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You know you'll work up an appetite while riding down the highway with the windows down and the music at full blast, but if you'd rather avoid rest stop burgers and limp French fries, follow these simple guidelines for making the most delicious boxed lunch.

A Non-Squishy Sandwich
The heartier the bread, the more likely it won't get soggy. You can also take a few precautions: spread each slice with butter or mayo, keep meat and vegetables on the inside and cheese on the outside, and make sure lettuce is completely dry before building your sandwich.

Snack Mix That Won't Leave a Trail
Unless you want the car covered in orange fingerprints, save the Doritos and Cheetos for once you reach your destination. Instead, try making your own salty-sweet nosh. This mix from Cat Cora includes cereal (such as Cheerios or shredded wheat), mini pretzels, popcorn, peanuts and wasabi-coated dried peas for a spicy kick.


Drinks to Keep You Bright-Eyed
Skip the soda and go for fruit and vegetable juice blends, like a strawberry-and-peach-packed smoothie with protein-rich spirulina and wheatgrass, or carrot-orange-guava-passion fruit juice, which delivers 260 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A along with a hefty dose of vitamin C. Here are 6 thirst-quenching varieties we love.

Crumbless Cookies
Chewy granola bars are one way to keep your lap clear of crumbs; so are soft-baked cookies. Underbake them by a few minutes to ensure chewiness, and if you're making them ahead of time, store the cooled cookies in an airtight container along with a slice of bread (just change the bread every 2 days to avoid mold). In these addictive Everything-But-the-Kitchen-Sink Cookies, corn chips and pretzels share space with sweet coconut and peanut butter chips.

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