You’re driving in your work truck and making the trek from one job to the next. With a deadline to get there, you’re starting to feel a bit hungry. You stop at the nearest gas station to grab some grub. You quickly pay for an energy drink, bag of hot fries, and some peanut butter cups to help fuel you on your way.
But what is the best gas station for snacks?! And is it even possible to perhaps choose some better-for-you options for your travels? Yes, it is!
Here are my top choices for the best gas station for snacks:
QuickChek
When I was little, I would stop by our local QuickChek with my Dad before we went to an electrical job. This East Coast convenience store has grown substantially since then and has added fuel pumps to their newer locations. They’ve expanded their snack offerings, too!
My Favorite QuickCheck Snacks:
- Kind Bar
- Yogurt Cup
- Fruit Cup
Wawa
There was no question that this one would be included on the list! Wawa’s are relatively easy to navigate. With a refrigerated carousel of fruit, salads, and convenient nuts and seeds, Wawa is a stand out.
My Favorite Wawa Snacks:
- Mango or Mixed Fruit Cups
- Blue Diamond Lightly Salted Almonds
- Starkist Lunch to Go Light Tuna
Buc-ee’s
I was first introduced to Buc-ee’s when I visited their Johnstown, CO location. With plenty of gas pumps, they have an equally impressive amount of snacks. I would suggest (if you have the time), going through the store and seeing what they have to offer first. Then, choose what you would like. Pick up their premade cups with apples slices and peanut butter to pair fiber with a bit of fat and protein to help keep you sustained through your mid-day slump.
My Favorite Buc-ee’s Snacks:
- Premade Apple Slices with Peanut Butter
- Premade Veggie Cup with Ranch
- Omega Trail Mix
Maverik
Maverik – Adventure’s First Stop offers reasonable snack options. Looking at the nutrition information, you’d be hard pressed to find a healthier option in their BonFire Food. Maverik’s Tornados aka grab-and-go taquitos can serve up extra calories and sodium, especially if you have more than one.
Choose the Chicken Fajita Tornado in place of the Cheesy Pepperjack Tornados (4 Ct.). You’ll save a whopping 630 calories, 13 grams saturated fat, and 1,210mg sodium!
My Favorite Maverik Snacks:
- Sargento Single Serve Cheese + Whole Fruit (Apple or Orange)
- G2G Protein Bar
- Moji Sushi Classic California Roll
QuikTrip
This is where you can find many of your typical gas station snacks. Skip the roller grill, and try the protein shake or the smart snackers. These snacks are easy to pick up, and you can place them in your cup holder, too!
My Favorite QuikTrip Snacks:
- Core Power Protein Shake
- Sabra Smart Snackers: Hummus + Pretzels
- Popcorners
Healthy Gas Station Snacks
It can seem daunting to walk into a gas station and be bombarded by shelves of prepackaged snacks. Add a time constraint on top of it, and you’re left trying to finagle your way to grabbing something quick, easy, and semi-nutritious.
In the context of gas station snacks, let’s focus on the bigger picture.
-> Beware of the serving size and servings per container.
Some snack bags look like they are only one serving but can contain multiple servings. If you consume the entire bag, box, or container, it can triple or quadruple the nutrients. A lower sodium option can quickly become higher sodium when multiple servings are eaten. Be mindful.
->Choosing smaller serving sizes or individual sizes.
Not only do they make easy grab-and-go options, but you’ll consume less calories, sodium, and/or fat.
-> Pair a carbohydrate with a protein and/or heart-healthy fat.
This will help keep your hunger at bay. Try fruit with nuts or whole grain crackers with cheese.
-> Skip the Energy Drinks.
If you need a pick-me-up, opt for a cup of coffee instead. While a cup of coffee can contain varying amounts of caffeine depending on the type of coffee beans and roasting methods, the average cup of 8 oz. coffee contains approximately 95mg of caffeine. The amount of caffeine in energy drinks can have even bigger fluctuations in caffeine levels.
Unfortunately, food and beverage companies are only required to list the amount of added caffeine, not the amount of naturally occurring caffeine in sources such as green tea or guarana. Gulping down a few of these cans per day can certainly add up. Overconsumption of energy drinks can lead to adverse health effects including, but not limited to: insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, headaches, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure.
-> Try swapping some of the heavy hitters for lighter options.
Digging the salty fix of hot fries? How about trying a lightly salted trail mix instead?
Chocolate chip cookies calling your name? Try a protein bar. You’ve just reduced the amount of added sugar and amped up the protein, helping you balance your blood sugars AND reduce future cravings.
Here are additional helpful swaps:
Snacks List
- Fruit
- Whole Fruit: Apples, Bananas, Oranges
- Fruit Cups
- Dried/Dehydrated Fruit
- 100% Fruit Cups (canned in 100% juice, water, or no added sugar)
- Veggies
- Veggie Cups: celery, carrots, sugar snap peas
- Single-serve yogurts
- Hummus/Pretzel Cups
- Snack Packs
- Cheese cubes, fruit, hard boiled eggs
- Premade Protein Shake
- Owyn
- Core Power
- Whole Grain Crackers
- Chips
- Herr’s Baked! Potato Crisps
- Cape Cod Less Fat Original Sea Salt Kettle Cooked Potato Chips 1.5 oz.
- Uglies Sweets Sweet Potato Chips
- Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips
- Popcorn/Popcorn Chips
- Boom Chicka Pop
- Pop Corners
- Skinny Pop Popcorn
- Bars
- Lara Bars
- Kind Bars
- Kind ZEROG added sugar
- Nature Valley Granola Bars
- Rx Bars
- Beans
- Bada Bean Bada Boom
- Lebby’s Dark Chocolate Chickpeas
- Biena Chickpea Snacks
- Nuts
- Lightly Salted or Unsalted Nuts
- Trail Mix
- Almonds, Peanuts, Pistachios
- Low sodium or reduced sodium options
- Emerald 100 Calorie Packs
- Blue Diamond Almonds Lightly salted
- Planters Nut.rition Heart Healthy Mix
- Skinny Dipped Almonds
- Seeds
- Lightly Salted or Unsalted Seeds
- David’s Reduced Sodium Sunflower Seeds
- Planters Roasted Sunflower Kernels
- Big’s Simply Sea Salt Sunflower Kernels
- Big’s Simply Salted Pumpkin Seeds
0 Comments