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10 healthy, affordable moving day snacks and drinks 2024
During a move, you need all the energy and enthusiasm you can muster. These are some of the best snacks and drinks to keep you properly fueled for the move.
Moving day has arrived, you packed and labeled all your possessions and are ready to start loading that rental van. Chances are you forgot at least one essential item, and we don’t mean those tacky salad bowls your grandma gave you. We're talking about the fuel your body needs to get through this big day.
Healthy snacks and drinks are essential during a move, especially if you plan to do it yourself instead of hiring professionals. Even if you hire pro movers, you’ll still get snacky helping them. We’re pretty sure they’d also appreciate one of the best snacks and drinks for moving.
With all that physical and mental exertion, you’ll need to fortify and replenish your body with the right mix of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and hydration. These are some of the Yahoo Local team's favorite treats that we’ve used to help us through many moves, some of which are vegan, Kosher, or gluten-free — and all healthy.
Best moving day snacks and drinks
Is there a better all-around snack than a well-balanced trail mix? The experts at Wheaton World Wide Moving say, “trail mix is salty, sweet, delicious, and most importantly, filling! This simple snack is packed with protein and healthy fats to keep you feeling nourished longer than other foods.”
These delicious snack packs come in Heart Healthy, Omega-3, and Cranberry Health varieties, with mixes of various dried fruits, nuts, and seeds. Best of all, you can grab a variety pack of 24 1.2-ounce single-serving bags for just $21.98, which are very shareable (your movers will thank you).
Granola bars are a snacking staple. I love KIND’s regular granola bars, but they can be too crunchy for my delicate teeth, so I was thrilled to discover these chewy bars. They are delicious and contain 25% less sugar than the leading competitor.
Available in chocolate chip or peanut butter chocolate chip varieties, you can grab a box of 10 bars for just $5.26 on Amazon or less than $2 per bar. If you have a nut or seed allergy, you’ll want to steer clear of these and look at nut-free options from some of our other favorite brands like Bobo’s or Made Good.
According to one Amazon reviewer, they make the perfect moving day snack. “These are good. I keep them on hand for when I need a quick on-the-go snack.”
You may know Tillamook for its dairy products, but it also makes other delicious snacks like this excellent beef jerky. Available in Original, Black Pepper, Hot & Spicy, and Teriyaki, this jerky features zero carbs and no artificial sweeteners or added sugar. It is keto-friendly, made from 100% premium beef, and has 14 grams of protein per serving. It’s also a good deal at $4.99 for a 2.2-ounce bag.
One Amazon reviewer said, “This jerky tastes good and is sugar-free. It makes a good traveling snack or protein to add to a lunch. It was moist and easy to chew.”
There are many nut and seed snack options, but our favorites are these perfectly portable green goodies from Wonderful Pistachios. Available unshelled for on-the-go eating, they are packed with six grams of protein and three grams of fiber per 28-gram serving and are Kosher, Halal, and gluten-free. Plus, they are affordable at just $7.48 for nine bags.
My favorite is the Classic Roasted and Salted variety, but you can also pick them up in BBQ, Chili Roasted, Honey Roasted, and other varieties. One Amazon reviewer said, “Wonderful Pistachios have become my go-to snack for busy days, thanks to their unbeatable convenience, delicious flavor, and nutritional benefits.”
Dried fruit is a fantastic healthy snack, offering the sweet taste of candy with few of the former's negative side effects or ingredients. We like raisins and dried bananas or pineapple, but these dried mango slices from Sun-Maid are our favorite fruity snack.
You can grab a 15-ounce bag for $11.10, a good deal for this dried delicacy. They're gluten-free, low-fat, and have only 140 calories per serving, making them a perfect option for moving day.
These tiny treats may bring back beloved childhood memories of Saturday morning cartoons, but they also make a great mini-meal for moving day. At just $3.99 for an 18.8-ounce box, you'll have plenty to power you through loading and unloading that truck. They're Kosher, gluten-free, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
Whether you bring the entire box or pack small baggies, dry cereal is a great snack for the road, regardless of your age.
The experts at Liffey Moving and Storage say, "crunchy snacks such as chips, pretzels and crackers are road trip staples," and we couldn't agree more. While traditional pretzels are great, Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps offer an amazing alternative.
A 10-pack of snack bags goes for just $5.69 on Amazon, a great value to feed a small army of family movers. They're available in a variety of flavors like Garlic Parmesan and Buffalo Wing and are vegan and Kosher. They're perfect alone or for dipping.
Popcorn is one of those classic snacks that just about everyone loves. It's light, airy and addictive, and very affordable. The camping experts at KOA say, "popcorn is a great source of fiber and complex carbs that will help your body stay regular, and provide you with energy while on the road."
There are many great brands like Smartfood, Pirate's Booty, and Boom Chicka Pop, but our favorite is Skinny Pop. It's vegan (non-cheese versions), non-GMO, gluten-free and has no artificial ingredients. You can get a six-pack on Amazon for $26.62, and it's available in Original, Butter, Cheddar Jalapeno (my favorite), Salt and Pepper, Sweet and Salty, and White Cheddar.
It’s important to keep hydrated on a normal day, but it’s essential while moving. An electrolyte tablet from Nuun can be just what you need to keep going. Drop one in your water bottle, and in less than a minute, you have an electrolyte recharge.
Priced at $20.73 for a pack of four tubes with 40 total servings, these are extremely affordable at just $0.52 per serving. They are available in many great flavors, including Citrus Berry, Fruit Punch, and Strawbery Lemonade. They have no artificial sweeteners and only one gram of sugar per serving (as opposed to dozens of grams for other sports drinks).
One Amazon reviewer said they “use this every day during the summer. I’m not an athlete but the summers have been so hot, my health practitioner recommended it for me. I really feel the difference after a day in the heat.”
Gatorade is the OG sports and rehydration drink, but it can be too sweet and syrupy for me, and I don't necessarily love all the added sugar and artificial flavors. That's why my go-to Gatorade is the Zero line of sugar-free thirst quenchers. You can pick up a 24-pack for just $13.91 with flavors like Glacier Freeze (blue raspberry), Berry, Orange and Glacier Cherry (my favorite).
One Amazon reviewer said, "Overall, I'm impressed with the taste and effectiveness of Gatorade Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher. It keeps me hydrated and refreshed without any unnecessary additives. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a hydrating drink option with zero sugar."
Don't forget to pack snacks
There are many great snacks to choose from when preparing for your next move, but we encourage you to look for those high in protein, rich in vitamins and low in added sugar. You can’t go wrong with a good trail mix, and the variety packs from Nature’s Garden are sure to hit the spot. It's also a good idea to minimize caffeine intake, which can increase the stress and anxiety of moving day and dehydrate you.
As you’re packing, be sure to leave aside a tote bag for all your snacks, and if you have a small insulated lunch bag or cooler, all the better. Don’t forget to leave a few insulated water bottles unpacked so that you can fill them up with water and hydration tablets, like our favorites from Nuun.
If you’ve already packed those items, no worries. We recommend this insulated sport bottle from Takeya Sport, one of our top recommended water bottles, and this insulated snack bag from Gorilla Grip.
