FoodDrinkLife posts Memorial Day road‑trip snack guide

FoodDrinkLife published a Memorial Day road-trip snack guide on May 20 as AAA forecast a record 39.1 million Americans will drive over the holiday weekend. The article, written by Mandy Applegate, pitched make-ahead and easy-to-eat food for drivers facing long stretches of traffic and limited stop time. AAA said 45 million Americans in total are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between May 21 and May 25, with car travel accounting for the largest share. FoodDrinkLife tied its advice directly to that forecast, presenting snacks as part of trip planning rather than an afterthought. ### Why did FoodDrinkLife publish a snack guide now? May 20 was one day before the start of AAA’s Memorial Day travel window, and the outlet’s timing matched a broader surge in holiday travel coverage. FoodDrinkLife said the guide was aimed at the millions of people expected to be on the road during one of the busiest U.S. travel weekends of the year. The article opened by saying “the sad gas station sandwich had a long run, but it’s over,” setting up its case for bringing food from home instead. (fooddrinklife.com) AAA said the 2026 forecast would mark a Memorial Day record, slightly above 2025 levels. The group said 39.1 million travelers are expected to drive, while total holiday travel is projected at 45 million people. ### What kind of snacks did the guide push for drivers? FoodDrinkLife recommended snacks that are portable, easy to eat and less messy inside a car. The article framed the choices around foods that can handle traffic delays, rest stops and long gaps between meals, rather than hot or fragile items that need immediate refrigeration or utensils. (fooddrinklife.com) The guide’s emphasis was practicality. (mwg.aaa.com) FoodDrinkLife presented the road-trip food list as a way to avoid relying on convenience-store meals during a crowded holiday weekend, when stops can be slower and options more limited. ### How heavy is Memorial Day road traffic expected to be? AAA said Thursday, May 21, Friday, May 22 and Monday, May 25 are projected to be the busiest travel days, with the most congested hours running from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (fooddrinklife.com) Sunday is expected to be the lightest traffic day, barring disruptions, according to the group. INRIX data cited by ABC News showed Friday road traffic could be heaviest from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with travelers advised to leave before 11 a.m. if possible. (fooddrinklife.com) That backdrop helps explain why outlets covering Memorial Day travel have focused not just on routes and departure times, but on what travelers pack into the car. ### Who wrote the guide and how was it framed? (mwg.aaa.com) Mandy Applegate was listed as the author of the FoodDrinkLife piece. The article was published under the headline, “39 million Americans are driving this Memorial Day. Here’s how the smart ones are eating,” and used AAA’s driving forecast as its central news peg. The framing put food planning alongside other travel preparations. (abcnews.com) Rather than focusing on destination dining or holiday cookouts, the piece centered on the hours in transit — the stretch when drivers are most likely to rely on quick roadside purchases. ### What should travelers watch next? May 25 is the last day of AAA’s Memorial Day holiday travel period, and the group said roadside assistance demand could reach about 350,000 calls nationwide over the weekend. (fooddrinklife.com) FoodDrinkLife’s guide remains available on its site, while AAA’s travel forecast and congestion timing offer the clearest reference points for drivers still planning departures. (mwg.aaa.com)