Road Trip Tips: Snacking

 

My family and I travel a lot in the summertime. Most of our outings are only day trips, but the cost adds up pretty quickly. To save money, we pack our meals and snacks rather than eat out at restaurants. This requires a lot of planning, but these helpful hacks keep things organized and easily accessible for everyone! 

• Keep straws clean and together by storing them in a travel toothbrush holder 
• Throw napkins and plasticware in a seal-able bag to keep them from getting wet in the cooler
• Pre-make salads by layering them into lidded plastic to-go cups: dressing first, then lettuce and veggies. Shake and eat! 
• Rather than make several different sandwiches, make one big one! Buy bakery rolls that haven't yet been individually sliced, and cut them in half, separating the tops from the bottoms. Add meats, cheeses, and condiments to bottom, replace top, then cut into separate sandwiches or leave it as one big one. Store in the same bag the buns came in. This saves so much time! 
• Everyone has his or her own thermos. Because thermoses keep drinks cold for an extended period of time, they free up room in the cooler. 
• Don't forget dessert! If your clan doesn't consider fruit a dessert because there's no chocolate, then we must be related! A quick trail mix in individual baggies usually does the trick when on the go: combine a favorite dry cereal, raisins, chocolate chips, your choice of nut, and a dried fruit like apricot or mango and that should satisfy the sweetest tooth in the family. 

 Don't forget a designated garbage bag to take your mess with you!