Snacks to Fuel You on Your Next Travel Journey
Getting ready to travel out? Other than stuffy economy seats, the worst thing about long-haul flights is the questionable goop you're served during mealtimes. But if you'd rather pack your own lunches, we've got you. Here are 20 healthy and TSA-approved snacks to bring on your next travel journey.
1. Protein or Granola Bars
Protein and granola bars are top choices to bring on flights. Not only are they small and compact, making them easy to pack and carry around, they're also solid, so they won't need to adhere to any rules. They make for a great quick snack when you're feeling hungry on the plane but don't want to make a mess.
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2. Fruits & Dip
Whether it's grapes, apples, mandarins, or bananas, feel free to pack them as a nutritious snack for your flight. You can also bring a small tub of dip, like peanut butter or hummus, with your fruit, but make sure you follow the 3.4-oz (100 ml) rule as they're considered liquids.
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3. Hard-Boiled Eggs
If you need a little protein boost, pack some hard-boiled eggs! To make them easier to munch on once you're off the ground, you should peel them beforehand and then place them in an airtight container. A warning with this one is that if you overcook them, they might have a slightly unpleasant odor, so you may want to do a smell check beforehand!
4. Nuts
Nuts make delicious snacks on board, so feel free to bring handfuls of them in small baggies on your next flight! Plus, depending on what other snacks you've packed, you can gently crumble up your nuts to sprinkle them on top.
5. Trail Mix
If nuts on their own aren't enough to satisfy your cravings, then trail mix is your next best friend. You can either take a pre-made bag with you, or create your own blend by adding granola, pretzels, and dried fruits, then throwing in your choice of nuts.
6. Sandwiches
Peanut butter and jelly might be your immediate pick, but any type of sandwiches make for a tasty, filling snack. Eggs and ham, anyone? Turkey and lettuce? While you can go as crazy as you'd like, just make sure you don't go too overboard or your creation might make a mess on board.
7. Dried Fruit Chips
Banana, apple, or coconut, dried fruit chips are another great snack to bring on your flight. They're crunchy, healthy, and easy to pack, making them a popular choice. We definitely recommend munching on these while watching your favorite show or reading a thrilling book.
8. Oatmeal Cups
Didn't have time to eat your oatmeal before your flight? No worries—just pack it with you! Oatmeal cups or instant oatmeal packs are easy to pack in your carry-on and are simple to prepare. If you've brought along any of the previous snacks we've mentioned, you can also mix them in!
9. Veggie Sticks & Dip
Just as it's important to eat your fruits, it's important to get enough veggies in, too, even when you're some thousand feet up in the air. When chopping up your favorite fruit varieties, slice up some carrot and celery sticks to add to your container, then dunk in the dip you brought along!
10. Pretzels
Looking for another savory choice? Go for pretzels! You might already get these offered to you depending on the airline you fly, but it doesn't hurt to pack a few extra bags. They make for a perfect movie snack, after all.
11. Dark Chocolate
Instead of packing milk chocolate, which is often sweeter and typically regarded as less healthy compared to other varieties, bring a bar of dark chocolate. Both sweet and bitter, they'll be able to satisfy your sugar craving if you need a pick-me-up mid-flight.
12. Whole Grain Crackers
Crackers are just as delicious on their own as they are dipped into other condiments, so if you're already bringing peanut butter or hummus along, you might want to pack a baggie of crackers, too. For a healthier pick, choose whole grain, which contains more nutrients than your regular biscuit.
13. Solid Cheese
If you're a cheese lover, you might be disappointed that you can't bring any liquid cheese dips with you on your flight. But solid cheeses, like mozzarella sticks and Babybel, are still TSA-approved, so go ahead and pack these in your carry-on!
14. Roasted Seaweed
If you've had a pack of roasted seaweed before (which, who hasn't), you know how addictive these are. The good news is you can bring them with you on the plane, so stuff a couple in your backpack and pull them out when you want to pair them with rice or when you're feeling the munchies.
15. Muffins, Cookies, & Other Baked Goods
The day before you fly out, make a batch of muffins, cookies, banana bread, or whatever baked treats you're craving! Choose a healthy recipe that's low in sugar and loaded with fruits, veggies, and other nutritious ingredients, and you'll have the perfect snack to get you through your plane ride.
16. Popcorn or Kettle Corn
Don't bring microwavable popcorn on your flight expecting the attendants will pop it for you—they won't. Instead, pop your popcorn beforehand and fill into a ziplock bag. This ensures the snack will stay mess free in your bag and on board.
17. Jerky
You might be surprised, but you can bring jerky on the plane. Some destinations might ask you to declare it, but it's generally approved for both domestic and international flights.
18. Veggie Fried Rice
Not so keen on eating whatever odd meal your airline has served up for you? Don't worry—just make your own food. Veggie fried rice is an easy way to use up your leftover veggies at home (so you don't need to toss them out) and makes for a nutritious, well-rounded lunch or dinner.
19. Rice Cakes
Puffed rice cakes are another relatively healthy snack to bring on board. And with so many flavors to choose from, they're guaranteed to satisfy any craving, no matter whether you're looking for something sweet or savory.
20. Greek Yogurt
Yup—you can bring yogurt on board. Just make sure you're not bringing a container that exceeds the 3.4-ounce limit. You might want to eat it immediately, though, as dairy products like yogurt can quickly go bad if left unrefrigerated.
