Best Road Trip Ever Sweepstakes at Jewel-Osco

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Does this boy know how to pack or what? He’s all geared up for another road trip, since our last trip to St. Louis over spring break was our best road trip ever! (Just the right amount of time in the car, and lots of stuff to do.) You could possibly have your best road trip ever in a shiny.new.car — enter this Jewel-Osco Best Road Trip Ever sweepstakes for your chance to win.

So here are a few tips on packing food-wise to make your own road trip the best ever — and a bit more affordable. I picked up all of these items at my local Jewel-Osco for the road & for the hotel.

Fuel up for your trip

The first component of any successful road trip is, of course: Coffee — for both the driver and the navigator! Rather than stopping at an expensive coffee shop right off the bat, fill up those travel mugs for the road. (This Peet’s deep roast, by the way? SO good.)

Did you ever notice this cool coffee sign at the top of the shelf at your Jewel before? I hadn’t at mine — They must have added it when they remodeled.

Fuel up on the road

Here’s the expression of someone being told they have to wait to enjoy all the deliciousness contained within this cooler… but the Tostitos, Mars Bites, and Orbit gum are for the road! Buy your car snacks in advance and bring a cooler of goodies so that you don’t get roped into picking up overpriced convenience snacks at the gas station or rest stop vending machines, and balance out the treats with easy-to-eat healthier snacks like baby carrots and cherry tomatoes. We always bring sugar free gum to help keep us awake while driving (when that coffee runs out!), plus chewing gum keeps the kids occupied so they don’t want to snack the entire trip.

Fuel up at your destination

We always try to stay in a place with a little fridge and microwave so we can bring some healthier alternatives and snacks for the hotel room. Be sure to pack some protein (nuts, cheese…) and some veggies so that you’re prepared with a heartier snack like cheese, Wheat Thins, and finger veggies when a hungry kid is melting down and you want to avoid hitting the vending machine or hotel restaurant. I don’t know about your kids, but mine seem to want to snack at least every couple of hours… It’s also a good idea to bring a couple of salads (like this easy-to-reseal Earthbound Farm) that you can eat along with a carry-out pizza in your hotel room to help balance out your meal, plus some disposable plates and utensils.

What are your tips for the Best Road Trip Ever?

Let me know — I want to travel more with these kids while they’re still young enough to want to spend time with us. 😉 Plus, don’t forget to enter the Jewel-Osco Best Road Trip Ever Sweepstakes for your chance to win big for your next trip!