Uh oh! You’re driving and suddenly you feel that familiar pull in your stomach, the craving for a…snack! But what kind of snack are you really feeling? Are you look for something that makes you feel like a health guru or something to please your junk food cravings? Lucky for you, we know a few snacks that can fulfill both sides. So, read on for a few of the best gas station snacks that you can buy at your next stop!
Six of the Best Gas Station Snacks to Feed Your Healthy Side
It’s always important to eat healthy when on the road! And that’s where we will begin with six of the best gas station snacks that are also healthy for your body.
Protein Bars
A great option for a healthy snack is a protein bar! A variety of these can be found at any gas station. For example, you can easily pick up a Clif Bar, NuGo’s Bar, or a goMacro’s bar in several different flavors at your next stop and feel that snack craving filled. The key to finding a great protein bar though is making sure that the bar is high in protein, but not packed with lots of sugars. This might seem easy, but it’s very common that a protein bar is full of refined sugars. These sugars can make you feel sluggish after giving you a small energy boost.
Almonds
Another great healthy option is almonds! These can come in a variety of flavors, such as salted, honey roasted, habanero BBQ, and so many more. Lots of times too, these crunchy almonds come in nice travel size packages that make them easy to eat on long road trips! Even more, they are full of monounsaturated fats that can lower the risk of heart disease.
Fruit Cups
Fruit cups can also be an easy and quick healthy snack. They can contain one kind of fruit or a variety, but either way, they are full of fresh, sweet, and juicy fruit that can help give you a quick boost of natural energy. They also come in a variety of sizes from small cups to medium-sized bowls.
Dark Chocolate Squares
Chocolate? Yes! Dark chocolate can be a healthy option for your traveling snacks. That is why we have included it here on our best gas station snacks list. Not only are they a sweet and savory snack, but dark chocolate provides more antioxidants than milk or white chocolate, which can help lower blood pressure. At your next stop, consider purchasing some Ghirardelli dark chocolate squares or some dark chocolate Hershey kisses.
String Cheese
This option might sound weird to take with you on the road, but its string form makes it incredibly easy to eat while driving! String cheese made with reduced-fat milk can also be an amazing healthy option because it contains only a fraction of the saturated fats. Yet, it is still a tasty option.
Pretzels and Hummus
Our last healthy snack option can actually be split into two options if you don’t like one or the other. Consider pretzels first! Finding pretzels that are low in sodium or unsalted can be a great option while keeping your sodium in check. Then pair this with hummus and you can a great little treat. Hummus is high in protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients. It can also be paired with other snacks such as baby carrots, or any dippable foods you may love! Most gas stations will sell Sabra’s Classic Hummus with Pretzels in nice travel size packages.
Six of the Best Gas Station Snacks to Quiet Your Junk Food Cravings
Now that we have covered some of the healthy options, let’s look at the best gas station snacks that will feed your inner junk food monster!
Beef Jerky
Everyone knows about delicious beef jerky, but lots of people have argued over whether this snack is healthy or junk food. For our list of the best gas station snacks, it will be junk food. Only in moderation can this food be considered healthy, but let’s face it, who can moderate themselves when it comes to beef jerky? Beef jerky is packed with protein, iron, and zinc which can be great for an energy boost. But it is also packed with fat and sodium, which isn’t always the best for your body. These delicious pieces of meat also come in a variety of flavors such as teriyaki, spicy, peppered, habanero, and so many more.
Powdered Sugar Donuts
Another amazing junk food on our list is powdered sugar donuts. Small, powdered, sugary, and soft; what more can you ask for in a snack? Though these delicious treats are small, these donuts can be very heavy on your stomach and can make you feel tired. Consider that the package already limits you to four donuts, so be careful if you are feeling the call to eat more than that!
Flaming Hot Cheetos / Regular Cheetos
Did you know that these flaming cheese snacks were actually invented by a janitor at the company? Well, they were! This quick and filling snack can sometimes be a little too hot for some of the people that try them. So, make sure that you also have water close by or opt to eat the original cheese snack and get regular Cheetos!
Funyuns
Funyuns have been around for a pretty long time. Everyone can recognize that green and yellow packaging even if you’ve never tried them yourself. But did you know this salty snack comes in four different delectable flavors? Funyuns can be found in the original flavor, Chile Limon, Flamin’ Hot, and Steakhouse Onion. But make sure to watch your intake of these onion rings as they are extremely high in sodium.
Cookies
More general than our other junk food options, cookies are always great for when you feel the craving for unhealthy snacking. You can buy small packages of chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, Oreos, and so much more to fit your preference. If you are feeling a little more ambitious, you can pick up slightly bigger packages to take on the road.
Any Candy
Our final junk food option is also a general grouping as everyone has their own favorite candy and we can’t specify just one! What more can we say about these lovely, sugar-filled snacks that come in all shapes and sizes? From sour gummy worms to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to starbursts, gas stations provide a lot of different options for your sugar cravings.
Two Questions to Ask Before Purchasing
Before purchasing your snack, ask yourself these two questions to help you decide which is the best option for you.
Are you looking for something that won’t make you feel heavy or tired?
This can be a big factor when you have to drive for a long time. If your food is making you feel heavy or tired, then it can make your drive miserable. Junk food is more likely to result in you feeling like this because it can cause a spike in energy and then a crash. Healthy food is the better option for a natural energy boost that won’t make you feel terrible once it fades.
How sensitive is your stomach?
Consider how sensitive your stomach is. Will junk food hurt your stomach? If it causes anything else, will you be able to get to a bathroom if needed? This can be a big deciding factor when choosing between a healthy option and junk food.
What do you think are the best gas station snacks? Let us know in the comments so we can add your favorites to the list…
October 25, 2021
All those snacks plus 30 years of driving and eating that junk is why I am a diabetic now.
Protein bars are better called Carbohydrate Bars. Our bodies process carbs by turning them into sugar and stored fat.
PACK YOUR MEALS and not only save your health but save money.
Don’t tell me you don’t HAVE the time, MAKE the time!
I have reversed my Type 2 diabetes by changing my eating habits to a LOW carb, higher animal and vegetable protein diet. It works for thousands of us.