the guilt of eating chips

• Protein bars - we choose Attain nutrition bars with CraveBlocker to help conquer cravings. Tony opts for the sweet and salty while I prefer the chocolate caramel. These bars come in especially handy in the afternoon when our energy is low and we begin to crave “cake and coffee” time

• Jerky - neither of us craves jerky but on occasion we buy a package and enjoy it while it lasts

Carrying snacks in a cooler

We also often carry a small ice chest in the cab of the truck, with lunch items so that, again, we have healthy options really handy and aren’t tempted by the lure of fast food. Full disclosure: the linked article is NOT about a small cooler!  It is a very convenient 12-volt fridge, though the one in the article is HUGE and barely fits in the back seat of the truck! There are smaller versions.

In the cooler we might carry:

• Deli meats - we keep a variety of deli meats handy all the time. A couple slices of meat and a slice of cheese rolled up fills us up. When we have the opportunity to be more fancy, we might include pickle spears into the rolls

• Cheese snacks - string cheese, BabyBel, cubes, or curds. We both really love cheese!

• Summer sausage - paired with a slice of cheese this is a delicious snack

• Cut-up veggies and dips that we make ahead and store in our collapsible silicone storage containers

• Hard-boiled eggs - I usually peel a couple and keep them in a container for an easy and energizing snack

• Tuna poppers - I shared that recipe on the website

• More water - one can never carry too much water, and having more stuff in the cooler helps it work better

Most of those snacks are not very messy. However, we do keep a package of baby wipes in the console for cleaning up after eating. Or after filling the gas tank. Or after dumping the waste tanks.

We also keep a stash of throat lozenges handy, for when our mouths feel dry - or, to help curb a candy craving.

What snacks do you pack to keep hunger in check and stay on track with your healthy eating goals? Happy camping and bon appétit!