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gourmet
Going on an extended trip? Stock a small cooler with some of these treats, some soda or water and you're good to go! A little extra effort, sure, but it beats grabbing beef jerky and a Snickers at a questionable gas station.

Turkey wraps | Spread cream cheese over a flour tortilla. Top with lettuce leaves and slices of deli turkey. Sprinkle julienned carrots and minced tomato on top of the turkey, then roll the tortilla up. Cut into bite-size pieces and secure each piece with a toothpick.

Cucumber sandwiches | You need a package of cocktail bread (I like rye) and a cucumber. Mix a package of Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix with a tablespoon of mayo and an eight-ounce package of cream cheese. Spread this mixture onto the cocktail bread. Top with a cucumber round and a plain slice of bread. If you're feeling really posh, cut each sandwich with a round cookie cutter.

versatile
Trail mix is one of the most versatile snacks out there. My grandma used to keep me quiet in church with a mix of Cheerios, chocolate chips and raisins. For a more grown-up fix, though, try one of these combos:

Fruity | Mixed nuts (or just peanuts if you're trying to keep costs down), dried cranberries, raisins and dried pineapple.

Classic | Think GORP -- granola, oats, raisins and peanuts. Can't go wrong!

Crunchy and Salty | Almonds, Goldfish crackers, wasabi peas and pretzel nuggets. If the wasabi peas aren't enough spice for you, look for spicy Cheez-Its in place of the Goldfish.

Sweet |  Chocolate or carob chips, sweetened granola, dried mango or papaya pieces, M&Ms and a cereal of your choice (Cheerios or mini shredded wheat for the health-conscious, Captain Crunch or Fruit Loops for the rest of us).

Of course, there are thousands of possibilities. You might consider these throw-ins as well: oyster crackers, bagel chips, yogurt-covered raisins or pretzels, Oreo chunks, sunflower seeds, soybeans, chocolate-covered coffee beans, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips… the list goes on and on!

o o o

Instead of grabbing that last basket of gas station chicken fingers that have been sitting under the warmer for who-knows-how-long, give one of these snacks a shot. Your taste buds will thank you! But you don't have to give up all of the gas station food. After all, what's a road trip without a Diet Coke and some Sweet Tarts?

o

Stacy Conradt is a freelance writer who recently moved to Philadelphia, Pa. It's the perfect spot for roadtripping -- D.C., NYC, Boston and Baltimore are all within a three hour drive! She prefers the sweet trail mix but isn't above stopping for a Frosty.

more articles by Stacy Conradt: 
the bride's ten commandments | rx for healthy eating

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