The best gas station keto snacks all share a few common traits: low carb, portable, delicious, and readily-available at any gas station nationwide.
We’ve created this list to help you achieve your keto goals even when you have to resort to gas station snack shopping. Don't forget. You can always purchase sugar-free beef jerky and stock your car for when you're in a pinch.
Keep reading for our list of tasty gas station keto snacks.
What Makes A Good Gas Station Keto Snack?
The best keto snacks are those that have the perfect mix of macronutrients: high fat, moderate protein, and low to zero carb.
The perfect gas station keto snack must also be portable and easy to consume, no prep or cooking required. Here are some things we looked for when choosing a keto-friendly gas station snack:
1. Full of Good, Healthy Fats
The secret to success on the Keto Diet is maintaining sufficient fat to maintain ketosis. Fat will keep you full longer, boost your metabolism, and raise good cholesterol.
2. Simple Ingredients
Processed foods are typically higher in carbs and lead to blood sugar spikes and fatigue.
3. Clean Protein
A good keto snack should contain a decent amount of protein. Protein helps keep you full and satiated, which is important for staying on track.
4. Low Net Carbs
Net carbs are the total amount of carbohydrates minus the number of fiber and sugar alcohols. Fiber and sugar alcohols do not impact blood sugar levels like regular sugars and carbs do.
Let’s dive into the best gas station keto snacks.
The Best Gas Station Keto Snacks
1. Pickles
This might come as a surprise, but pickles are a fantastic keto snack with little to no carbs depending on the brand or style. Dill and sour pickles are usually made without sugar. Avoid sweet pickles such as candied or bread and butter varieties as these are made with sugar and tend to be higher in carbs.
The natural electrolytes in a pickle can also help with dehydration and common symptoms experienced during the keto flu.
Shop: Van Holten's Pickles
2. Hard Boiled Eggs
People can eat little things when they are on an extremely low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. Of course, who can forget hard-boiled eggs on every road trip, regardless if you're following the keto diet or not? At some gas stations, you can find peeled hard-boiled eggs in refrigerated sections, where they also have options for quick grab-and-go lunches.
Each egg has 70 calories, 0 trans fat, and no carbohydrates or added sugars. Each pack has three eggs in it, so you can have a filling snack that will make you feel satisfied throughout your long journey.
3. Fresh Berries
Small portions of pre-packaged raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries are often available at gas stations. In moderation, these fruits make a great keto snack while on the road.
A cup of raspberries contains about 7 grams of carbs, a cup of blackberries contains about 6 grams of carbs, and a cup of strawberries contains about 8 grams net carbs.
4. Pork Rinds (Chicharrones)
Pork rinds are great for the keto diet because they’re made entirely from fat and protein, which means no carbs. Pork rinds can be found at almost every gas station across the country.
Shop: Baken-ets Hot' N Spicy Chicarrones
5. Protein Bar
The growing popularity of the Keto Diet means protein bars that are low carb and keto compliant are available at more locations.
Quest is a great option and available nationwide. Made with its trademarked "Quest" texture, you can enjoy the taste of cookie dough without worrying about your daily carb limit.
Each bar contains 20g of protein per serving and 4g of fat, which makes it filling enough to keep you satiated for hours on end while driving on your road trip.
6. Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower Seeds are another snack that fits perfectly in your keto diet. This snack is made of 100% sunflower seeds, so it has a large amount of healthy fats you can benefit from while on the road.
Plus, they contain no added sugar so their flavor is purely natural.
Shop: David Sunflower Seeds
7. Cheese Crisps
Cheese Crisps are packed with healthy fat and are naturally low carb. There are many different brands on the market, but Whisps is one of our favorites. Made from 100% real cheese, they’re high protein, low carb, and gluten free.
Shop: Cheese Whisps
8. Almonds
Plain and mildly flavored almonds contain no sugar or additives, so all you get is the flavor of roasted almonds, making them a great staple for your keto diet.
They are packed with protein, healthy fat, and fiber which make them a perfectly-balanced keto snack.
Shop: Blue Diamond Almond Snack Packs
9. Cheese Sticks
Cheese is always a great snack option on your keto diet because it's an excellent source of fats. Just make sure that the product doesn’t contain any added sugar or fillers so its fat content can be fully effective during your drive.
10. Pumpkin Seeds
If you’re looking for more of a crunchy snack, David Pumpkin Seeds are another great option.
They taste great on their own, so they can be eaten anytime you’re hungry. They’re also very high in protein (8g per serving) and healthy fats, making them a great replacement for sugary snacks like candy bars.
Shop: David Pumpkin Seeds
11. Meat & Cheese Snacks
Meat and cheese snack packs are a gas station staple, and also a great keto snack because of the high fat content.
Some of these meat and cheese snacks contain artificial ingredients, but if you have limited options these can be a life saver.
12. Almond Butter or Peanut Butter
Nut butters are a loaded with fat which can keep you in ketosis on the road. Make sure to find options that have minimal added sugar.
Justin’s Almond Butter Squeeze Pouches are our favorite and come in three flavors: Honey, Maple, and Vanilla.
Shop: Justin's Almond Butter Packets
Munch On These Keto Diet Snacks From Gas Stations
These are just some of the different keto snacks you can grab during your short pit stops at gas stations. They are sure to satisfy your hunger and keep you feeling full wherever the road takes you.
For more great keto snack ideas check out The Ultimate List of Keto Snacks.
