Skip the Gas Station: 16 Snackle Box Ideas That Make Thanksgiving Road Trips So Much Easier
Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and if you are driving to grandma’s with kids in the back seat, you already know the soundtrack: I’m hungry, are we there yet, I’m hungry again. Enter the snackle box. It is a divided tackle style box filled with little portions of snacks, and moms everywhere swear by it. One snackle box video on YouTube has more than 130 million views. Kids get to choose, parents stop passing snacks back every ten minutes, and it costs far less than gas station stops. Here are the boxes worth packing..
How to Build a Snackle Box That Lasts the Whole Drive
The best snackle box follows one simple rule: a little of everything. Fill each compartment with one fruit, one vegetable, one protein, one crunchy snack and one small treat, then repeat. That mix keeps kids full longer than a bag of chips and keeps the sugar crash away. Use a clean, food safe divided container with a tight lid, and keep cheese and meats cold in a cooler until you hand it out. Which compartment would your kids raid first?
You will need: 1 clean food safe divided box with a lid, 1 fruit (grapes, apple slices or berries), 1 vegetable (carrots or snap peas), 1 protein (cheese cubes or turkey roll ups), 1 crunchy snack (pretzels or crackers), 1 small treat (chocolate candies or a cookie), small cooler with ice packs.
How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the box and every compartment. 2. Cut fruit and cheese into bite size pieces. 3. Put wet foods next to each other and dry foods (crackers, popcorn) on the other side so nothing gets soggy. 4. Add the treat last as the reward compartment. 5. Close tight and keep in the cooler until it is snack time.
Fall Harvest Snackle Box
This one tastes like autumn. Mini pumpkin muffins, apple slices tossed in a little lemon juice so they stay white, cheddar cubes, roasted pumpkin seeds and a few dried cranberries. It looks so pretty in the box that kids will want to take a picture before they eat it. It is perfect for the drive to a Thanksgiving dinner. What is your family’s favorite fall snack?
You will need: 4 mini pumpkin muffins, 1 apple (sliced, tossed with 1 tsp lemon juice), 1/2 cup cheddar cubes, 1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds, 1/4 cup dried cranberries, a handful of pretzel twists.
How to make it: 1. Slice the apple and toss with lemon juice. 2. Pat the slices dry and put them in one compartment. 3. Add the muffins, cheese and cranberries to their own sections. 4. Put pumpkin seeds and pretzels on the dry side. 5. Keep cold until serving.
Turkey Day Snackle Box With a Cracker Stack
Make the drive part of the holiday. Stack round crackers with slices of cheese and turkey, then add a few pretzel sticks fanned out like feathers and a candy eye for a silly little turkey. Fill the other spaces with grapes, carrots and a mini cookie. Kids love building their own turkey before eating it. Do your kids play with their food or eat it right away?
You will need: 12 round crackers, 4 slices cheddar (cut into circles), 4 slices deli turkey (folded), 16 pretzel sticks, candy eyes (optional), 1 cup grapes (halved), 1 cup baby carrots, 4 mini cookies.
How to make it: 1. Cut the cheese into circles with a small cup. 2. Pack crackers, cheese and turkey in separate sections so the crackers stay crisp. 3. Add pretzel sticks for the feathers. 4. Fill the rest with grapes, carrots and cookies. 5. Show the kids how to stack their own turkey.
Protein Snackle Box for Big Kids and Grown Ups
Teenagers and dads get hungry fast on long drives, and this box keeps them full. Hard boiled eggs, cheese sticks, turkey roll ups, a small cup of hummus with pretzel thins and a handful of nuts give real staying power. It is basically a lunch, without the drive thru line. Who is the hungriest traveler in your car?
You will need: 4 hard boiled eggs (peeled, halved), 2 cheese sticks, 4 slices deli turkey (rolled), 1/2 cup hummus in a lidded cup, 1 cup pretzel thins, 1/4 cup almonds or cashews, 1 cup cherry tomatoes.
How to make it: 1. Boil the eggs 10 minutes, cool in ice water and peel. 2. Roll the turkey slices tightly. 3. Put the hummus in a small lidded cup inside one compartment. 4. Fill the rest with cheese, pretzels, nuts and tomatoes. 5. Keep the box in a cooler with ice packs until eating.
Sweet and Salty Snackle Box With Homemade Trail Mix
Making your own trail mix is cheaper than buying it and you control what goes in. Mix pretzels, peanuts, raisins, cereal squares and a few chocolate candies, then scoop it into the biggest compartment. Add apple slices and cheese to balance it out. Quick poll: in trail mix, which do you pick out first? A) the chocolate, B) the nuts, C) the raisins, D) I eat it all.
You will need: 1 cup mini pretzels, 1 cup roasted peanuts, 1/2 cup raisins, 1 cup cereal squares, 1/3 cup chocolate candies, 1 apple (sliced), 1/2 cup cheese cubes.
How to make it: 1. Mix the pretzels, peanuts, raisins and cereal in a bowl. 2. Stir in the chocolate candies right before packing so they do not melt. 3. Scoop the trail mix into the largest section. 4. Add apple slices and cheese to the other sections. 5. Pack extra trail mix in a jar for refills.
Toddler Safe Box, Cut Small and Packed Smart
Little ones need a box of their own, built for safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that whole grapes, whole nuts, popcorn and hard raw vegetables are choking hazards for children under 4, so skip them or prepare them the safe way. Cut grapes and blueberries into quarters, steam carrots until soft, and choose melt in your mouth puffs. Always have kids eat sitting up, with a grown up able to watch. What is your toddler’s favorite snack?
You will need: 1 cup grapes (quartered lengthwise), 1/2 cup blueberries (halved), 1/2 cup soft cooked carrot coins, 1/2 cup cheese (small cubes), 1 cup puffed baby snacks, 1 banana (sliced just before serving), 1 mini muffin (cut in pieces).
How to make it: 1. Quarter the grapes lengthwise and halve the blueberries. 2. Steam carrot coins 6 to 8 minutes until soft and cool them. 3. Cut cheese into small cubes. 4. Fill each section with one food. 5. Keep the box cold and serve only when the child is seated upright.
Popcorn Bar Box
Pop one batch of plain popcorn at home and pack a few flavors right in the box: a little shaker of cinnamon sugar, a pinch of parmesan, some mini pretzels and chocolate candies to mix in. Kids get to create their own popcorn blend. It is cheap, light and fun on a long drive. Remember, popcorn is not for children under 4. Which flavor would you shake on first?
You will need: 8 cups plain popped popcorn, 2 tbsp cinnamon sugar (in a small lidded cup), 2 tbsp grated parmesan (in a small lidded cup), 1 cup mini pretzels, 1/3 cup chocolate candies, 1/4 cup dried cranberries.
How to make it: 1. Pop the popcorn with a little oil and salt and let it cool fully. 2. Fill the large compartments with popcorn. 3. Put the cinnamon sugar and parmesan in tiny lidded cups. 4. Add pretzels, candies and cranberries to small sections. 5. Hand out a paper cup so each kid can mix their own.
Mini Charcuterie Box for Teens
Teens think they are too old for a snackle box until you hand them this one. Salami folded into little roses, two kinds of cheese, crackers, olives, grapes and a few dried apricots make it feel grown up. It is like a fancy party board that fits on your lap. Do you have a teen who would love this?
You will need: 2 oz sliced salami, 2 oz cheddar (cubed), 2 oz pepper jack (cubed), 1 cup crackers, 1/4 cup pitted olives, 1 cup grapes, 1/4 cup dried apricots, 2 tbsp honey in a lidded cup (optional).
How to make it: 1. Fold the salami slices in half twice to make little fans. 2. Cube the cheeses. 3. Put olives and honey in lidded cups so nothing leaks. 4. Arrange crackers on the dry side and meats and cheese on the cold side. 5. Fill gaps with grapes and apricots and keep cold.
Breakfast on the Road Snackle Box
If you leave before sunrise, breakfast comes with you. Mini muffins, yogurt in a small lidded cup, fresh berries, a cheese stick and a few spoonfuls of granola make a real breakfast that kids can eat in their car seat. It beats a drive thru breakfast sandwich for price and for sugar. Early start or late start: when does your family hit the road?
You will need: 6 mini blueberry muffins, 2 small lidded cups of yogurt, 1 cup strawberries or blueberries, 2 cheese sticks, 1/2 cup granola, 2 spoons.
How to make it: 1. Bake or buy the mini muffins the day before. 2. Spoon yogurt into lidded cups and chill overnight. 3. Wash and dry the berries. 4. Pack muffins, granola and cheese in separate sections. 5. Keep the yogurt and berries in the cooler and add them right before handing out.
Veggie and Ranch Dip Box
Something about a little cup of dip makes kids eat their vegetables. Carrot sticks, cucumber rounds, snap peas, bell pepper strips and cherry tomatoes all fit nicely around a lidded cup of homemade ranch. For little kids, choose softer vegetables and cut them small. Would your kids eat more veggies with ranch?
You will need: 1 cup carrot sticks, 1 cucumber (sliced), 1 cup snap peas, 1 bell pepper (strips), 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved). Ranch: 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp mayo, 1/2 tsp dried dill, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, salt, splash of milk.
How to make it: 1. Stir the ranch ingredients together and chill. 2. Cut the vegetables into sticks and rounds. 3. Pat everything dry. 4. Spoon the ranch into a lidded cup in the center compartment. 5. Surround it with the vegetables and keep cold.
Apple Nachos Box
Apple nachos are thin apple slices with a drizzle of peanut butter, a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips and granola. For the car, pack the parts separately so nothing gets soggy, then let the kids build their own plate at a rest stop. It is sweet, crunchy and full of fruit. Would you call this a snack or a dessert?
You will need: 2 apples (thinly sliced, tossed with 2 tsp lemon juice), 1/4 cup peanut butter or sunflower butter (in a lidded cup), 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips, 1/4 cup granola, 2 tbsp shredded coconut (optional).
How to make it: 1. Slice the apples thin and toss with lemon juice. 2. Pat them dry and pack them in the biggest section. 3. Put the peanut butter in a lidded cup. 4. Add chocolate chips, granola and coconut to small sections. 5. At the stop, fan the apples on a plate and drizzle and sprinkle.
Homemade Energy Bites Box
No bake energy bites are one of the easiest things to make ahead. Oats, peanut butter, honey, ground flax and mini chocolate chips get rolled into little balls that hold up well on a trip. Pack a few with string cheese, grapes and pretzels for a box that keeps everyone going. Have you ever made energy bites with your kids?
You will need: 1 cup old fashioned oats, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup honey, 2 tbsp ground flaxseed, 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips, 1 tsp vanilla, plus string cheese, grapes (halved) and pretzels to fill the box.
How to make it: 1. Stir the oats, peanut butter, honey, flax, chips and vanilla in a bowl. 2. Chill 20 minutes. 3. Roll into 1 inch balls. 4. Refrigerate until firm, then pack 4 to 5 per box. 5. Fill the rest with cheese, grapes and pretzels.
Movie Night in the Car Box
If the kids will be watching a movie on the drive, give them a box that feels like the theater. Popcorn, a few chocolate candies, mini pretzels, gummy fruit snacks and a couple of cheese crackers in small sections make it feel like a special treat. Pack small portions so no one gets a sugar rush in a small space. What movie is playing in your back seat?
You will need: 4 cups popcorn, 1/4 cup chocolate candies, 1 cup mini pretzels, 2 small packs of fruit snacks (emptied into the box), 1 cup cheese crackers, 1 cup grapes (halved).
How to make it: 1. Pop the popcorn and let it cool. 2. Divide popcorn into the two biggest sections. 3. Fill the small sections with candy, fruit snacks and crackers. 4. Add grapes for something fresh. 5. Hand it out when the opening credits roll.
Build Your Own Pizza Snackle Box
This homemade lunch kit is a big hit with picky eaters. Pack mini flatbread rounds, a little cup of pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella and mini pepperoni, and let kids build their own cold pizzas at a rest stop. It is cheaper and fresher than the store bought kits. Add grapes or apple slices on the side. Would your picky eater go for this?
You will need: 6 mini flatbreads or naan dippers, 1/4 cup pizza sauce (in a lidded cup), 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella, 1/4 cup mini pepperoni, 1 cup grapes (halved) or apple slices, a few cherry tomatoes.
How to make it: 1. Cut flatbreads into small rounds or strips if needed. 2. Spoon sauce into a lidded cup. 3. Pack the cheese and pepperoni in the cold side of the box. 4. Add fruit and tomatoes. 5. Keep in the cooler and let kids build their mini pizzas at the stop.
Hummus and Pita Snackle Box
For a lighter, Mediterranean style box, a cup of hummus becomes the star. Surround it with pita triangles, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, cheese cubes and a few olives. It is filling, colorful and easy to eat with your fingers. For more snack ideas you can make at home, try our crunchy homemade snacks. Is hummus a hit or a miss with your kids?
You will need: 1/2 cup hummus (in a lidded cup), 2 pita breads (cut in triangles), 1 cucumber (sliced), 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved), 1 cup snap peas, 1/2 cup feta or cheddar cubes, 1/4 cup pitted olives.
How to make it: 1. Cut the pita into triangles and toast them lightly so they stay crisp. 2. Spoon the hummus into a lidded cup. 3. Slice and dry the vegetables. 4. Pack each food in its own section around the hummus. 5. Keep cold until snack time.
The Snackle Box Clean Up Kit (Every Mom Needs One)
The last box is the one nobody posts but every parent needs. A clean up kit keeps crumbs, sticky fingers and spills under control. Pack it with wet wipes, paper towels, small trash bags and a few zip bags for leftovers, plus some easy fruit for the final hour. Food safety tip from the USDA: perishable foods should not sit out of the cooler for more than 2 hours. What is in your car kit?
You will need: 1 pack wet wipes, 1 roll paper towels, 5 small trash bags, 5 zip top bags, 1 small bottle of hand sanitizer, a cooler with ice packs, water bottles, 2 clementines and 1 bag of pretzels for the last stretch.
How to make it: 1. Use a separate box or bag just for clean up supplies. 2. Hang a small trash bag on the back of each front seat. 3. Wipe hands before and after snacks. 4. Put leftovers back in the cooler or toss them after 2 hours out. 5. Wash and dry the snackle boxes at grandma’s so they are ready for the drive home.
