Healthy Gas Station Snack?

strickland8052
strickland8052 Posts: 105 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Going on a long trip (by car). I'm sure some gas station snacks are in my future.... what are some healthy options?
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Replies

  • katiekiernan9322
    katiekiernan9322 Posts: 16
    I love sun chips. I eat them for a snack when I have a couple of extra calories to spare
  • rjmudlax13
    rjmudlax13 Posts: 900 Member
    Beer.

    (Unless you are in one of those states that do not allow convenience stores to sell alcohol. F***ing commis!)
  • jamfan
    jamfan Posts: 124 Member
    Unsalted nuts. You could pack some before you go too.
  • momjmd
    momjmd Posts: 296 Member
    a lot of gas stations sell string cheese. I also love beef jerky but probably not overly healthy.
  • Omgsitsmanda
    Omgsitsmanda Posts: 20
    I actually work in a gas station, and it is really REALLY hard on me with all the snacks in there!!

    At my store, though, I'll usually get a V8 (They really are quite filling!), sun chips, like the previous reply mentioned, and we have all sorts of those 100 calorie snack bars (e.g. The Kellogg's breakfast crisp bars and such)

    Can't forget the baked chips, too!
  • BEERRUNNER
    BEERRUNNER Posts: 3,046 Member
    CORN NUTS!!!!
  • kmjacobs93
    kmjacobs93 Posts: 46 Member
    When my boyfriend and I travel on long trips and stop at the gas station as weird as it sounds, I usually get fruit. I don't know where you're going, but around here they sell fruit, and sometimes even veggies. I'm not sayin' they are all natural organic whatever, but hey! It's better than a bag of my all time favorite Dorritos. Also, I try to stay away from the beverage section, unless it's water or juice....or the sneaky diet pepsi that I'm going to get yelled at on here for :drinker: :love:
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    My on-the-road go to's are:

    a piece of fruit (larger truck stops will usually have some)
    a protein or granola bar (but really read the labels!)
    V-8 or tomato juice
    beef or turkey jerky if I'm really needing a protein fix
  • KimberlyDCZ
    KimberlyDCZ Posts: 525 Member
    Sheetz has string cheese, fruit, and even yogurt! I'd go with that.
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    Forget the convenience store. Pack your own before you leave.
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    That’s when you need to remind yourself: stop, take a breath, and look around. You’re likely to find some more nutritious snacking options somewhere between the lottery tickets and the beverage wall. In fact, we found 10 of them!
    1.Seeds – Most gas stations sell sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, which make for a high-fiber, nutritious snack when portions are kept in proportion.
    2.Nuts – Think like a squirrel and look for cans of peanuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews or macadamias to nibble on. If possible, choose a low-sodium variety in a small handful.
    3.Cereal – Single serving boxes of whole grain cereals, such as Cheerios®, Chex® or Wheaties®, make a great crunchy snack. Or, add some…
    4.Dairy – Look around the dairy section for cartons of milk, cheese sticks, low fat cottage cheese, or single serving containers of yogurt, such as Yoplait® Greek.
    5.Fruit – Some gas stations may carry a limited variety of fresh fruit, such as apples or bananas. If not, dried apricots, raisins, dried cranberries and prunes (dried plums) are all a good snack option.
    6.Bars – For a more nutritious alternative to candy bars, grab some of those Fiber One® Bars or Nature Valley Granola Bars® instead.
    7.Jerky – While you wouldn't want to eat it every day due to its high sodium content, beef/turkey/venison jerky is a relatively lower-calorie, higher-protein snack option.
    8.Milk – Half-pint cartons of low fat milk are a good way to quench your thirst and increase your calcium and vitamin D intake.
    9.Juice – Skip the soda and look for 100 percent fruit juice for a tasty and vitamin-C rich way to hydrate.
    10.Water – Need we say more? Drink as much water
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    Best
    ■Fruit Snacks: Fruit snacks are sweet and unlike candy bars, they’re not gone in one bite. Be sure to check that your snack is made with real fruit.
    ■Energy/Kashi Bar: Pair your bar with a bottle of skim milk and you’ve got a filling breakfast. Just be sure it’s made with lots of whole grain, real fruit and nuts.
    ■Deli Sandwich: If you don’t have time to pack your own, many gas stations offer pre-made deli sandwiches. Load your sandwich with veggies and opt for mustard over mayonnaise.
    ■Smoothie: If those 50 cent big gulp slushies call your name when you walk into a gas station, try going for a bottled real fruit smoothie instead.
    ■Single-Serve Cereal: Eating any single-serve, whole grain cereal gives you that crunch you’re craving and is already portioned out for you so you don’t have to worry about overeating.
    ■Water: Water is usually the cheapest drink at the gas station and quenches thirst like non-other. Staying hydrated also gives you more energy so you are awake during your drive.

    Other Road Trip Tips:
    ■If you can, pack your own meals and lunch before you leave. This will save you time, money and calories. When we’re really hungry, we tend to make food choices impulsively. Keep a few healthy options on you, and you’re not only more energized throughout the trip but you’re also staying on track with your healthy lifestyle goals. In fact, many gas stations have microwaves available to take advantage of what’s available.
    ■Plan ahead. If you know you’re going to have to stop to eat at some point, plan ahead. Keep a list of restaurants that have options you know you like so you don’t have to guess when the time comes.
    ■Make time for Metabo! If you have an energy drink habit, try switching to fruit instead. Nutritious snacks such as fruit and nuts will give you that natural burst of energy you’re looking for–drink plenty of water as well.
    ■Notice that you feel sluggish and grumpy when you put lots of junk in your body. Instead of arriving to your destination feeling tired, get there energized and feeling great by making smart choices!
  • liittlesparrow
    liittlesparrow Posts: 209 Member
    Most gas stations have fruit up near the register now. At least around where I'm at. That's your best bet.

    Or pack your own snacks, which would probably be cheaper and WAY better for you. No gas station snack is healthy.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    Fritos.
  • missymakayla
    missymakayla Posts: 309 Member
    pack yourself some food before you leave, that would be better....
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Ok, if you know you are going on a road trip, why not just pack of small cooler (I have an Igloo cooler than holds a 12pack) and fill it will waters or juices, fruit, cheese? With a canister of almonds and/or trail mix, you are all set. Why pay out the whazoo for gas station "health" snacks?
  • sarahDickson501
    sarahDickson501 Posts: 87 Member
    Forget the convenience store. Pack your own before you leave.

    This! even take a small ice chest if needed!
  • levicrouch
    levicrouch Posts: 99
    Forget the convenience store. Pack your own before you leave.

    This! even take a small ice chest if needed!

    +1
    The best defense is a good offense.
  • kiykiy79
    kiykiy79 Posts: 177
    Nuts, beef jerky, string cheese, protein bars... Water....
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I make it a habit to not eat from trash cans or gas stations. I just did a 2700 mile road trip, and didn't see anything resembling food once at a gas station, and driving a jeep, I got to see a few gas stations. I did hit up grocery stores there and got stuff that would keep, some deli meat, some fruit, some hawaiian bread. I also hit up butchers to get jerky.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    Forget the convenience store. Pack your own before you leave.

    This! even take a small ice chest if needed!

    Coleman makes coolers that plug into the lighter thingy in the car!!! It's AWESOME!!! (you may have to purchase the car-compatible cable separate. mine came ready to plug in inside, but not the car)

    I did a 3 month road trip last fall and i almost ALWAYS had fresh produce, fresh dairy, precooked meats that you can either prepare yourself or, if its over several days/weeks, most supermarkets sell cooked rotisserie chickens these days. I also found that lots of motels/hotels have microwaves, so, even on a road trip, i got to eat a hot dinner without having to go "out" to eat or settle for fast food.
  • willdob3
    willdob3 Posts: 640 Member
    Take your own healthy snacks, too.

    I would say nuts (raw if you can find them) are a good choice - but read the ingredient label before buying. Cheese, maybe canned meat (again, read the label).

    I do my best to take plenty of my own things so I don't find myself starving & looking for the best bad choice at places like this. But, stuff happens...
  • HannahJDiaz25
    HannahJDiaz25 Posts: 329 Member
    7-11 has boiled eggs, nuts, cheddar cheese squares, fresh fruit, jerky and sometimes salads. For crunchy they have Baked Lays, pretzels and various energy bars too.
  • jenillawafer
    jenillawafer Posts: 426 Member
    I work at a gas station, so I'm daunted with the task of selecting something healthy when I forget my snack.
    There's a fruit stand at mine, so that's always a plus. Trail mixes, peanuts, cashews, almonds - they ALWAYS have those.
    Beef jerky isn't too bad if you're not looking to watch sodium. Protein & granola bars are good. I opt for water, but juice & milk are an option. I'd say skip the convenience and pack something yourself! It's cheaper and you can plan ahead of time.
  • cleotherio
    cleotherio Posts: 712 Member
    nuts, protein bars, fruit, yogurt. I went on a road trip down i-95 a few weeks ago. A lot of gas stations had sub shops in them.
  • SRHelicity
    SRHelicity Posts: 36
    I'm a big fan of beef jerky in a situation such as the OP described. It's great protein, and it's easier to it slowly given the amount of chewing required to eat it. Many brands and types are very high in sodium, but you may be able to find a relatively low sodium variety. It's also not very inexpensive, but I'd much rather spend $6-7 on protein that'll take me 30-45 minutes to snack on than $2 on a bag of chips or candy that'll be eaten very quickly and won't do much to fill me up.

    Some gas stations have pretty decent sub-type sandwiches. Otherwise, you can always stock up on healthy snacks before you leave.

    I also like nuts, but it's really easy to consume a *lot* of calories in nuts (or, at least, it is for me). As such, I tend to avoid nuts to from a calorie management standpoint.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Nuts and jerky are available at most gas stations. 7-eleven has good options, they have fruit, salad, and protein shakes.
  • jquijas
    jquijas Posts: 222 Member
    Most Gas Stations have Muscle Milk (protein shake) Chocolate is delicious! I also like the single serving size bags of Wasabi almonds! Yum
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  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
    I think nuts are probably your best bet on the road but I agree with others to make your own snacks before you go. I make my own jerky and it's a perfect road food. I also choose how much salt I put in, how much sugar etc. Jerky and flavoured peanuts don't require refrigeration and are perfect road trip foods IMO.

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