Airport food. No two words make me cringe more when used in the same sentence. Airports are stressful enough without trying to find a meal, and the food on the plane听is terrible,听unless you鈥檙e flying Air New Zealand. In that case, lucky you.
While some airports have upped their food game, you can鈥檛 always count on it, especially with tight connections. Your best bet is to pack your own snacks or a full-on meal ahead of time, unless you鈥檙e a fan of mediocre听restaurants and paying too much to eat. Here are some of my favorite carry-on foods to take with you. Many of these can be purchased in individual servings at various stores, or you can buy in bulk if you want to stock up. I鈥檝e also laid out听what you need to know to navigate听TSA restrictions.
Be Prepared听
Knowledge (Free)
To make sure security doesn鈥檛 confiscate your food, brush up on what you鈥檙e allowed to bring with you on the . In general, you鈥檙e good to go as long as any liquids or liquid-like things (dips, sauces, salad dressings, etc.) are limited to 3.4 ounces or less. 听
Preserve Food Storage Container ($7)
First thing鈥檚 first: you鈥檒l need something to store your food in. Ditch the Ziplocs and opt for a reusable solution like a , which is made from recycled,听BPA-free plastic. Containers like this are great for premade salads, sandwiches, or wraps.听The screw-top lid secures your snack听so it听won鈥檛 end up all over the inside of your carry-on bag. 听
Totally Bamboo 3-Piece Flatware Set ($4)
Sure, you can grab some plastic cutlery from an airport food court, or you can be responsible and bring听. This one is lightweight and should make it through airport security just fine. 听
18-Ounce听Wide-Mouth Hydroflask ($30)
Always bring an empty water bottle with you for a flight, and fill it up once you get through security. I like 听bottle because it鈥檚 the right size for a long day of travel and can double as a food storage container.
The Best Food to Bring
Patagonia Provisions Organic Savory Seeds Variety Pack ($30 for 12 Packs)听
There鈥檚 a reason most airlines don鈥檛 hand out peanuts anymore: lots of folks are allergic to them. Skip the nuts and go with from Patagonia Provisions instead.
Hummus ($4 for 4听2-Ounce Cups) and Pita Chips ($3 for a 7-Ounce Bag)听
My go-to snack is and , but it can be a little tricky to take on a plane.听Lily鈥檚 Hummus, however, comes in snack-sized two-ounce mini packs that are TSA-friendly. (A听16-pack is also available.)听You can also buy a 24-pack of 1.5-ounce听bags of Stacy鈥檚 Pita Chips for $15鈥攖he price of a couple bottles of water in an airport store.
Justin鈥檚 Almond Butter ($1.50 for a Single Packet or $40 for 30)听
If you can鈥檛 live without nuts on an airplane, at least go with a nut butter so you can avoid the dust that can trigger听allergies. is a classic and a great midflight protein boost. Spread it on some pita chips or bread you brought with you. It鈥檚 good, trust me.
Instant Oatmeal ($2 Per Cup or $15 for 12 Cups)听
makes a great meal on a plane because all you need to do is ask a flight attendant for some听hot water. Add it to the cup听and you鈥檙e all set.
Kuju One-Cup Coffee Pouches ($22 for 10 Servings)
Speaking of breakfast, if you can鈥檛 stand airplane coffee, bring along听. This disposable听packet of pour-over coffee is good for one cup and has a heck of a lot more flavor than the stuff that comes from the in-flight beverage cart.
Probar Meal Bar ($3 Per Bar or $28听for 12)听
While you鈥檙e always better off packing a wrap, sandwich, or some kind of salad, a听bar is a good backup. I like because it tastes better than a lot of other bars out there and has enough calories to tide me over on a long flight. 听