On my way home tonight, while famished and stuck in rush hour construction frustration, I came to the sad realization that we've eaten all the snacks in the car. (sad face emoticon) The only thing I had was what was in my day hike pack, which was WAAAAAAY in the back of the wagon. Thinking to myself that the only thing worse than being stuck in traffic is trying to get back into the ant-line after you've pulled over, I decided that it's time to re-stock and started making a mental list.

This thread is a perfect kick-starter. Thanks, Bing, and everyone for the suggestions!

Peanut M&Ms are a must for us, along with Clif bars, sesame snaps, crackers and/or cookies, dried fruit and nuts. There's always lots of water stashed in the vehicles, but it's time to add in some extra cold drink crystals, to go with the hot chocolate that's in there now. Tang, Kool-Aid and lemonade are the most popular with the family, and I get the just add water kind.

EDIT as I'm packing: I also usually throw in a few juice boxes/pouches too, in case someone forgets or loses their EDC water bottle.

If you have small children, make very sure to sweep through your vehicle carefully after issuing these. Before we caught on, our then-two-year-old would stash a half-full juice box in the car to drink a week or so later. This would be followed by projectile vomiting.

I keep Cinnamon granola bars in my car. I often eat them for lunch. They are essentially modern day hardtack, and keep for a long time in all sorts of temperature extremes. Since my job involves driving all over 3 states many days, having supplies in my vehicle is a no-brainer. The cinnamon almonds from Walmart are really awesome too. Too bad they started making the bags smaller (for the same price of course).

Greg

badpacjac,
I would vote against the juice boxes in favor of the powdered mixes.

Even sealed, the juices can ferment. I have never seen a tube of kool-aid mix go bad.

I need to confess, I am a Dollar Store Junkie.

In my car I keep pop-tarts, granola bars, Rice Krispy Bars (the sealed ones) a 6 pack of water, and 20 or 30 individual drink mixes, all from the Dollar Store, totally maybe 10.00 per car. I feed the snacks to my kids the week I restock the car.

I keep a few longer term items, Clif Bars, 2 mainstay bars, and some really disgusting hardtack, but most other stuff gets swapped every few months.

I've been there, my friend. UGH!! There's always a bucket and rags at the ready. WE only get 6 or 8 weeks of hot weather here and it can make things raunchy so I don't take many chances. LOL!

If I'm on a road trip I'll take stuff to eat along for that trip, but once I reach my destination they are tossed (or they've been consumed ). Are Tanka Bites/Bars and quality Jerky considered snacks or are they actually food. They are convenient and easy to eat behind the wheel, but I have trouble putting them in the same category as potato chips and candy.

I keep emergency food in the truck's 96 hr kit -- a few MRE's, Datrex bars et al -- but no snacks. I'm planning a switch from MRE's to more generic canned food (more of it and less expensive). I have a camp stove, pots and utensils already so switching to something other than MRE's kinda makes sense.

M & Ms, Cliff Bars, sucking candies, energy shot packets, & Extra Sugarless Bubble Gum