Whether you’re driving to Grandma’s for the holidays or heading south to escape the cold, Americans have a love affair with the family road trip. But before you pack the kids up and head out for hours on the open road, it’s important to plan ahead so hungry bellies don’t delay your journey.

Fuel your road trip fun with these tips for enjoying delicious and satisfying snacks that can be eaten on the go. Stay hydrated by loading up on plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. Grape tomatoes, berries and carrot sticks are great bite-sized snacks perfect for small fingers. By choosing high-protein snacks with staying power, you’ll keep your family’s hunger at bay so your drive time flies by without hassle.

For longer road trips, be sure to include plenty of ready-to-eat snacks. For example, here is a great-tasting recipe that can be made ahead of time to smooth the journey:

Beef or Ham Pinwheels

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 teaspoon horseradish
Dash Worchestershire sauce
2 packages (2 ounces each) Buddig Original Sliced Beef or Ham

Combine cream cheese, onion, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce until well blended. Separate sliced meat, laying two slices in a row, slightly overlapped. Spread with cream cheese mixture. Roll up and fasten with a wooden pick. Repeat with remaining meat and cream cheese. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours. Just before serving, cut into 1-inch slices. Keep snacks cold in a portable or disposable cooler until ready to eat. Makes approximately 3 and a half dozen pinwheels.

Nutritional information: calories per serving (one 1-inch piece) 23; calories from fat 19; total fat 2 grams; saturated fat 1 gram; trans fat 0 grams; cholesterol 8 milligrams; sodium 55 milligrams; total carbohydrate less than 1 gram; dietary fiber 0 grams; protein 1 gram.

Eating on the go

Demand for handheld meals and snacks that can be eaten on the go has accelerated in recent years, thanks to an increase in multi-tasking, according to a 2010 report from Information Resources, Inc.

Low calorie and trans fat free, Old Wisconsin Turkey Snack Bites get the green light for family road trips with hardwood smoked treats that taste great. Old Wisconsin Snack Bites come in Turkey, Beef and Pepperoni varieties and can be enjoyed out of the bag providing a delicious and natural source of protein.

Each turkey bite serving has just 80 calories and 7 grams of protein. The stay-fresh bag is resealable for added convenience.

For more information about family friendly recipes and road-trip worthy snacks, visit www.buddig.com and www.oldwisconsin.com. Also, follow these companies on Facebook at www.facebook.com/buddiglunchclub and www.facebook.com/OldWisconsin.