Friday Five: Travel Snacks

I’m introducing a new series on the blog today –The Friday Five! Each post will have a theme in which I’ll simply highlight five things, food-related or not, that I’m loving, listening to, following, using, buying, wanting, or indulging in. And I hope that with these posts, I’ll be able to share a little of my world outside of food blogging and, of course, and break up the regular routine of recipe posts.

Let’s get started with the first Friday Five! Today I’m sharing my top 5 favorite travel snacks! On Tuesday, my family and I flew to Orlando, FL for a full-out Disney vacation so you can bet we had a backpack full of snacks to keep us satisfied during the 3 hour plane trip and all the waiting in the airport and car rental line (<—why does it always take so long at the car rental?!).

When it comes to eating on travel days, my main focus is to keep it light, natural, and wholesome. This usually means that a day or two prior to departure, I scope out the latest healthier snack options at Target or stock up on fruit or veggies to pack in our carry-ons. Here’s our usual assortment of snacks:

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1. World Peas

An old coworker brought these into work one day to share, and I absolutely fell in love. They’re actually dried peas made into a delightfully crunchy, gluten-free snack. They come in a variety of yummy flavors like Ranch (my fave!) and BBQ. Perfect to have on hand when that salty snack craving hits! I’ve yet to try their fava bean crisps, but they also look amazing. I found them at Target. Or buy online.

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2. Veggies and hummus

Yup, this one’s pretty basic, but maybe not something you’ve considered taking in the car or on a plane. Chop up your fave raw veggies (we love baby carrots, cucumber, and bell pepper) or if you hate chopping, just grab a bag of baby carrots and put them in those portable Tupperware containers. Then, add some hummus to a smaller container and throw it in with the veggies. Boom. Done. The ultimate healthy travel snack ready to go.

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3. Dark chocolate bar

Really good, velvety, and rich dark chocolate is always nice to have on hand when you need something sweet because a little bit goes a long way! I have no preference for brands or flavors, but I do try to find a bar that is at least 70% cacao. I’m currently loving these dark chocolate bars from Trader Joe’s. Find them in-store or on Amazon.

4. Energy/Snack balls

Yes, there’s some extra prep work involved which can be annoying when you’re in the midst of packing and calming down hyper children, but I’ve never regretted taking the time to make them. They’re perfect for those times mid-flight when you need a little something to stave off hunger. They’re also great to have on hand throughout your trip for a little something to snack on throughout the day. When my husband and I went to Miami, we stored them in our mini fridge and popped a couple before our intense bootcamp workout! Recipes: Banana Split Energy Balls, Pumpkin White Chocolate Oatmeal Balls, Butterscoth Banana Bread Oatmeal Ball Bites from Peanut Butter Fingers, Chocolate Cherry Energy Balls from The Healthy Maven, Brownie Cookie Dough Swirl Protein Balls from Fit Foodie Finds.

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5. Dang Coconut Chips

You need to get on board with these coconut chips. Even coconut haters will love these. They’re not anything like the sweetened, sticky, and flaky coconut you’re probably thinking of. These little guys are crunchy and slightly sweet. And they also come in a variety of flavors like Original, Caramel Sea Salt (my fave!), Chili Lime, and Savory Bacon (a great alternative to bacon bits!). Just make sure you share the love and don’t keep the bag to yourself because these chips are addicting! I found them at Target. Or buy online.

So there you have it! My top 5 travel snacks. Feel free to shout out your favorite travel snacks in the comments!

Do you have ideas for a theme you’d like to see featured on The Friday Five? If so, leave me a comment!

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using any of the links.