Looking for awesome Paleo travel foods?

Following a nutrient dense, grain-free diet is pretty simple once you get the hang of it.  At home, that is.  It can be a-whole-nother story when you’re traveling or even running errands for the day.  

For short trips you could pack a small cooler of homemade food, but sometimes you just don’t have the time or the space to tote along real foods that must be kept cold.  And the longer the trip, the harder it can be to transport homemade real food.

Check out my list of 25 Real Food Snacks for Kids that work equally well for adults!

Prepackaged Real Food?

Prepackaged real food is basically nonexistent.

But there are a few good options that have saved me so much stress while still providing a decent real food snack when necessary.  I like to keep a few of these prepackaged Paleo snacks on hand at all times, in case I need a simple solution while out and about.

I keep at least one high protein snack in my purse for emergency situations, and there’s always a larger stash in my pantry for restocking.  For scheduled trips, I plan ahead and stock up on all my favorites.

Please note: Most of the foods listed below, namely those containing dried fruit, are not recommended as a regular part of a paleo / real food diet. Although dried fruits seem healthy, they’re actually very high in sugar content.

At home I use dried fruits very minimally.  I see travel as a special circumstance, though, and am totally fine with eating some dried fruits now and then in order to avoid more processed or grains-based alternatives.

And now for the list of my favorite Paleo travel foods…

8 Best Paleo Travel Foods

1. Nick’s Sticks

It’s almost impossible to find high protein, shelf stable snacks with top quality ingredients and zero sugar.   Good news: Nick’s Sticks fit the bill!  These sticks are definitely Paleo, and are a great option for traveling.

I often keep a package of these sticks in my purse for emergencies.  Made from grass-fed beef with unrefined sea salt and other high quality seasonings, one package of two sticks packs a whopping 10 grams of protein with zero grams of sugar.   I highly recommend Nick’s Sticks!

2. Epic Bars

I was a little skeptical about these dried meat bars.  But I decided to give them a shot after the knowledgeable owner of our local health foods store recommended them as a handy travel food.  These little meat bars turned out to be a perfect solution for my 5-day trip with limited food options.

Epic bars are shelf stable, no refrigeration necessary.  My favorite flavor is definitely Bison Bacon Cranberry.  I now keep a few Epic bars on hand at all times, just in case I’ll be out and about with limited options for real food.

3. Justin’s Nut Butter Pouches

These little nut butter pouches are my favorite solution for an easy breakfast on the road.  Give me a banana, a pouch of Justin’s Almond Butter, and a cup of my favorite coffee substitute, and I’m good to go.  They’re also fantastic with an apple, celery sticks, and of course dark chocolate.

4. Larabars

I’m not super crazy about Larabars because of their high sugar content.  Most Larabars employ dates or other dried fruits for sweetness.  But once again, I’d rather eat a Larabar when necessary than many other readily available options.  So I often carry one in my purse for emergency situations.

My favorite flavor is peanut butter chocolate chip.  Not the healthiest option (and not Paleo), but it’s pretty yummy! Healthier Larabar options include cashew cookie and pecan pie.

5. Crispy Fruit Chips

I am so excited to get my first dehydrator!  Any tips or suggestions from my readers who dehydrate?  Until it arrives, or for those who’d rather purchase their dehydrated fruit, I love this brand.  Banana and Apple are my favorite varieties.  I always pair dehydrated and dried fruit with a protein like nuts or homemade granola.

6. Dried Fruit

A softer version of the crunchy fruit chips listed above.  Dried fruit travels really well, and pairs nicely with nuts or homemade granola.  My favorites are apples and apricots, and I can’t wait to make them myself with my new dehydrator!

Also pictured: Lunchskins medium reusable zipper bag.

7. Homemade Granola

Granola is an awesome travel food!  I haven’t found a healthy premade version, so I just make my own.  My favorite recipe is from Danielle Walker’s book Against All Grain.  This recipe from her blog is very similar.

Tip: multiply the recipe and substitute cashews for the hazelnuts.  I actually quadruple the recipe and store it in glass jars to eat for breakfast and snacks at home.

Also pictured: my favorite Re-Pac reusable snack bags.

 8. Sprouted Crackers

These crunchy little crackers travel well.  Made from raw and organic ingredients, they’re definitely more nutrient dense than most crackers.  I don’t eat sprouted crackers often, but they offer a little variety when I’m packing foods for an extended trip.  Sourdough and Lemon are popular flavors, and I also liked Kale.

Bonus: Dandy Blend

This is not technically a food, but I had to include it on my list of best travel foods.  I LOVE my Dandy Blend coffee substitute and I LOVE that it comes in handy little single serving pouches!  I carry these little pouches in my purse at all times.

It’s super fun to ask the server for “a cup of hot water, please”, plus it’s free (the water) and so much better for you than coffee.  I wrote all about the health benefits of dandelion root coffee here.

Paleo and real foodie friends, what are your favorite healthy snacks that travel well?