With the school year in full swing, the family car is now serving as the snack bar for many families between school, activities and sports practice. The drive-thru may seem like a decent solution in a pinch, but fast food isn’t cheap — and it often isn’t healthy or even fast. Packing snacks is almost always our best bet, but that leaves parents and guardians with the question of what to pack, as well as how to make it nutritious and keep it interesting.
So, I reached out to fellow dietitians — all of whom are also parents — to share their go-to carpool snacks and strategies. Their ideas are clever, fun and parent-tested. And importantly, each balances nutrition with practicality (minimal prep time and less mess) and actually satisfies kids of all ages.
Here’s What They Had to Say:
Hope Fruge, dietitian with Eat Fit Monroe and mom of Landry (5), Marienne (3) and Callahan (1) loves Fairlife Chocolate Protein Shakes, Kodiak protein bars and Hint Kids apple water. “To them, the shakes are simply chocolate milk, but it’s actually a great protein boost in a spill-proof thermos,” she said. “The Kodiak protein bars feel like a treat but have staying power, and I love keeping Hint Kids apple water in the car — it’s something fun and flavorful, but still low-sugar.”
Alexis Thompson, lifestyle nutrition dietitian at Ochsner Health and mom of Jackson (4) says peanut butter bites and Hippeas chickpea puffs are two go-to favorites for on-the-go snacks. “I’ll often make peanut butter bites for pickup,” she said. “It’s as simple as spreading peanut butter (or any nut or seed butter) on a wholesome bread (we like Dave’s Killer Bread) and cutting it into squares. For a crunchy snack, Hippeas chickpea puffs are always a hit.”
Lauren H. Berry, lifestyle nutrition dietitian and supervisor at Ochsner Health and mom to James (8 months) keeps herself and older carpool companions satisfied with high-protein, portable options that are good for kids and adults, including mini Kind bars, Balance Breaks or P3 packs and Chomps Mini Sticks.
“James is still so young, we’re not in full carpool-snack mode yet, but these are the ones I love for older kids and myself, too!”
Jamie Meeks, director of sports nutrition for the New Orleans Saints and mom of three (ages 10, 5 and 3), turns to Starbucks for Horizon chocolate milk and protein snack packs (cheese and fruit) when needed. From home, her kids love grainy crackers with Babybel cheese, turkey and cheese sandwiches on whole grain bread and beef jerky. “These are our go-to options for when we’ve planned ahead,” she said. “When we haven’t, the fallback option is the coffee shop drive thru.”
Annie Kent, former Eat Fit Northshore dietitian and now full-time mom to Addie (4), Gracie (3) and Jack (1) stocks cheese sticks (Tillamook brand is their favorite), homemade whole grain mini muffins and fresh fruit that’s car-tested: bananas, tangerines and small apples. “We keep things pretty consistent with these snacks,” she said. “They also have to travel really well.”
Savanna Latimer, former Eat Fit BR dietitian, now Boston-based and full-time mom to Roe (3) prefers kid-sized Perfect Bars and Lesser Evil popcorn, also known as ‘space balls.’ “We like things that are simple but balanced — protein, a little carb, and something she’ll actually eat,” she said.
For Joy Banks, dietetic intern at Eat Fit and mom of Jace (8), food can be complicated because of significant food allergies. Carpool snacks in Jace’s “safe zone” include crispy chickpeas, plantain chips and seaweed sheets. “Our snacks look a little different because of Jace’s allergies. He’s allergic to nuts, fish, oats, soy, dairy, egg and tree nuts,” she said. “We’ve gotten creative with what works for him.”
Sara Artigues, lifestyle nutrition dietitian at Ochsner Health and mom of Benjamin (6), stocks trail mix with nuts, raisins and a whole grain cereal like Multigrain Cheerios, Sunchips and individually wrapped, snack-size cheese. “I like to keep it simple with things that hit all the bases — protein, crunch and something fun,” she said.
Anna Walter White, dietitian at Eat Fit Shreveport and mom of Ellie (22 months), breaks up mini fruit bars and unsweetened freeze-dried fruit into tiny bites. “We keep it really simple with toddler-friendly favorites — easy textures, clean ingredients,” she said.
Amanda Langford, associate chief, clinical nutrition, nutrition and food service, New Orleans-based dietitian and mom of two daughters mixes and matches snacks from three categories: carbs (crackers, popcorn or fruit), protein/fat (cheese stick, single-serving peanut butter or turkey slices) and fun (chocolate chips or fruit gummies). “We do a ‘choose your own adventure’ snack box that we pack the night before: pick a carb, pick a protein and/or fat, pick a fun add-in,” she said. “It keeps kids engaged and gives them ownership. On days with four-hour gymnastics, we’ll pack a bigger version of this.”
Michele Gerarve, oncology dietitian at Ochsner Health and mom of Luca (4), avoids peanuts because of an allergy, opting for simple basics — MadeGood Granola Minis, Simple Mills Pop Mmms or cheese sticks. “Luca is allergic to peanuts, so we go for snacks that are nut-free, simple and easy to portion,” she said.
Bottom Line
Carpool snacks can be simple, and a little planning goes a long way. The best options have a mix of carbs with protein and/or fat to keep kids fueled until the next meal, while also keeping car mess to a minimum. Whether it’s a simple cheese stick or even a protein shake in a spill-proof thermos, these tips from registered dietitians and parents will make the ride smoother for everyone.