Planning a road trip? Here are 5 tips for packing food to bring along

Planning a road trip this summer to see a part of the great U.S.A. you've never been to before? If so, there's a lot of planning to do. You need to figure out which route to take, what attractions you want to visit along the way and where you'll spend each night away from home -- not to mention what to bring.

Figuring out what clothes and supplies you'll need is the easy part. Figuring out what food to bring along takes a little more thought. Here are five tips from veteran travelers:

1. Keep it simple and easy - While it may be tempting to pack your absolute favorite snacks, keep in mind foods that require assembly or extra steps like dipping and spreading can be extremely hard to handle when you are in the car.

2. Don't pack temperature-sensitive foods - Sandwiches containing leafy vegetables, mayonnaise, cheese and meat are okay to order at a restaurant, but you probably don't want to bring your leftovers back to the car. These are foods that tend to spoil quickly.

3. Avoid snacks like trail mix and granola that leave behind a lot of tiny pieces. Instead, consider larger food items like granola bars that don't have a tendency to drop crumbs.

4. Skip the Junk - When on a road trip, it is important to maintain a steady blood-sugar level to help you keep your energy up and stay alert. So instead of packing foods high in sugar that can cause you to crash after a few hours, think healthy: dried fruit strips or veggie sticks. Fruit and veggies are much better options to keep you energized.

5. Remember the garbage bag - Once you've packed your food for your trip, don't forget the most important part: a garbage bag to keep all the empty bags, napkins and other trash in one place. Another thing you shouldn't forget: Seek car insurance quotes well in advance of your trip to make sure you aren't paying too much for car insurance. Auto insurance coverage should be affordable for everyone.

Courtesy of ARAcontent