These are the best things to eat and drink at Wawa, QuickChek and 7-Eleven

Dear everyone, you don't need to be on a road trip to justify eating at QuickChek.

Just because it's a convenience store doesn't mean you need social permission to down a Turkey Blitz or Spicy Italian. Same goes for 7-Eleven and Wawa.

I am a legitimate food reporter who is telling you that eating at gas stations is okay. And, if your fear of ostracism is keeping you from doing so? Blame it on me. You can tell your friends — as you house a California Tuna Sub — that the food writer told you to do it.

Last week, I told a woman in the airport how much I love flying out of Dallas-Fort Worth. In Texas, the 7-Elevens fill entire storefronts (like H&Ms in the mall), and I always look forward to grabbing a plastic-wrapped Southwest Turkey on sliced wheat. When those little sandwiches sit for a night, the chipotle mayo soaks into the bread just enough to make it moist. And the turkey? It's always ice cold.

She told me that was gross, and that we "shouldn't be eating those things."

So, in retaliation, I'm proclaiming to the public that we absolutely should be eating those things, as well as anything we damn well please.

And, if you'd like to join me in solidarity against the food shamers who have made it bizarre to consume the things we enjoy (perhaps in defense of your young children who have yet to be told in the lunchroom that their Wawa hoagie "smells funny"), I've compiled this guide to help you do so in the most fun way possible.

Here's a map to every QuickChek, 7-Eleven or Wawa near you, and the 10 most delicious items to order when you get there.

The Gobbler, Wawa

Wawa is known for its hoagies, of which this seasonal special reigns supreme. Inspired by those morning-after sandwiches we make with our Thanksgiving leftovers, the sub features hot turkey, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce on a white roll. Loaded with nostalgic flavor, the hefty handheld will transport you from the gum-stained curb to your family's holiday dinner table.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese, QuickChek

Don't let the condensation in the lid deter you; the Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese at QuickChek is worth the water drops. From the creamy cheese to the generous drizzle of hot sauce, each bowl is salty, savory and sloppy. To further refine the dish, I suggest a deluge of ranch.

Quesadillas, Wawa

Back in high school, my friends and I used to house these in multiples of five.

Flavor didn't matter.

Chocolate Cookies and Cream Frozen Cappucino, Wawa

Is it a cappuccino? Is it a milkshake?

I don't know. But it's 600 to 1,200 calories of delicious.

Wild Blueberry Muffin, 7-Eleven

For the most part, the pastries in the to-go case at convenience stores are pretty solid. Take this Wild Blueberry Muffin, for example. Moist, buttery and packed with sugar, it melts in your mouth like a homemade crumb cake.

Salted Caramel Apple Jumbo Cookie, QuickChek

This QuickChek dessert is so elusive, I had to take a picture to prove it exists. Not on the menu, not on the website and not even on Google, Reddit or myfitnesspal, the Salted Caramel Apple Cookie is pretty much a phantom.

If you find one, though — which would likely be in the fall — you absolutely need to buy it. Soft, gooey and cinnamon-y, the treats are pretty much the apple cider donuts of cookies.

(AKA; limited-edition and better than every other cookie on the planet.)

Chicken Bacon Ranch Roller, 7-Eleven

Tell me what it looks like, I dare you.

'Red, White and Boost' Frozen Energy Drink, QuickChek

Loaded with (at least?) 200mg of caffeine, I'm not sure if this thing actually tastes good, or if I just like the way it feels like Mario mushrooms are exploding in my soul when I drink it.

Turkey Club, Wawa

So, as I was saying — I'm a sucker for those little convenience store lunch sandwiches. The bread is always softer, the meat is always juicier and I love how distinctly cold they are. Such is the case with Wawa's Turkey Club.

The Blue Slurpee, 7-Eleven

You know the one.

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, join our NorthJerseyEats Facebook group, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Best things to eat at Wawa, QuickChek and 7-Eleven