...that won't weigh you down or have you running for the bathroom.

Half the fun of taking a road trip with friends or family is picking out the snacks to stock the car with. A little salty, a little sweet, perhaps?

A variety of textures and flavors will keep your palate entertained and satisfied.  Having fun with your road trip snacks doesn't mean you have to throw a diet or dietary lifestyle out the window, thanks to the plethora of amazing brands popping up each day that celebrate whole food ingredients, bright, bold flavors, and uncompromising commitments to ingredient quality- just like Marlo's Bakeshop.

Here are a few of our favorites for all ages and destinations:

1.) Peanut Puff Snacks: both our 2 year old and her grandmother go gaga for these addictive treats. Sugar free and with 3 simple ingredients they're a great way to indulge in some crunchy, slightly salty, peanut-y protein. Just make sure to bring your wet wipes to clean hands of peanut powder when finished. We dare you to eat just one.

* Our favorite brand: the OG by Osem, Bambas

2.) Get Classy with Crudites: the fancy word is just another way of referring to raw vegetables. Make it organic! his and a handful of roasted, unsalted almonds is Marlo's go-to snack for sustained energy without feeling laden down after sitting I the car for hours. Great options: tri color carrots from the farmers market (don't even need to peel them- the skin is packed with nutrients), grape tomatoes, cubes of roasted sweet potato (under bake by about 5-7 minutes to keep a little bite to the flesh), cucumber and jicama cut into sticks. Pair veggies with a homemade whole fat yogurt ranch dip or your favorite hummus to get a well-rounded, delicious treat.

*Tip: if you prepared these at home, eat them early on in your road trip so that they don't get too warm.

 

3.) Trail Mix blends: buy your favorite or make your own! Combine dried fruits (look for unsweetened varieties to control the amount of sugar in your mix), roasted seeds like pepitas or sunflower seeds, and your favorite nuts.  We like using roasted, unsalted nuts so that we don't get too thirsty on the road ("We're not stopping to pee AGAIN!")

*Tip: toast your nuts at home for 10-12 minutes at 300 degrees if you can't find roasted varieties.

** Our fave blend: We like cashews, almonds, peanuts, raisins, pepitas & dried cherries.

4.) Wake your taste buds with Sweet Heat: when you do finally stop for that 3rd iced coffee or tea, grab a little something with a subtle sweetness to curb those cravings without dairy, soy, nuts or trans fats. Our organic Sweet Heat Double Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect grab n go size - and with 4 cookies per serving at only  X calories, you can guiltlessly eat them or all or have enough to share with fellow road trippers. Let the flavors of fresh Saigon cinnamon and cocoa envelop your mouth with dark chocolate chips melting on the way down your throat while cayenne pepper delicately warms your whole mouth.

*Try our Sweet Heat Double Chocolate Cookies here and save 10% on Family Packs with code SHARE10

5.) Fresh Fruit: Mother Nature's original grab 'n' go snack. Fresh grapes, stone fruit like peaches, nectarines, or cubed watermelon or cantaloupe;  just take a visit to the farmer's market before you leave and get whatever's in season!

**Tip: keep some extra napkins in the car (and have an extra wet wipe from snack #1 on hand) to wrap of fruit cores or other detritus from your snacks for easy disposal and easy, clean car maintenance