It’s no secret that we’ve done our fair share of traveling so far this summer. If your family still has some fun trips coming up – whether by car or by plane – below are some travel snacks that we think are great and easy to take along. Even if you just can’t (or won’t) stick to a real food diet once you get to your destination, I think it’s a good idea to bring some items for the trip there and even to supplement meals once you arrive. What good is a vacation if you feel sluggish (or even sick) from some not-so-great airplane or gas station food? And yes, you can take your own food and empty water bottle through airport security, provided you follow TSA guidelines for anything considered a liquid.*
Here are my top 10 travel snacks for family vacations
- Homemade Trail Mix or Granola – Choose a simple, store-bought trail mix or bag up some yummy homemade granola cereal that you can just eat dry out of your hand.
- Simple store-bought Fruit and Nut Bars (or homemade!) – We personally like Lara Bars, Kit’s Organic and Raw Crunch. (Tip use coupon code “100DAYS” for 15% off your online Raw Crunch purchase.) or the homemade version of dried fruit and nut bars (more work but totally worth it!)
- Whole-Grain Muffins – there are so many options for delicious muffin recipes!
- Apples or Bananas (with our without an individual packet of peanut butter)
- Frozen Peas – you can enjoy them frozen and they double as an icepack for anything else you’re bringing
- Washed, Peeled, and Sliced Veggies like Carrots, Cucumbers and/or Celery – pack them in a divided lunch container with hummus or homemade dip like ranch or tzatziki – yum!
- Organic Popcorn
- Dried Fruit or Homemade Fruit Leathers
- Cherry Tomatoes or Grapes
- Whole-Grain Crackers or Brown Rice Cakes – you can make your own Easy Cheesy Crackers or for store bought our favorite brand is “ak-mak.”
Also, don’t forget to bring plenty of water along as well. If you will be flying just keep your reusable water bottle empty until you pass through security and then fill up on the other side. Please share your favorite “real food” travel snacks in the comments below!
* You can take solid foods through security, but according to the TSA website, any creamy dips, spreads, or other liquids must be placed in containers 3.4 oz or smaller and placed in a quart clear sized plastic bag. This includes foods such as jelly, peanut butter, spreadable cheeses, sauces, salad dressing, etc.
Special Report: Eating Our Way Through Europe!
We go hiking, often. I was able to find a dehydrator really cheap while in Switzerland. Pretty sure they are even cheaper in the States. I make dried fruit and beef jerky all the time. The dogs love the beef jerky too. Plus for everyone.
I am confused by the recommendation o carry nuts onto a plane The scariest thing in the world. Is to have a nut allergy, be confined in such a small spe and worry that th person next to you will eat nuts. Please be careful abou t nut on planes.
Great suggestions and these are all things kids like. Thanks for sharing this!
Rubbermaid makes a divided lunch container. I think it’s called EasyBalance or something like that. Also I am newly diagnosed diabetic and have been encouraged to cut out processed foods. Looks like your information could be useful to me on this new journey. Thanks
I am super confused by the Justin’s nut butters, they have palm oil in them and I thought palm oil was bad for you?
Hi Beth. We do buy Justin’s sometimes but as a more general rule, nut butters do not need added oils.
I travel by air nearly every week for work (I did 92 segments last year on United). My carry on bag always has the following:
-Bag of raw almonds (true raw almonds sourced directly from Bremner Farms in CA)
-Individual packets of raw almond butter from Artisana. I just open the top and eat it right out of the packet
-Vega One All-in-One Nutritional Shake along with a blender ball shaker cup. Good for an emergency meal if your stuck.
-Oatmega snack bars made from grass fed whey, non-GMO, and low in sugar
-Go Raw brand organic snack bars
-Kind snack bars: pretty common now. Can usually find at most airports.
-And…. good old Bananas which you can find everywhere at airports (even Starbucks usually sells them)
I have noticed a trend that airports are getting better and better food. For example, the Rick Bayless restaurant Tortas Frontera in O’Hare lists out on a board the local sources/farms and their farming practices. While not perfect, on a scale of quality it is much better than other typical airport garbage food.
On last tip. I keep the Yelp app on my phone and I use Yelp and Apple Maps to do searches in my arrival city for the following phrases: “organic restaurant”, “farm to table”, “juice bar”. Very often you can find hidden restaurant gems in a lot of cities that serve local and organic food.
We are about to do a road trip from Tennessee to Colorado so I have tortilla wrap sandwiches, cheese, whole grain crackers (I love Mary’s Gone Crackers), carrots and hummus, dried organic mango slices, and homemade granola bars on the in-car menu, plus lots of water (and probably a couple stops for black coffee along the way). Trying to make it as healthy as possible.
I understand the concern with nuts on airline (my son has a nut allery) but it is unreasonable to tell people not to bring nuts. People need to take their own precautions. Wipe the armrest and have snacks for yourself or kids that are but free. Personal responsibility will teach your children so much more than expecting others to abide by a nut free policy.
I agree, Sandi! I fully understand the terror of exposing your child to an allergy, but the world has allergens everywhere. You cannot ban all allergens from every potential contamination place. It is unreasonable to ask someone to not being peanut butter, etc. on a plane. Bring your meds, change seats if you need to.
I am a vegan and really struggle to get what I need at an airport, especially good forms of protein that are portable. Packets of peanut butter are a life safer and I bring them whenever I travel.
I usually pack my Protein powder & my shaker cup. Then I can use ice water in a crunch and still have a good snack or meal. Chia seeds to add to yogurts. I usually scope out Trader Joes or Whole foods that will be close and buy yogurts, almond milk or coconut water.