Whether you’re flying across the country or across the world, or taking a road trip by car or by plane, your travel is a big deal. Often, travel snacks take a backseat to other concerns, but healthy travel snacks can make the whole experience more enjoyable.
Luckily, snack ideas for traveling are pretty simple and tend to be kid-friendly. After all, who doesn’t love cheese, crackers and trail mix for lunch every once in a while?
When it comes to healthy road trip snacks, try to keep the basics in mind: avoid super-stinky food, be mindful of allergies and steer clear of ingredients that cause gas, indigestion or anxiety.
A Brief Note About TSA Regulations for the Airport
Many of us tend to get nervous when flying and thinking of what is or isn’t allowed. It’s good to note that the Transportation Security Administration does prohibit liquids and gels in your carry-on bags that are in containers larger than 3 ounces (3.4 to be precise). It’s okay to bring these items in smaller quantities, as long as you can fit your airplane snacks into a zip-closed one-quart plastic bag.
So bring on that peanut butter, hummus, cream cheese, maple syrup and ketchup (well, maybe not together)! If you’re traveling out of the country, just make sure to eat (or throw away) your veggies, fruit and meats before you land.
Now that we’ve covered travel snack basics, let’s get excited for that upcoming trip with some fun snack ideas for travel.
1) Snack Bars and Protein Bites
Nutritional bars and protein bites are perennial travel favorites. These two travel snacks can be made ahead of time and are generally loved by all ages.
For a bar that will offer some lasting energy, go for these hearty and naturally delicious After School Oaty Bars. They’re packed with ingredients like Regular Rolled Oats, raw almonds, raw cashews, dates, chopped dried blueberries, coconut flakes, Flaxseed Meal, cinnamon, ginger, salt, almond butter, honey, unsweetened applesauce and vanilla extract. They’re tasty and easy to transport (the two musts for travel snacks).
For protein bites, treat yourself to something decadent, like these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls. The recipe is easy to make and the dough balls are packed full of both protein and fiber (plus they’re kid-friendly). These will keep you full and are great to have on hand when you’re snacking on the go. The recipe comes from Jordyn from Almost Supermom and incorporates just five ingredients: Vanilla Protein Powder Nutritional Booster, pure maple syrup, flaxseed meal, mini chocolate chips and nut butter.
2) Cheese & Crackers
First of all, avoid stinky cheese! If you go for the stinky cheese, there will most likely be displeased car and/or plane passengers. However, a mild cheese served alongside wholesome crackers is a great way to go when looking for travel snacks. Cheese and crackers are portable and hearty, so they’re good for times when you’re feeling hungry between meals.
A day or two before you depart for your trip, make some homemade crackers that you’ll be able to look forward to. These Everything Crackers, for example, are quick and easy to throw together. The flavor is reminiscent of the popular everything bagel and are especially delicious if you can find a couple of mini containers of cream cheese to bring along with you. The ingredients call for Flaxseed Meal, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, water and garlic (or onion flakes). Keep in mind, you might want to forego those last ingredients if you’re being mindful of fellow passengers.
For a simpler cracker, you can also opt for these Salt & Pepper Flax Crackers. They’re made with just six ingredients: Flaxseed Meal, salt, ground black pepper, water, large flake sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper. You can also note that they don’t have any garlic or onion (which means your road trip crew might be more pleased with you once you pull them out of your carry on or travel bag). If you prefer a faster on-the-go snack, choose from our selection of oat crackers or stock up on bulk snacks for long road trips.
3) Granola & Trail Mix
Some of the best things you can bring on a plane or in a car are baked granola and trail mix. Between the dried fruits, nuts, seeds and oats, a small container of these two items is sure to make you feel full and happy when a snack-attack arises.
This recipe for Granola Trail Mix Cookies can be found on our bags of Crunchy Coconut Granola and is bound to taste good morning, noon or night. These cookies are made with unsalted butter, brown sugar, regular sugar, egg, baking soda, water, Unbleached White All-Purpose Flour, vanilla extract, Crunchy Coconut Granola, semi-sweet chocolate chips and raisins. They’re extra delicious when paired with a glass of milk, so if you’re flying, you might want to wait for the beverage cart to come around.
When it comes to granola, there are few granola recipes on Earth quite like Bob’s Granola Recipe. As Bob says, “Use my recipe as a basis, then add or subtract ingredients until you find the combination you like best.” He creates his granola with Regular Rolled Oats (or Organic Regular Rolled Oats), Shredded Coconut, White Hulled Sesame Seeds, water, vanilla, Wheat Germ, chopped walnuts, honey, raisins, shelled sunflower seeds, unsalted butter and sea salt. This particular recipe makes about 24 1/3 cup servings, so if you find yourself caravanning across the country with a crew or going on a big family road trip, this granola will be a big hit!
4) Sandwiches
Sandwiches are great travel snacks, as you can make them beforehand, pack them up tightly and bring them out when you’re feeling hungry. On flights, the best advice we can give is to go for a simple banana and peanut butter sandwich. Peanut butter has protein to keep you full, and bananas contain potassium (which will actually fight against leg cramps during long flights).
Make a batch of this amazing Gluten-Free Everyday Bread to give the family something exciting to look forward to, and to make your airplane sandwiches extra special. Better yet, have the kids help make the bread! Made with Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour, Xanthan Gum, non-fat dry milk powder, brown sugar, eggs, oil, warm water and instant yeast, the end result is oh-so-yummy. Whether you’re using it for turkey sandwiches or a classic PB&J, this bread is wonderful for any sort of sandwich you can dream up.
When we say sandwiches, we are also referring to dessert sandwiches, of course, like these Gluten Free Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies. These cookies are nutty, buttery and packed full of wholesome oats and creamy peanut butter to keep you fueled throughout your flight. The best part is, they taste even better the day after baking, once the filling has time to set (making them perfect for a mid-flight treat).
5) Veggie Sticks & Hummus
So long as your hummus is 3.4 ounce or smaller, it and veggies are a great option to bring on the plane for both kids and adults. Pack some veggie sticks—like carrots and celery—along with your hummus for a snack that will keep you feeling full and satisfied. Pita bread (whether store-bought or homemade) is also a wonderful accompaniment to creamy hummus.
If you have some time a couple days before the flight, try this classic Hummus recipe. It’s made with cooked garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic cloves, cumin, olive oil and sea salt. The tahini can be made at home with natural brown sesame seeds or white sesame seeds, so you can rest assured your veggie and hummus snack is entirely made from scratch!
Pair your hummus with some Whole Grain Flatbread. Dense, crusty and made from a handful of simple ingredients like Whole Wheat Flour, Organic Dark Rye Flour, Garbanzo Bean Flour, brown sugar, baking powder, sea salt, olive oil and water, this flatbread is easy to throw together (and even easier to eat and enjoy during your flight).
Whether you’re traveling by car or plane, we hope these snack ideas for travel have inspired you to make the most out of your culinary journey.
Have any favorite items you love to eat while traveling? How about any special snacks you like to whip up homemade before you hop on the plane or get in the car?
Feel free to share them with us in the comments below! We’re excited to hear your snack-based travel tips!
Sources:
https://balanceblog.bistromd.com/lifestyle/the-16-best-and-worst-food-to-eat-before-flying/
https://www.thekitchn.com/what-foods-can-you-carry-on-the-plane-48116
https://www.tripsavvy.com/taking-food-on-a-flight-2972600
