Food in the car - good tips for food on the road trip

Should you sit in the car and eat? Well, why not? On long journeys, holidays, work or other occasions when you sit in the car for a long time. And not everyone thinks it's worth the money to stop at a fast food chain along the way. Here you get tips on simple food to eat in the car.

Are you going out on the roads? A driving holiday at home is a cheaper and actually really nice alternative to a European trip. But what do you do when you're sitting in the car and hunger strikes? Of course, it is easy to stop at a gas station or fast food chain and eat - but it can be expensive if you are a whole family.

As it is, there are plenty of alternatives to fast food. With a little planning, food in the car is both tasty and healthy. So we thought here to give you some good ideas on food to eat on the trip. Both to eat in the car and during a stop at a rest area.

Simple food you can eat in the car

We'll start with the simplest of the simple. What is easy food to eat in the car without a lot of preparation or cooking, even while driving. Things you can pick out of your bag and put in your mouth right away. There are also things that don't smudge or run when you eat them.

• Fresh fruit, such as apple or pear

• Dried fruit

• Grapes

• Nuts, such as peanuts, cashews or a nut mix

• Drinking yogurt

• Biscuit

• Rice cakes

• Protein bars or protein shakes

• Sliced smoked sausage or other charcuterie

• Chocolate

• A bottle of water - don't forget you need to drink!

These are all things that keep the worst of hunger at bay until you reach your destination or make a stop to eat real food. If you are traveling longer than a few hours without a meal break, you may need something more filling. Keep reading for tips on good road trip food that you can prepare before you hit the road.

Good food for the road trip

For slightly longer distances, you may want to bring good food for the car journey, and not just some nuts or fruit. You want it to be satisfying so you stand for a while. Here are some tips on good food that you can put in the cooler until your stomach starts to tell you.

A break to get new energy makes the journey both more pleasant and safer.

Are sandwiches your favorite?

Sandwiches! The true classic, which can be varied endlessly – from the simple sandwiches with caviar, cheese or ham to hearty sandwiches with stir-fries and vegetables as a topping. Feel free to make double sandwiches so they are easier to take without making a lot of mess.

Most of what we cover below can be replaced with vegetarian options.

• Feel free to use a good home-baked and filling bread.

• Common and simple toppings (besides what we have already mentioned) can be smoked sausage, peppers, liver pâté, soft cheese, peanut butter or eggs.

• A little more moderate: Add a good mix of any kind (curry mix, avocado spread, Skagen mix, hummus, cream cheese, etc.). Continue with e.g. lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes or peppers. Finally, top with any protein you like - such as chicken or turkey, seafood, sliced meatballs, cold cuts, cheese, pulled beef/chicken/pork or something else. A real Dagobert sandwich!

• All of this works just as well to fill baguettes with. Other suggestions for filled baguettes can be roast beef with potato salad, mackerel, salad, tomato and shrimp paste, cheese & ham, to take just a few examples.

A tip! Children can be fussy about what you put on their sandwiches. Why not let them make their own?

The versatile wrap

Wraps and flat bread rolls are simple and filling food that are easy to hold in the hand. You can start from tortillas, flat bread, liba bread or the like, and then fill with whatever you want; salad and vegetables, stir-fries, meat of any type, vegetarian, fish and shellfish. Season as you like and roll it up and wrap in aluminum foil.

Healthy salads

Salads are another classic that can be varied as much as possible. In its simplest form, it is a mixture of iceberg or romaine lettuce mixed with e.g. tomato and cucumber and possibly a dressing (pickled lettuce, main salad and green salad are other options for lettuce).

On the trip, you might want a slightly more nutritious salad with both carbohydrates and protein. A very simple but good and filling variant is the cheese and sausage salad - take a salad, dice up the cheese and smoked sausage and mix.

But there are lots of options for what you can mix in the salad, both in terms of carbohydrates, protein and different toppings. Here are some suggestions:

• Carbohydrates: potatoes, pasta, quinoa, rice, wheat, legumes

• Protein: Tuna, salmon, seafood, eggs, chicken, turkey, roast beef, kebabs, cheese and feta cheese, tofu

• Vegetables: Tomato, cucumber, spinach, arugula, paprika, grated carrot

• Fruit: Apple, pear, melon, peach, pineapple, orange, avocado

• To top with: Olives, nuts, seeds, pesto, corn

Food in the car for children

A long journey by car is perhaps not the right opportunity to "raise" a child to eat what is offered. Instead, try to avoid whining in the car by packing things that the children like to eat. If you have smaller children, we recommend that you stop at a rest area or parking pocket when it's time to eat. This is to make sure that the child does not choke.

Something that most children like are of course pancakes. They work great to eat cold, so you can prepare them a day before you set off. Can be eaten as is, or flavored with a little sugar or jam and rolled up.

Klämmisar is a snack that has become popular in recent years. They are available in several different flavors and with fruit, smoothie or porridge. Easy to eat and doesn't mess up in the car.

Tips for a good and satisfying homemade smoothie: 2 dl berries of any kind, 1 banana and 2 dl orange juice. Run in a blender and pour into a bottle. Instead of juice, you can use milk.

Do you plan to stop along the way and eat takeout? Make food boxes at home and bring: sausages and mash, meatballs, burgers or other food that the children like. A good fridge/warming box can keep food hot (or cold) for many hours. There are models that you can connect to the car's cigarette or USB socket.

Travel treats - do you always have to be useful?

We don't think so. Of course, you should be able to snack on something good without worrying that it has to be "good" food. A bag of loose sweets, crisps, a chocolate cake or cheese rings keep the children (and the adults) in a good mood.

Tip! As a little boost of energy, we suggest an ancient rag trick. Take a bag and put in salted peanuts, pieces of crushed chocolate and a handful of raisins. Hold the bag in one hand and shake to mix everything. Super delicious!

Small pieces of carrots, cucumbers or fruit are of course also suitable as on-the-go treats.

Accessories that can be good to have in the car

• Cooling box / Warming box.

• Drink

• Hot water in a thermos

• Cutlery

• Salt and pepper

• Napkins/wet wipes

There are many options for good and simple food to eat in the car. You can probably come up with more things yourself that are good and filling. It is certainly possible to eat in the car along the way, but feel free to stop at a rest area and eat in peace and quiet. It's a much-needed break and you get to stretch your legs a bit.