Airplane travel snacks

SailorSarah311 · July 2014

Hi everyone. I'm going on a trip soon, and the flight will be roughly 13 hours. What are some healthy snack options that I can take with me on the flight? You really can't take fresh fruits and veggies, so I need some ideas on items that will be healthy and taste great. I like savory items, and then a small bit of sweet to balance out the taste. I like nuts, but for the amount you can eat per serving just doesn't cut it for me...not enough. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

dopeysmelly · July 2014

I usually pre-make my own sandwich. I take veggies and fruits with me - there's no problem as long as you consume it all or ditch it on the plane, at least to the more restrictive countries (US, Australia etc). I also take a few nuts, but pre-weigh them and put into Glad wrap mini-packs - nuts are great but easy to munch on a lot. I wouldn't try yogurt or anything remotely gel/liquid - you can try and argue your case with the screeners, but IMO it's not worth it. I also do the same on the way home - locate a grocery store, and make my own (I always try and remember to take a couple of little ziplock baggies..). People in the seats next to me always look first confused and then jealous..

I completely ignore the revolting food they try and throw at me, and I eat a good meal at home before I get on the plane. Honestly, stuck in a seat doing nothing but reading or watching bad movies, you don't need a lot of fuel. I know a couple of people who never eat on planes no matter how long the flight, because it can play havoc with their digestive systems.

I also take an empty water bottle with me and try and drink as much water as possible.

michellesz · July 2014

Protein bars, oatmeal bars, dried fruit, mixed nuts, edamame-(less fat & more protein than peanuts), raisins, craisins, yogurt covered raisins, pretzels, beef jerky, Kellogs 90 calorie fiber bars, sensible portions veggie snacks or pre-popped popcorn just to name a few quick healthier ideas. Maybe a pack of gum which will help with the air pressure too

SailorSarah311 · July 2014

Thanks for the great ideas.

dancingj2 · July 2014

A healthy sandwich will keep for several hours even if you cannot refrigerate it. I also bring carrots, apples, cheese and nuts. You can bring an empty water bottle through security and then fill it up.

woodml1 · July 2014

I take fresh fruits a veggies! You can take ice packs through security as long as they're frozen when you go through the check point. Some hearty fruits and veg would even be OK without a cooler. Here are some things that I take with me on flights:

No cooler:
Apples with almond butter single serve packets
Nuts
Bite-sized Broccoli and Cauliflower
Mini-carrots
Turkey (or beef) jerky
Proats
Protein Bars
Trail mix

Cooler (AKA; soft side lunch box with a couple ice packs):
Cut up bell peppers
Baby Bell Cheese wheels
Cut up Cucumbers
Turkey Cheese roll-ups

Also, bring an empty water bottle and fill it up before you board. Getting up to pee sucks but it's good for your legs and being hydrated helps with the jet-lag!

Ideabaker · July 2014

Bump for more great ideas.

I'm a frequent traveller heading on a long-haul trip tomorrow, and am packing four slices of whole wheat bread (to swap out with the airline's buns), two or three 2% fat cheese sticks (but I have taken the Babybel Light Cheese Rounds as well... the wax wrapping keeps them from squishing in the bag), a ziptop bag full of cherries, and a second one for the pits (I'll toss those before going through customs), a teriyaki jerky bar, some individually portioned fruit gummies and a precounted amount of m&m's.

Like others, I pack an empty water bottle to fill once I get past security.

I also get these electrolyte powder sachets that can be mixed with the water to boost minerals, Vitamin C, and to improve hydration in the air.

Princess71117 · July 2014

Bump

Ideabaker · July 2014

Just checking in again to report that everything I brought (see above post) was eaten on the trip! We had scrambled eggs, which I pushed chunks of my 2% cheese into until it got lovely and melted, and I replaced the sausage they served with the steak bars.

It was fantastic to have my own whole grain light bread to swap out for the doughy airline rolls.

I also picked up (at the grocery store) a bag of "Skinny Pop" popcorn (100 calories), and it was particularly fun to watch the airline movie with my own popcorn.

Here's hoping others will add ideas, as I'm travelling the same route again at Christmas!

justlistening · July 2014

On my last flight I took hummus and carrot sticks- crunchy and filling.

sistrsprkl · July 2014

Raw almonds or if I'm feeling a little less healthy, I'll candy them with spicy & savory seasoning. You don't have to use much sugar so you can make them relatively healthful.

lilawolf · January 2016

Last minute: I get a footlong subway sandwich with double meat, toasted, with sauce and guac on the side for my 13 hour flight to China. I eat half at one meal and half at the other. $12 bucks or so but people are jealous and it tastes fab with no planning. Cheaper than the plane snacks, if they even have them.

Plan ahead: sandwich, cuties/clementines, strawberries, celery and ranch packet (ranch has to go in the fluid baggie so a bit of a pain), string cheese, habanero bbq almonds, candy.... Freeze some grapes and they will act as your ice pack and be delicious too!

Hell_Flower · January 2016

Also try taking some dried fruit - figs or dates.

Also, request a vegan or vegetarian meal before you fly. They have a lot less sodium so you'll retain less water when you land

And the quality is a lot better. I'm always dubious about the origin on airplane meat to be honest anyway.

lilawolf · January 2016

I have also taken a cold steak cut into strips. NOM NOM NOM. Goes great with a few crackers and the frozen (thawed by that point) grapes. Almost high cuisine!

I've considered getting alternate meals in the hopes of getting better food, but low salt, low fat, or gluten free would all be terrible. There's already too many carbs and not enough protein, I have no desire to figure out what airline tofu tastes like, so vegetarian or vegan are out (for me). I considered a kosher meal, but I wouldn't be able to drink the free non-kosher wine they have available without outing myself, so that's out. Sigh.

janejellyroll · January 2016

lilawolf wrote: »

I have also taken a cold steak cut into strips. NOM NOM NOM. Goes great with a few crackers and the frozen (thawed by that point) grapes. Almost high cuisine!

I've considered getting alternate meals in the hopes of getting better food, but low salt, low fat, or gluten free would all be terrible. There's already too many carbs and not enough protein, I have no desire to figure out what airline tofu tastes like, so vegetarian or vegan are out (for me). I considered a kosher meal, but I wouldn't be able to drink the free non-kosher wine they have available without outing myself, so that's out. Sigh.

If my experience is typical, a vegan meal request is much, much more likely to result in beans and/or grains than tofu (unless you're flying on an Asian airline, where tofu is much more common).

Lazuliz · January 2016

I really like ordering one of the in-flight tapas box. They're usually around $7, [some options] have a wide range of healthy snacks, and it can keep you a little busy the whole flight.

nordlead2005 · January 2016

In the US you can take any non-liquid item through security, and whatever you buy on the other side can be taken on the plane. So, pretty much whatever you like as long as it isn't liquid or gel like.

So, take whatever you want. Personally, I'd just take your typical snacks like trail mix, crackers, jerky, etc... but that is me.

Airplane travel snacks

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