The 40 best airplane snacks and tips for a happy trip

Are you looking for the perfect airplane snacks to keep your kids happy and satisfied during the flight? Can the right snacks help? YES. From delicious fruit bars and crunchy veggie chips to healthy granola bites and conveniently packaged treats, we’ve got everything you need to keep your hunger pangs in check as you soar through the skies.

When you travel by plane, everyone wants your kids to be happy during the flight: you, your kids, and maybe especially the person sitting right next to your kids. (hah!)

While air travel always involves uncertainty, you may be in the pilot’s seat when it comes to the snacks you bring with you. And if you make a good choice (and remember to pack your kids’ headphones!), you might be able to secure a smooth, tantrum-free flight.

Check out our list of ideas for healthy snacks to pack and serve in flight. Then keep scrolling for a few tips on packing snacks and a brief overview of the current TSA food rules.

Best Airplane Snacks

Homemade Snack Ideas

• Muffins. Muffins are easy to take with you, they’re easy to eat, they’re high in energy, and you can make them ahead of time and freeze them to have ready for travel. Some of our favorites are: Sweet Spinach Muffins, Powerful Fruit & Vegetable Muffins, or Best Bran Muffins Ever.
• Granola bar. This is another snack for kids that you can fill up with healthy ingredients like whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Grab-and-go granola bars or nut-free chewy granola bars hit the spot.
• energy bites. This is another homemade snack that’s easy to carry and packed with nutrients to keep your kids happy and content. We have lots of Energy Bite recipes for you!
• Homemade cookies. We love to bring oatmeal cookies to stabilize blood sugar and keep your kids happy.
• Hard boiled eggs. Peel them beforehand so you don’t have to fiddle with the skins.
• Fruit. Choose fruits that aren’t particularly juicy to avoid making a mess. We like grapes, apples and bananas.
• Raw vegetables. Vegetables that are easy to transport are baby carrots, sugar snap peas and strips of pepper.
• mini sandwiches. Make mini sandwiches with just a few ingredients like bread, lean protein (like turkey or chicken), and a slice of cheese. Using less topping is less messy, filling and easy to transport.
• Mini bagels with cream cheese
• roasted chickpeas
• Celery sticks with peanut butter
• mini wraps (with deli or vegetables)
• apple pieces with lemon or lime juice.
• Homemade protein bars. These really are the best and you can omit the chocolate for less mess.
• No bake snack bar.
• Homemade fruit leather.
• chex mix.

Packaged snack ideas

With all the stress of packing, sometimes it’s easier to buy pre-packaged snacks that you can just grab and take with you. And it’s even easier when you can order them from Amazon and they’ll come right to your door!

• fruit bag. Despite being a liquid, fruit bags are 100% allowed on the plane. They fall into the “baby food” category for which you have the green light. This strain pack is our favorite.
• dried fruit. Mini boxes of raisins, yogurt-covered raisins, sour fruity raisins, dried apricots, and banana chips are good choices.
• cheese sticks. Individually wrapped cheese sticks are a convenient, high-protein snack that kids love
• Single serving nut packs. These pistachio wraps are our favorite.
• fruit bars. These tasty real fruit bars are a hit with kids. Look for options with no added sugar or artificial ingredients.
• vegetable chips. Swap out traditional potato chips for healthier veggie chips made with dried vegetables like sweet potatoes, beets, or kale. They’re crunchy and nutritious!
• Trail mix packs for on the go. We love this style and also this style.
• Individual popcorn packs.
• nut butter wraps. We love these peanut butter wraps, almond butter wraps and also these chocolate hazelnut wraps!
• crackers with cheese
• Pita chips with hummus wrap. These pita chips are available in different packs.
• Yoghurt covered pretzels. This brand is delicious.
• seaweed snacks. More and more children love these savory sheets of nori seaweed.
• Beef jerky. These little beef jerky packs are perfect for travel.
• rice cake. We love these different flavors.
• Squeezable Yogurt: Single-serving squeezable yogurt pouches are clean and a great source of calcium and probiotics.
• Mini Lara Bars
• Baby food and finger food. This variety pack of puffs, yogurt melts, and crunchy snacks is perfect.
• Muesli Bites. We like the strawberry/cookie and cream and also the mixed berries/chocolate chips.
• fig bars.
• Crunchy dried fruit packs.
• Fool. The suction effect can help prevent your kids’ ears from hurting during takeoff and landing.
• animal crackers.

Tips for packing snacks

• Store snacks in ziplock plastic bags. As much as we love reusable bags, handling reusable bags when traveling is a major burden. Pack snacks into individual portions that are easy to get and give them to the kids one at a time. Then give the empty bags to the flight attendant as they come down the aisle. You may take yogurt tubes, fruit bags, and peanut butter packets weighing less than 3.4 ounces through security.
• Pack your own water bottles and drinking cups. If your kids get thirsty and you have to wait for the drink cart, you could throw a tantrum. Bring empty water bottles and refill them after security.
• Bring wet wipes. These are great for spills, sticky hands and just a quick touch up.
• Pack a small backpack for your kids with a few things they love. Bring a book or two, some snacks, and a water bottle. Children love this independence; Even toddlers love taking responsibility for their own “stuff”. And you don’t have to carry that much.
• Feed breastfed infants with confidence. A crowded plane might not be your favorite place to feed your baby, but your fellow passengers will appreciate a calm, happy baby who can breastfeed at will. Breastfeeding can also help relieve pressure build-up in baby’s ears during takeoff and landing.
• For bottle-fed infants, you should pre-measure formula or purchase single-serving packages. Bring your own water. Make sure you do NOT use water from the faucet in the passenger toilet to prepare or clean your baby’s bottles.

favorite travel container

TSA food packaging rules

If you’ve flown in the last decade, you know that the TSA enforces pretty strict rules about what you can and can’t take on planes. Here are some details, in the words of the TSA, so you know what to expect. (This information comes directly from the source on the TSA website.)

• “Dairy formula, breast milk and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities in hand luggage. Take these items out of your carry-on baggage so they are checked separately from the rest of your belongings. You don’t have to travel with your child to bring breast milk.”
• “Baby food is allowed in reasonable quantities in hand luggage. Take these items out of your carry-on baggage so they are checked separately from the rest of your belongings. ”
• “Solid foods (no liquids or gels) can be carried in either carry-on or checked baggage. Liquid or gel foods larger than 3.4 ounces are not permitted in carry-on baggage and should be stowed in your checked baggage where possible.”
• “Ice packs, freezer bags, frozen gel bags and other accessories needed to cool formula, breast milk and juice are permitted in carry-on baggage. If these accessories are partially frozen or squishy, ​​they will be subject to the same control as described above. You can also take gel or liquid filled teethers, canned baby food, jars and processed baby food in your carry-on baggage. These items may be subject to additional verification.”
• “You can buy drinks after security and take them on the plane, as previously screened. Empty beverage containers can also be brought through the control point and then filled.”

Special considerations before air travel

If you or your child have special needs or questions about what to pack, simply call your airline or TSA. Ironing out the issues before arriving at the airport, rather than after, will help make your travel day as smooth as possible. Bon Voyage!