It’s tough to eat healthy when you are frequently on the road. I know. Whether you have a long commute, are a delivery driver, drive cargo cross country, or are perhaps an athlete, speaker, salesperson, realtor, or have another always “on the road” occupation, often times it can feel like you are on the highway to hell. Being away from home and unable to prepare fresh, healthy snacks can create challenges, but it doesn’t have to.

Sometimes it seems easier and even tempting to pull off the road and swing through a drive-thru or stop at the gas station for a bag-o-chips and soda. Fortunately, I have a few simple and healthy snack solutions to help you stay on track. If you plan accordingly, you will avoid shoveling down snacks with no redeeming qualities, and instead take control of your nutritional choices. (And avoid any of the after-snack guilt that’s so easy to indulge in.)

Our Top 4 Healthy Snacks

Guilt-Free Peanut Butter Granola

This is one of my favorite on-the-go snacks! Since it is also kid-friendly, I end up being the cool mom at the playground when snack time rolls around. (I just ALWAYS make sure I check with the other parents in case of any nut allergies.)

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups rolled oats
• 4 scoops Vanilla Cream BioTrust® Low Carb Protein Blend
• ¼ cup powdered peanut butter
• Pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 Tbsps peanut butter
• ¼ cup egg whites
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 cup honey
• ¼ cup sliced almonds (or flax seeds, chia seeds, or heart healthy nuts)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl (except sliced almonds).
3. Add in wet ingredients, and mix all together until mixture is crumbly. Then add in sliced almonds.
4. Cover a baking sheet with waxed paper, and crumble the mixture onto the pan in bite-size pieces.
5. Bake for 15 – 18 minutes until golden brown and granola reaches a crunchy consistency.
6. Divide it into portions and store in snack-sized bags.

Zucchini Chips

Enjoy chips without the guilt with these healthy snacks! Warning: you won’t be able to stop at just one—I sure didn’t!!

Ingredients:

• 3 medium-sized zucchini
• Coconut oil
• Sea salt
• Pepper
• Paprika

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
2. Wash, dry, and thinly slice zucchini into ½-inch-thick pieces. Grease a cookie sheet with coconut oil and then spread zucchini slices on the sheet in a single layer.
3. Sprinkle sea salt, pepper, and paprika over zucchini slices, bake for roughly 45 minutes to an hour, depending on your oven.
4. After 30 minutes, check every 10 minutes, until slices are crispy but not burnt! Enjoy!!

Dark Chocolate Protein Balls

These are simply divine and a great way to curb your cravings for something sweet without diving into something unhealthy. Sometimes if I am packing a picnic lunch, I will add this to my basket, and it is the perfect dessert-type treat to end my meal.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsps Milk Chocolate BioTrust® Low Carb Protein Powder (Vanilla Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Café Mocha also work well)
• 3 Tbsps almond butter (or peanut butter)
• 3 Tbsps dark cocoa powder
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp honey
• Dash of sea salt
• 1 tsp water
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Directions:

1. Combine first seven ingredients in a food processor until thoroughly mixed. If the batter is too dry for your liking, add more water, about 1/4 teaspoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
2. Roll dough into bite-size balls, and then roll each ball in shredded coconut.
3. Place in refrigerator to allow balls to set.

Easy Baked Apple Chips

If you are looking for something with all the comforts of home but without the guilt, these apple chips certainly fit the bill. They are the perfect healthy snacks since you don’t need a fork or a plate! Since I have never been a huge fan of dried fruit, I give this one two thumbs way up. The texture satisfies the need for something crunchy, and the sweet is just enough to satisfy my sugar cravings.

Ingredients:

• 1 apple
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
2. Using a mandolin veggie slicer, slice apples very thinly. Core if desired prior to slicing.
3. Line 1 – 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, and spread out the apple slices in a single layer.
4. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.
5. Bake for one hour, flip apple slices over, and continue to bake for another hour.