Sandwiches

• Never neglect the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You don't have to keep it cold; it provides a good dose of protein; and it's a natural kid-pleaser. Sandwiches in general are a good on-the-road meal idea because they're easy to eat one-handed without a lot of mess. If you're feeling fancy, pack a pan bagnat. This French sandwich is made by using a sturdy roll, painting it with olive oil and vinegar and then stuffing it with tomatoes, olives, basil and other ingredients such as sliced hard-boiled eggs, anchovies or tuna and more vegetables like cucumbers and red bell peppers. You then wrap and press the sandwich until all the juices soak the bread, and everything is compressed into one delicious loaf.

Sandwich Alternatives

• You can also use crackers or other bread products to make handheld sandwich alternatives. Spread nut butter, cream cheese or chocolate-hazelnut spread between two graham crackers. Add fruit or jam as well if you like. Make your peanut butter and jelly on a bagel or English muffin. Or spread hummus or cream cheese on a flour tortilla. Layer with lettuce and sliced vegetables such as tomato, cucumber and red bell pepper. Roll up like a burrito and wrap in foil or plastic wrap to store.

A Thermos Meal

• If you feel like having a hot lunch while on the road, use an old-fashioned thermos. You can pack a serving of chili, soup, spaghetti and sauce -- tuck a meatball in there, too -- or even oatmeal with some raisins or other sweetened dried fruit, if you feel like eating breakfast at lunchtime.

Fruit

• Fruit satisfies your sweet tooth but still provides fiber and vitamins as part of a healthy lunch. Sturdy whole fruit such as oranges, bananas and apples are ideal road-trip fare, as they're eminently portable and not easily mashed or bruised. Plus they don't have to be kept cold. You can pack more delicate fruit such as watermelon or berries in a container; they will keep well at room temperature for a few hours at least. Invest in individual serving cups of canned fruit or applesauce; don't forget to pack a spoon.

Vegetables

• A road trip is no excuse to skip your veggies. Pack easy-to-eat options like cut-up carrot sticks or baby carrots, celery sticks and cucumber slices or sticks. Edamame can be cooked and cooled ahead of time and then stored and eaten at room temperature. Additionally, you can purchase or make kale chips ahead of time to eat as a side dish on the road.

Other Munchables

• Add pretzels, rice cakes and cheese crackers to your road-trip lunch as a side dish. Whole nuts such as almonds and trail mix, either purchased or homemade, also make a filling addition on the side. Try granola bars and energy bars for a satisfying snack. Hard-boiled eggs provide a protein boost and are easy to transport and store. For dessert, pack a homemade oatmeal cookie or two.