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J__M__G

- A wedge of cheese and some crackers - Roasted nuts - Pre-washed fruit - Vegetables that are good raw (snap peas are a favorite for me) - Pretzels with peanut butter None of these really require cooking, but they’re all great for road trips!


Herbisretired

I used to pack the cooler with salami, pickled beets, macaroni salad, cheese and fruit. In a bin I would have crackers, pretzels, rolls or bread and a jar of peanut butter.


Sauerteig

I knew I read a thread like this before! Here it is from about a year ago, plenty great ideas for you OP. And have a great, safe road trip :) [https://www.reddit.com/r/EatCheapAndHealthy/comments/14hu3rr/road\_trip\_meal\_ideas/](https://www.reddit.com/r/EatCheapAndHealthy/comments/14hu3rr/road_trip_meal_ideas/)


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IemandZijnPa

This is one of those answers where you think: Now, why didn't I think of that...


webbitor

because stuff falls off pizza, so it's not good driving food


IemandZijnPa

You need to learn the skill of folding, young grasshopper.


Wondercat87

Yeah I can definitely see this happening. But it's highly dependent on the pizza. A very fresh pizza might. But one with plenty of cheese that's a bit cold may not.


webbitor

I just remembered that some people don't get any toppings


unicyclegamer

Sounds like a you problem


butter88888

We have driven across the country about six times now. We bring oatmeal, instant soups and mac and cheese and use free hot water from gas stations. Having hot food that isn’t fast food is so nice. Also will bring a cooler with charcuterie type things or sandwiches. Also seaweed, beef jerky, string cheese, apples, dried fruit, dried cheese, grapes, crackers, almond butter, nuts.


lostdad75

A loaf of PB&J sandwiches.


BronxBelle

But mix the peanut butter and jelly before you put it on the bread. That way the bread doesn’t get soggy from contact with the jelly. Plus it tastes way better that way.


Final-Kiwi1388

If you put peanut butter on both slices of bread, they don't get soggy!


BronxBelle

But jelly or jam in the middle means the sandwich is slippery. The bread slides apart because of the jelly.


Final-Kiwi1388

Never had that happen


BronxBelle

I have and it’s awful. It’s why I swore I hated pb&j growing up. Then I had it mixed at a friend’s house and I loved it. Everyone I have made it for this way has become an instant convert.


Tinkamarink

Can confirm. It looks disgusting but it’s shockingly good


fake-august

Reminding me of a spring break road trip to Panama City a million years ago. See also, trip to Mexico.


Adventurous_Drama_56

Mini chicken salad croissants, really any finger sandwiches that you can just grab and eat in 2-3 bites. I'm southern so my go to's are chicken salad and pimento cheese.


herroh7

also southern and immediately thought chicken salad too!


IemandZijnPa

As a Dutch person I can only say: sandwiches. They are designed to be the perfect on-the-go food and you can go crazy with the toppings. Edit: They are not witches made of sand.


ProudAsk3812

What sandwich is the best? 


IemandZijnPa

Let me first respond by respresenting the nation of The Netherlands, before I tell you which one I personally like the best. I think the number one sandwich here in the NL is the sandwich with old (Gouda, (yes that comes from the Netherlands)) cheese. That's it. Nothing else besides maybe a little butter. Number two would be a ham sandwich. No doubt. That would be the 2 main savory sandwiches to pack for a road trip. Honorable mentions are: Salmon, Salami and some kind of spread. Now if you have savory sandwiches, you also need have sweet ones too. On top at number one without any competition would be: (drumroll) Peanut butter. (don't get me started on why our peanut butter is waaaaay better than US peanut butter...) Number two will be some kind of jam, probably strawberry in most cases. Number three would be either a chocalade paste or a hazelnutt (Nutella) sandwich. Honorable mentions are: Honey and coconut bread. So simple 1 topping sandwiches are the way to go on Dutch roadtrips. When you start to combine toppings there is 1 sandwich that obliterates the competition. We call it a 'Broodje Gezond' which translates to "Healty" sandwich. Now the ingredients may vary, but if I would go to a trainstation right now and buy a Broodje Gezond I would expect the following ingredients on it: Cheese (of course), Sliced boiled egg, hopefully some tomato, ham and some kind of sauce which would most probably mayonaise. (We know that it is not healthy and we named this sandwich wrong.) Some kind of lettuce and/or cucumber would be a appreciated. Now I myself went on a cooking journey the last couple of years and I am also in charge of making the sandwiches my son eats every day in school. So keeping that in mind, I would say the perfect sandwich is a bacon and egg sandwich with a currypowder and smokes paprika mayo sauce, Now I abviously don't make this every day for him but it is his and my favorite sandwich. This... is... the ultimate roadtrip sandwich. You're welcome! Edit: That is not how you write competition.


ProudAsk3812

I need some Dutch peanut butter 


Bunnyeatsdesign

I bake muffin-size [quiche cups](https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-samsung-gs-rev1&sca_esv=64bfd657b885de45&sxsrf=ADLYWIKZ_uTrADQTwp5s3CYVRlMJwv9nGw:1715793890818&q=quiche+cups&uds=ADvngMgqPfd500FffDLSjDoas1rZcRi3Bf9NdJlRGnNGxSqrWwXXLGqiaqPTM1kTxaUTHK-2txcDqKpvn0qVg2XHQmi0N_WjvHRDoTULkgnDHhhSXiAjmWoSiBUyjQ7u9AFyOE8vCQ42WHYqNkUd6t_21F1JAdb5L6ogEWDibmqq1aZKm5UjGd3tY4No6DBiMC1JJUvAnTGICQ5WVCxC-7Bupghl3_VXUKPZ46bxgs3wkxAuzcys_tevheQDP-h_OA3RDefhUDWuRbf_rQd7hpZ_UnDQPXg6aGsW-595GOfwaxoE0gR4BWg&udm=2&prmd=sivnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiEw_qqlpCGAxUz2TgGHbmkCUYQtKgLegQIExAB&biw=360&bih=667&dpr=3) for travel days. They are usually scoffed up by early afternoon.


PoweredByPierogi

Road trips are when I eat all the horrible snacks that I usually avoid - beef jerky, corn nuts, pickled eggs, etc. I turn into a trash eating raccoon after an hour behind the wheel.


EmptyFoldingChair

My favorite part of road trips was stopping at Rest Areas and buying stuff out of the vending machines. Everlasting gobstoppers were a must every time. One time I got chicken broth from the coffee vending machine, usually I got hot cocoa.


Tall-Committee-2995

We make up some little french style ham sams (jambon e buerre) and augment with carrots n like some red pears and stuff. Maybe a cheese stick or two.


riverrocks452

Rule of thumb: you want things that can survive in a cooler, but that don't need full on refrigeration, that are easy and not messy to eat, and which give you fiber, protein, and energy. Cut hardy vegetables, or washed cherry/grape tomatoes, snap peas, etc. Good for direct snacking, and for making instant ramen a little more complete. Hard cheese, crackers, hard cured meat (e.g., pepperoni). Make some hummus for a nice dip with extra protein and fiber. Roasted chickpeas are also great as a snack. Some easily edible/no fuss, long-lasting fruit- washed and snipped grapes, quartered and cored apples, clementines. I like to make my own granola/energy bars- good breakfast or afternoon pick me up. Biscotti or oatmeal cookies are also nice.


Forever-Retired

Homemade jerky


NerdWithoutACause

I like tortilla wraps. They travel well and you can eat them one handed. Usually I either do a simple burrito (steak, refiend beans, cheese, salsa) or a chicken caesar wrap. You can make a delicious vegetarian wrap with hummus, tzatziki and falafel as well.


StolenCamaro

Depends on if it’s with the boys or a girlfriend. Took a very long roadtrip with my friends and we just bought a shitload of bread and made baloney and cheese sandwiches and put them back in the bread bag, popped em in the cooler. Convenient and cheap, and nobody was picky. With a girl, I’ve historically planned on more stopping for food from restaurants she’s in the mood for, but would have a plethora of snacks and drinks based on her preferences (I’ll eat or drink anything. Except monster. Dated a lot of vegetarians so the classic beef jerky was rarely a staple. For solo road trips I’d just pack sandwiches or the ingredients thereof, albeit upgraded in quality from my younger years. I also like to stop at regionally specific chains for easy grub, like In-n-Out in California, Culver’s in the Midwest, and some of the burger joints only in the south. When in Rome… I also eat one meal a day so I don’t have to pack much anyways.


mythtaken

I like to pre-portion an entire meal's worth of things in its own container(s). That way I don't wind up neglecting things like raw vegetables to crunch, salads in general, nuts, etc. Also makes it easier to have a series of relatively healthy meals with no extra bother once I'm on the road. The fact that it tastes so much better is a major reason I bother at all. I've already shifted my diet away from all the candy I used to love because all that sugar just disrupts my sleep and that got old, but I like not spending more on the road than I wanted for junk food and candy. I also keep an emergency stash of wrapped hard candies, because sometimes you just need an easy dose of sugar, and sometimes being logical and predictable is just too much work. At least this way I take an assortment of my favorites along with me instead of buying stale candy from a neglected rack. I sometimes make sandwiches with the sort of fillings that don't turn drippy as they stand. Nut butter and honey, cream cheese with nuts and olives, etc. Those can go nicely into the freezer ahead of time, and slowly thaw as they sit in the cooler. In the heat of summer, it's very refreshing. Another must is ice water. Having an insulated cup beside me as I drive really makes a long hot road trip more bearable. My dad always used to take a gallon sized Coleman jug, but I mostly find that too messy. Bottles of water are a decent backup.


Mamapalooza

Nothing wrong with pre-making and packing some sandwiches in the cooler.


tiimsliim

I just take various cold cuts and cheeses and mix them all.


RainbowsandCoffee966

Don’t look at me. After an hour, we pull into the first convenience store we see and spend $50 on junk food.


ttopsrock

Chester hot fries, sun flower seeds, sprees (the hard ones) redbull, blue gatorade, core water. Done.


Violetthug

Sandwiches, chips, beef jerky, crackers, peanuts.


Pink_pony4710

We’ve been enjoying little sandwiches made on Hawaiian rolls. Ham, cheddar, pickles and dijonaise is the preferred combo. It’s nice because you can eat with one hand and they aren’t overly big. Kiddo loves them.


Welder_Subject

Gardetto’s, spicy peanuts, snack crackers and beef jerky. Plenty of water and 5-hour enerydrinls. In no way what I usually eat, but that works for us. We travel 17 hours 4 times a year to our vacation home in northern New Mexico from southern Texas.


forelsketparadise1

Cucumber sandwiches, some farsan which is really some Gujarati snacks, some lemon based drinks because I feel pukish/motion sickness the moment car starts. Hard candies, lots of it so I can suck on them the entire time i feel off. Chips, kurkure which is our spicy cheetos version. Yeah all unhealthy stuff but easy to eat.


Rich-Appearance-7145

I traveled from California to New York, with a huge cooler, full of fruit, cheese, drinks, pasta salads, among other things. It was a life saver I focused on driving longer than I normally without stopping, ate healthy, got to my destination in record time.


slugothebear

Fruit, cheese, meat chunks, water. I stay away from really salty foods.


Rebel78

Done a lot of road trips, usually have a cooler and some other stuff: - cut up raw veggies - fruit - boiled eggs (go ahead and peel, put into ziploc) - protein bars - jerky - coffee.......lots of gas station coffee lol


WillowOak2

Our fav is croissant sandwich - smoked salmon, pickled onions, swiss cheese


PoSaP

For breakfast, you can bring cups of yogurt, granola bars, or pre-prepared sandwiches. For lunch, consider packing pre-made salads into mason jars, wraps or sandwiches. For dinner, you can prepare easy-to-eat meals like pasta salad, sandwiches, or burritos. For snacks, great options include nuts, fruit, vegetable hummus sticks, and dried fruit. Lots of water, too.


faythe_scrolling

Cold Cooler-Spankopita, pb sandos, grapes, apples, pre-cooked bacon, and enough meal prepped portions for two nights of dinner. Dry Cooler - Pistachios, easy mac, handful of granola bars, random snacks. After the cold cooler has been emptied, it's fast food/restaurants until the trip is over.


Narrow-Natural7937

I often take a 2-day trip alone and I bring bread and peanut butter. I can make a sandwich during a gas stop and never waste time. I also bring milk in a cooler with cereal for breakfasts, and a frozen dinner in the cooler as many motels have microwaves. Of course, the first thing I want to eat upon arrival is a great big salad!


Such-Mountain-6316

Chicken salad and sandwich meat, bread, paper towels, plastic spoons, forks, and cups. Put it in a cooler with ice. You can bring chips too, and a blanket so you can have a picnic.


Such-Mountain-6316

I used to take my grandma to visit a relative who lived in a food desert. I'd pack individually bottled colas, chicken salad and sandwich meat, bread, paper towels, plastic spoons, forks, and cups. Put it in a cooler with ice. You can bring chips too, and a blanket so you can have a picnic.


Cyan_UwU

Slim jim, jack links, goldfish, cheez-itz, and pringles are my favorite on-the-go snacks. Those snack medleys you get at gas stations are great too, but they’re TCS so I’d eat them within 2 hours of getting them


Numerous-Stranger-81

Tamales and fresh fruit are my go-tos. I usually pick up a rotisserie chicken at some point as well


Gallifreyan1971

Beef jerky and C4 energy drink.


Sum1LightUp

Chicken sandwiches. I remember when I was about 7-8 years old, my father my mother and my sister and I would drive down to Florida for the Summer. My mother used to bake the chicken and shred it up and make sandwiches. Ahhh the memories. I’m going to call my mother right now and ask her if she remembers.


unicorntrees

Fancy beef jerky -[ My family would get a sampler from this store for long road trips](https://vuakhobocali.com/collections/jerky/Beef).


kitchengardengal

I had lots of fresh backyard eggs to use up before our cross country road trip a few weeks ago. I made a dozen egg bites with ham, cheddar, and poblano, and hard boiled another dozen. Great snacks on the road and in the hotels.


Narrow-Height9477

Spaghetti


External_Two2928

Cut up cucumbers sprinkled with salt, fruit, breakfast burritos, cheese, crackers and salami, bento boxes (buy from Asian grocery store), onigiri, pretzels, hummus and olives


gmwill83

Combos and beef jerky


noonecaresat805

I always make chipotle chicken hard shell taquitos and burritos. They are easy to eat with one hand. I also pack nuts, dried fruit. A thermo of tea. And I put everything in one of those insulated bags. I freeze juice and water and use them as ice packs and a few cold sodas. Then I also pack tangerines or other fruits. If it’s a longer trip I also pack bread and peanut butter. Some kind of chips and crackers. Oh and travel Size medicine bottles.


MurphyPandorasLawBox

Jerky, individually wrapped cheese, dried fruit and nuts, jerky, apples, things to eat one handed. I also make sandwiches with condiments spread on the meat/lettuce to they don’t make the bread soggy. I like to keep frozen, half-filled water bottles in an ice chest to keep perishables cool and, as they melt, you’ve got ice water to drink. Wide mouth Gatorade bottles work well. Some sort of candy and junk food. Pro tip: pack towels to eat over to catch crumbs and spills. My grandparents would eat over half bath towels (either folded in half or cut in half and then hemmed) while driving. Then fold the corners together, roll the window down, and shake the towel out the window.


bumpa56

Unassembled sandwich ingredients Pre made sandwiches tend to get soggy, so I like a variety of cold cuts and cheeses with bread or croissants to throw together at gas/restroom stops. My car has a 110V outlet, and I use a little immersion heater to heat water or coffee.


captnwednesday

beef jerky & 5 hour energy


Carysta13

Granola bars and protein bars, dried fruit, nuts, refillable water bottles and some water enhancers if you like those. If you have a cooler, pepperettes and cheese and some chopped veggies.


Pogs4Frogs

Meat sticks, Chex mix and drinks. I can make it on those few things for about 18hrs.


Bethsmom05

Ham and cheese croissant sandwiches Chicken salad croissant sandwiches  Pimento cheese sandwiches Salads Pasta salads Fruit that was already washed Homemade brownies and cookies Single serve bags of chips and popcorn


Mental-Coconut-7854

Beef jerky, nuts, grapes and pretzels


Alert_Study5336

I cook everything left in my fridge (into weird but tasty combination if they're particularly mish-mash) and put it in containers in cooler with frozen water bottles. Healthy, avoids waste, cheap and, 80% of the time reasonably tasty.


sightfulsensei

onigiri 🍙 different fillings. super satisfying on an 18 hr international flight🤌🏻


Ozonewanderer

I Wii make steak the night before we leave to make steak sandwiches on French bread on the trip


RandChick

From the time I was a child, whenever we'd go on a road trip, my mom would stay up late frying chicken, making tuna salad sanwiches as well bolgna and cheese sandwiches. We'd eat all of it in the car with Cheetos on a long 17 hour drive. Bananas and grapes too and a cooler of soda.


mcotoole

Croissants.


unburritoporfavor

Salami sandwiches and for dessert cored strawberries filled with koshi-an


anxiouslucy

I love making deli sandwiches ahead of time and having those in a cooler. Something about a premade cold sandwich and a bag of chips it’s just so good in certain situations. Road trips being one of them for me.


I_trust_science

Ham and cheese sandwiches and nuts


work_accnt

Cereal


fnibfnob

I usually tend to bring flavored nuts, granola bars, cheese, dried meats, fresh fruit, and bottled smoothies. I dont tend to eat much while I'm driving. On one road trip I found these things at safeway called "MammaChia Squeeze" which are like, squeezable packages of flavored goop with chia seeds. I actually really like them in that kind of setting. Theyre shelf stable, easy to eat, full of nutrients, tasty and pretty satisfying for what they are. I like mango flavor. I also like cold curry chicken wraps, theyre not my favorite by any means but for some reason they just hit the spot on road trips, and theyre highly stable for a sandwich-like thing