7 Homemade Travel Snacks

Looking for some wholesome, on-the-go snack ideas? Whether you’re concerned with the questionable ingredients in heavily processed convenience foods or just being more budget-conscious, I believe homemade is the way to go. Here are seven of my go-to travel snacks to make ahead for camping, boating, and road trips.

1. DIY trail mix

A classic travel snack, trail mix allows you to customize your blend to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs. A typical recipe is one part nuts, half part seeds, half part fruit, but I don’t typically measure.

Trail mix ingredients:

• Nuts – e.g. almonds, cashews, walnuts (or get fancy with maple cinnamon roasted nuts)
• Seeds – e.g. pepitas, sunflower seeds
• Dried fruit – e.g. goji berries, dried blueberries, apricots
• Salt to taste (if nuts and seeds are unsalted)

To prepare DIY trail mix:

1. If nuts or seeds are raw, roast them to bring out the best flavors and crunch. Simply heat on a pan over the stove or in the oven, stirring regularly to ensure they don’t burn.
2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
3. Portion into individual snack containers for easy grab-and-go. 

2. Power balls

These bite-sized treats are packed with nutrients and provide a quick boost of energy. Much like trail mix, you can mix and match your favorite sweet and savory ingredients – adjusting amounts to desired taste and rollable consistency. 

Power ball ingredients:

• Rolled oats
• Nut butter – e.g. almond, peanut butter
• Seeds – e.g. sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds
• Sweetener – e.g. dates, maple syrup, honey 
• Flavor enhancers – e.g. salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract

To prepare power balls:

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor. If you don’t have one, you can mix together in a mixing bowl, but I prefer to blend – especially when using dates. 
2. Test consistency and adjust ingredients until a delicious ball can form.
3. Roll the combined mixture into small balls by hand or using a cookie scoop. 
4. Store in an airtight container in a freezer, refrigerator, or cooler. 

3. Fresh veggies and dip

For a refreshing and crunchy snack, pack a variety of fresh vegetables along with a homemade dip. Here’s a simple recipe. 

Homemade dip ingredients:

• Unflavored, full fat Greek yogurt
• Fresh lemon juice
• Fresh chopped herbs – e.g. dill, thyme, parsley
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh veggies for dipping – e.g. carrots, celery, cucumbers, snap peas

To prepare veggies and dip: 

1. Mix all dip ingredients in a bowl with a lid.
2. Adjust proportions to taste. 
3. Slice veggies and add to a separate container with a lid. 

4. Cheese, meat, and crackers

A protein-packed snack that’s both delicious and satisfying. Create your own charcuterie-style snack by combining the following ingredients:

• Assorted cheese slices or cubes
• Meat sticks, slices, or jerky 
• Crackers – If you’re a sourdough bread maker, I love this sourdough discard cracker recipe.
• Optional – olives, pickles, nuts

5. Fresh fruit

Nature’s portable snack, fresh fruits are a healthy and refreshing option for your travels. Pack a variety of fruits in a container for easy snacking throughout the day. Some of my favorite options include:

• Apples
• Oranges
• Berries
• Cut watermelon

6. Pesto pasta salad

A satisfying and flavorful snack that can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature. Here’s a simple recipe for pesto pasta salad. 

Pesto pasta salad ingredients:

• 2 cups pasta – e.g. fusilli, penne
• ¼ cup (ish) “use what you have” herb pesto
• Optional – diced cucumbers, diced tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese

To prepare pesto pasta salad: 

1. Cook pasta until al dente and turn off the stove.
2. Drain water, return to the warm stovetop, and add desired amount of pesto.
3. Combine and toss in optional additional ingredients.
4. Transfer to a portable container and refrigerate until ready to enjoy on your journey.

7. Fresh greens and cabbage chopped salad

With so many opportunities to try new foods when traveling, it helps to have a healthy staple on-hand to balance out things our bodies aren’t used to. Packing a travel-friendly salad – the same I eat for lunch most days – helps me feel energized and more like myself when we’re on the move. 

Fresh greens and cabbage salad ingredients:

• Fresh greens and herbs – e.g. kale, parsley, basil
• Red and/or green cabbage
• Protein – e.g. hard-boiled eggs, chicken, garbanzo beans, lentils, sunflower seeds, pepita seeds
• Dressing ingredients – e.g. EVOO, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper

To make a travel-friendly salad:

1. On a cutting board, chop and combine greens, herbs, and cabbage.
2. Add greens to a big mixing bowl and add desired protein. 
3. Drizzle on dressing ingredients to taste. Note: If you prefer, you can combine dressing ingredients and store them separately until ready to eat. I prefer to let the dressing soak into the cabbage. 
4. Store in a big bowl with a lid or portion out to individual serving containers.

Final thoughts

Packing healthy, homemade snacks can help you eat better, feel better, and save money while traveling. It also helps me enjoy when a true desire to splurge strikes – like these freshly baked scones from a local coffee shop during our maiden boat voyage from Egg Harbor, WI. Life is a balance.

Your turn

Do you have a tried-and-true travel snack recipe? Share it in the comments below!