It’s that time of year. The great outdoors is calling, and you’re ready to hit the road! Maybe you’re planning to visit some of America’s beautiful national parks, see relatives far away, or visit someplace new. Wherever you are going, there’s an important road trip factor to take into account: snacks! We all know that whether you travel solo, with a partner, friends, or with the whole family in the back seat, you’re bound to get hungry on long road trips.

At Mountain America Jerky, we’re all about finding your next adventure and making sure that you’re well-nourished along the way. But to eat right you’ve got to be prepared! We wouldn’t want you to get caught in the middle of nowhere and be forced to rely on processed gas station jerky and munchies. While there are tons of high-energy “protein” snacks on the market — some with more added sugar than a candy bar — here are our top tips for staying away from the bad road trip snack options and enjoying the good.

What To Avoid: Processed Road Trip Food & Gas Station Jerky

Ultra-processed foods contain high levels of sodium, sugar, additives, fillers, and saturated fats. Eaten to excess, these things can have negative effects on your health. Without naming any names (hint: these jerky labels are owned by major fast food brands) here are some real-life menaces to avoid in gas station jerky:

• Sugar – Granted, a few of our flavors have the sweet stuff in moderation, but if you see it as a top ingredient in every version, you know the jerky you’re looking at might as well be chewy candy.
• Smoke Flavor – Yes folks, unlike Mountain America Jerky, some people don’t use real wood or fire. They just throw in some powder called “smoke flavor” and call it a day. At MAJ, we hickory smoke every piece of our premium jerky to perfection.
• MSG (monosodium glutamate) – While the jury is still out on this salt-like additive, most Americans still try to avoid this food additive based on the reportedly harmful effects it can have on your health.
• Hydrolyzed Protein – This tricky flavor enhancer is chemically related to MSG and breaks down into glutamic acid – which combines with sodium to form MSG. Using hydrolyzed protein means the manufacturer gets all the flavor of MSG without having to list monosodium glutamate on the packaging.
• Flavors – What exactly are these mysterious “flavors”? Only the manufacturer knows. All Mountain America Jerky flavors have names that come from real things, like Black Pepper, Garlic, Onion, or Paprika.
• Sodium Nitrate – While sodium nitrate is permitted by the FDA, studies have connected overconsumption of nitrates to higher risks of cancer, heart, and nerve system diseases.

You get the idea; gas station jerky is better left alone. It’s unfortunate but many of these ingredients can have unpleasant physical and mental consequences, particularly anxiety, shortened attention span, insomnia, and dizziness. Not exactly something you want to feed the kids in the back seat.

What to Get: Best Road Trip Snacks

As soon as you know you’re heading out, plan ahead and order some real jerky to keep you and your road trip team rearing to go! Mountain America Jerky is proud to say our gourmet selection of premium jerky is high in protein and low in long, unpronounceable ingredients. It’s just top-quality, meaty goodness. We’ve got over 40 varieties to suit everyone’s palate. Whether you’re into spicy beef jerky, teriyaki buffalo, or want to take a walk on the wild side with alligator, kangaroo, or ostrich jerky, we have something for everyone.

Because of our natural hickory smoking process, it is also easy to store your jerky for maximum freshness. We promise our jerky is:

• 100% handmade
• Hickory smoked to perfection, daily
• Made with less salt than most commercial manufacturers

Our beef jerky and all our other jerky varieties contain:

• No added preservatives or MSG
• No nitrates
• No fillers
• No binders

If you need an additional protein boost, try pairing one of our beef jerky varieties with a mix of nuts and seeds for a super-strength take on your favorite trail mix. 

Healthy Snacks On The Go

While a satisfying serving of beef, turkey, or even alligator jerky gives you that protein power, complementary carbs help you stay fueled to keep going. Other important ingredients for a balanced snacking menu include fruit, veggies, and grains. Here are some tasty, and healthy, munchies that go great with Mountain America Jerky.

• Crackers – Choose a whole-wheat or mixed-grain variety for added nutrients. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, pretzels also qualify as crackers.
• Granola – While every granola is different, most have a good mix of healthy grains that provide a good source of fiber. If you have kids in the back seat, try using a plastic cup to pass servings around — they can easily store it in the cup holder to avoid spills.
• Dried Fruit – Some fruits, such as kiwis, oranges, mangoes, and peaches can make a big mess in the car. Dried fruit, however, is easy to eat and keep on hand. Because of its portability and long life, much like beef jerky, FEMA recommends dried fruit as part of your emergency food kit even when you’re not traveling. 
• Carrots – Whether you like baby carrots or the big ones cut in slices, this healthy snack tastes great in a ranch dip or by itself.
• Baby Tomatoes – These nutritious veggies are cute, tasty, and rich in Vitamin C – not to mention easy to eat with one hand while driving.
• Cheese Cubes – Milk spoils, so it’s not as easy to bring on a long trip. However, if you’ve got room for a cooler, cheese cubes are a road trip game changer! 

Wishing You Happy Trails

Wherever you decide to roam, we hope these tips help you avoid all those processed road trip snacks and enjoy some healthy road trip snacks instead. As always, Mountain America Jerky is here to help fuel your next adventure.