The BEST Octofree Snacks for Vacation

I come from a long line of snackers. So, having a variety of healthful, portable, delicious snacks on hand at all times—especially on long road trips and vacations—is a must around here. But when you add food allergies and intolerances into the mix, typical snacks like nuts, Goldfish crackers, granola bars and pretzels go out the window, and allergen-friendly alternatives tend to be expensive and often not as tasty as their conventional counterparts.

When I’ve had time to do so, I’ve made homemade granola bars, protein balls, energy bars and even crackers (that one did not end well). But for road trippin’ and busy summer days, snacking’s got to be as easy as grab it and go. Finding options that don’t contain any of the top 8 allergens can be time consuming, pricey and at times disappointing, so after years of tasting and testing, I compiled a list of my favorites, all of which are portable, mess-free, delicious, filling and provide nutritional value.

I like to keep a basket like the one pictured above at a reachable height for my son so that he has options when he wants a snack (i.e. all day, every day), and for convenient access on our way out the door. These snacks all work well for your favorite summer activities such as road trips, plane rides, swimming and visiting amusement parks, and hold up well in purses, backpacks, diaper bags and luggage.

As of June 31, 2021 when I wrote this post, none of these items contained any of the top 8 food allergens (dairy, gluten, nuts, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, soy and egg), although some items are manufactured in facilities that also handle nuts, tree nuts and other allergens, so please take note of that if you have severe allergies. I included ingredient lists below for your convenience, but always check ingredient labels for your food allergens before consumption.

Please note: This post includes affiliate links to featured products for your convenience. If you make a purchase using one of the links, I may receive a small commission, at zero extra cost to you. Win-win!

Off The Eaten Path Veggie Crisps: I first had these with hummus at my friend Jess’s house, and was immediately hooked. They’re savory, just the right amount of salty, contain lots of dried veggies, and have that perfect scoop shape for cradling your favorite dips. You can order on Amazon or find them at most Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club and in Pittsburgh, Giant Eagle locations.

Full ingredients list as of June 31, 2021: Rice flour, sunflower oil, dried green peas, dried yellow peas, dried black beans, sea salt, and mixed tocopherols (antioxidant)

Poshi Snacks Steamed and Marinated Snack Artichokes in Basil and Thyme: Last summer, when I was packing for our annual car trip to the beach, I wanted to make sure we had some healthy items to snack on in the car and ordered these artichokes on a whim. They’re pricier than the other snacks featured here, but were a huge hit, and even my 7-year-old loves them straight out of the package.

Full ingredients list as of June 31, 2021: Artichoke, cane vinegar, salt, extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, onion, garlic, thyme, basil, lime zest, dill, ascorbic acid

Frutto D’Italia Pitted Green Olives from Sicily: These olives deliver briny, salty deliciousness and because they’re not packed in oil, they’re surprisingly not messy at all. These (and the artichokes above) are great to have on hand to spruce up salads when you’re traveling. Also, gotta love a snack with only two ingredients.

Full ingredients list as of June 31, 2021: Olives, salt

Stretch Island Fruit Leathers: I throw a handful of these in my purse any time I’m going to be around a bunch of kids, but they’re delicious snacks for any age, extremely portable and a great pick-me-up on a hike or for when the hanger hits at the beach or pool.

See link for full ingredients lists (each flavor is a little different), but as of June 31, 2021, none contain the top 8 food allergens. Ingredients include fruit purees, lemon juice concentrate, orange oil and natural flavors.

Free Yumm Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Soft Baked Cookies: Great for when you crave something a little sweet and chocolatey but not too sugary (each one contains 5 grams). I love all of the organic ingredients and the fact that they’re guaranteed to be free from the top 8 plus sesame and sulphites. Delicious!

Full ingredients list as of July 31, 2021: Whole grain gluten-free oats (rolled, flour, flakes), organic agave syrup, organic coconut palm sugar, molasses, sunflower oil, chocolate chips (organic cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter), organic vanilla extract, baking soda, salt, cinnamon

*GoMacro Bars in Pure Promise (Maple Sea Salt), Heartwarming Retreat (Oatmeal Chocolate Chip) and Protein Purity (Sunflower Butter and Chocolate): With seed butter and organic protein blends, I really love these for post-workout or any time a family member gets hangry between meals. On a super-busy morning (like when you’re leaving for a vacation in the wee hours of the morning), a bar can even stand in for breakfast on-the-go.

*please note: these are manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and tree nuts

Full ingredients lists as of July 31, 2021:

Pure Promise: Organic brown rice syrup, organic sunflower seed butter, organic pumpkin seeds, organic protein blend (organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic pea protein), organic crispy brown rice (organic brown rice, organic brown rice syrup, sea salt), organic puffed brown rice, organic maple sugar, organic natural flavor, sea salt

Heartwarming Retreat: Organic brown rice syrup, organic sunflower seed butter, organic protein blend (organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic pea protein), organic gluten-free rolled oats, organic chocolate chips (organic coconut sugar, organic cocoa, organic cocoa butter), organic crispy brown rice (organic brown rice organic brown rice syrup, sea salt), organic maple sugar, organic natural flavor, organic puffed brown rice, sea salt)

Protein Purity: Organic brown rice syrup, organic sunflower seed butter, organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic cocoa powder, organic crispy brown rice (organic brown rice, organic brown rice syrup, sea salt), organic puffed brown rice, organic coconut sugar, organic sprouted flax, organic natural flavor, organic cinnamon