top 5 snacks to take on a plane
Airplane food. That sounds about as appetizing as ‘hospital food’. These days airlines give you precious little to eat during flights and sometimes charge exorbitant prices for what they do offer. Travelers might not mind a limited and often expensive selection so much if only the food tasted like – well, like food. Unfortunately, that’s not usually the case.
Still, longer flights require some form of sustenance. Here are the top 5 snacks to take on a plane.
Carbs. This can take many forms, both healthy and unhealthy. Naturally, it’s better to go with a healthier option both because of the immediate energy benefits as well as the long term effects. Crackers, muffins, bagels, wraps and sandwiches are great choices, depending on how long you’ll be flying.
Protein. Cheese, yogurt, milk, beef jerky and protein bars. Proteins are an excellent snack because they will leave you feeling satisfied for longer. If your flight is 3 hours or more, including some form of protein in your snack assortment is a good idea.
Dried fruit. Perfect for children especially but also suitable for all ages, dried fruit can provide an important injection of fiber and other nutrients while also satisfying hunger.
Nuts. Nuts are an excellent snack food. Small amounts satisfy hunger and provide a wealth of nutritional benefits. Some flights have become nut free in recent years so check with your airline before bringing nuts onto the aircraft. If a family has been assured that a flight will be nut free before bringing a highly allergic child onboard, all passengers should respect this and find alternative snacks.
Water. No one wants to spend the entire flight wandering back and forth to the bathroom but staying hydrated is important while traveling. Be sure to drink something – water or juice – throughout your flight but don’t feel obligated to down a river’s worth. If drinking alcohol try have one glass of water for every glass of alcohol to counteract its dehydrating effects.
Additional Tips: Try bringing as many of your snack items from home as possible. This will help your wallet while allowing you to control the nutritional content of the food you’ll be eating. Plan to eat every 2-3 hours of your flight, every hour for children. Keeping hunger at bay will keep your mood elevated and energy levels high. Traveling can be draining and by taking care of yourself during your flight you will arrive at your destination ready to enjoy your vacation!
Happy Travels!
