7 Good AirPlane Snacks for Your Next Flight

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Stuck for ideas of what to bring with you on a flight? Keep reading for these good airplane snacks for your next flight.

et’s face it, airplane food isn’t good food. Rarely does it taste good and it’s also loaded with hidden sugars, salt and many other ingredients we simply don’t know about. That’s why, when I fly, I always do so with an assortment of healthy snacks in my carry on to get me through the fight while also nourishing and sustaining my body and mind.

In today’s world, healthy and good airplane snacks aren’t difficult to get hold of and any supermarket will carry most of the ideas in this post, so all you have to do is make sure they are in your carry-on come travel day.

There are many snacks to choose from nowadays but sadly, most contain a lot of salt, hidden sugars masked as syrups and caramel and a variety of preservatives and colourings. Before you buy always make sure to read the labels and if it contains something that sounds downright weird or if you can’t even pronounce it, leave it right there on the shelf.

I’ve compiled a list of my favourite go-to healthy plane snacks that you’ll always be able to find in my carry on when I fly. They are all full of essential nutrients, no nasties and they’re delicious.

woman with dried fruit in her hand- best airplane snacks

Before we get to the good airplane snacks here are some things you shouldn’t consume on planes:

↠ Alcohol– Recycled plane air is dry and already lacks moisture which is why it’s easy to get dehydrated on planes but drinking alcohol will dehydrate you further. Save that glass of wine onboard for a cocktail at your destination later and instead sip water throughout the duration of the flight.

↠ Sugary, processed foods– cause your blood sugar levels to spike and then falls again which isn’t something you want when sitting still on a plane.

↠ Bloating foods– Stay clear of vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower and legumes during flights. While they are a great option on the ground while we’re moving around, these aren’t the best food choices in flight when we’re sitting down for hours. Travel + Leisure also agrees.

7 GOOD AIRPLANE SNACKS:

GOMACRO/ LARA BAR

Probably one of the most popular plane snack options is a snack or cereal bar, but make sure to choose wisely and avoid those with processed ingredients and added sugars. GoMacro or Lara Bars use high quality, often organic ingredients as well as natural sweetness from dates and protein blends to make you feel fuller for longer throughout your flight without causing spikes in blood sugar levels.

There are so many flavours to choose from too making them the ideal healthy snack for everyone.

Get yours from Amazon here.

gomacro protein bar- a good airplane snacks

lara bar and ingredients- good airplane snacks

ALMOND BUTTER

Almond butter is a healthy and good airplane snack that’s full of protein and natural fats that will sustain your body throughout your flight. While spooning almond butter from a large tub isn’t ideal, go for individually packaged portions like this that pack well in your carry on, are composed of high quality, healthy ingredients and are delicious.

HOMEMADE FRUIT AND/OR SALAD

With flight regulations constantly changing and differing all over the world, especially now during the global pandemic, this may not be possible for all, but if you can, bring your own food onto the plane with you.

A homemade fruit salad or leafy green salad makes a good airplane snack due to being nutritious but light and having a high water content which contributes to proper hydration.

If you can prepare a simple salad at home and bring it with you in a Tupperware. Not only is this a nutritionally fantastic option, but it’s also waste-free and extremely environmentally friendly.

MIXED NUTS

A small number of mixed nuts, if you’re not sensitive to them of course, can also be a great onboard snack.

They are high in protein, and healthy fats and are natural. Try to stick to nuts that aren’t salted, caramelised or flavoured for maximum benefits.

Try these Original Mix, raw, unsalted mixed tree nuts

BANANA CHIPS

Another great and versatile snack, banana chips come in handy little single-serving packets, making them a very convenient on-the-go snack.

If you have a sweet tooth or fancy something a little on the sweeter side, banana chips are healthy, natural and delicious.

Always read the labels and make sure they don’t have any added sweeteners or flavourings- the fewer ingredients on the back of the packet, the better.

My favourite are these from Bare

banana and banana chips in a wooden table

DIP AND VEGETABLE STICKS

Again, if you can bring food from home onto your flight then I’d highly recommend bringing some vegetable sticks such as celery, carrot, pepper or cucumber and a dip of choice.

Try to stay away from hummus or other legume-based dips because, while being healthy they also tend to cause bloating which isn’t ideal on a long flight. Stick to vegetable-based dips such as pumpkin or even tomato-based salsa.

GREEN JUICE

While not a snack as such, cold-pressed, natural juices especially green juice are the perfect in-flight accompaniment.

They get absorbed into the bloodstream quickly giving your body a flood of nutrients fast as well as also keeping you hydrated.

Green juices not only have the benefits of fruit but also minerals and vitamins found in leafy green vegetables such as Vitamins A and K and Calcium.

What are your favourite good airplane snacks that you swear by? Let me know in the comments below.

Alex Wieteska

Alex Wieteska is a full-time travel writer and photographer. She has visited 50+ countries and lived in 4 long term. She's renowned for her ability to discover the world's most coveted destinations, chicest eateries, and unique accommodations. Her curated travel guides are read by thousands of people daily, whom she inspires to travel the world slowly and live more consciously. She visits every destination she writes about and handpicks all recommendations. Find out more about me