Last Updated on September 24, 2021 by Candy Wafford

Why You Should Pack Your Own Travel Snacks

When taking a trip, whether it’s in a car, a train, or a plane, one of the most important things to pack is snacks. Traveling can be tiring and you need healthy snacks for traveling to help you keep your energy up. Good airplane snacks and good road trip snacks don’t have to be hard to find or expensive.

Buying snacks at convenience stores and airport shops is expensive. And you never know if you will be able to find healthy options. Whether you’re going on a road trip or taking a flight somewhere, packing your own snacks will save you money and ensure that you have food that is healthy. Here are 15 of the best healthy travel snacks.

1) Nuts

Nuts are good airplane snacks. Actually, they are a great healthy travel snack option. They are portable and give you a great dose of healthy fat and protein to ensure you’re not arriving at your destination hangry. Almonds and pistachios are my personal faves and I always have a bag of them in the travel bag.

MOR Snacks makes delicious pre-packaged snacks that include super cool mixes of nuts, dried fruit, and amazing freeze-dried cheese. I’m obcessed! Use code MORCandace for 20% off!

2) Pre-Packaged Cheese Snacks

I love to pick up a couple of pre-packaged cheese snacks at the grocery before taking a trip. They are inexpensive, portable, and portion-controlled which means you’ll get the healthy benefits from the cheese, nuts, crackers, and/or dried fruit without too much fat. I do try and eat them early on a flight since they are refrigerated items. But they are still good airplane snacks since airplanes are usually very cold and the risk of spoilage is low.

3) Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is the perfect food to pack for a road trip or a flight. Portion out your favorite dried fruit from banana chips to dried apricots and you’ll have an easy and satisfying sweet treat on your next trip.

4) Hummus

One of my favorite healthy travel snacks are individually packaged hummus snacks. I find they are an easy, and healthy option that I can feel good about eating on the road. You can usually find them in airports making them a good airplane snack that you can grab before boarding a flight.

5) Energy Bites

Energy bites, energy balls, or bliss balls are a great source of protein and make a great snack to pack for travel. These little powerhouses are full of protein and whole, plant-based ingredients that will satisfy your hunger without making you feel too full. I’ll often eat a couple of these when traveling or at my desk to tide me over to my next meal.

Trader Joe’s sells some Frooze Balls that are tasty and affordable. You can also often find different varieties of energy balls in the foods section of TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Home Goods. These are also one of the best vegan snacks for travel!

6) Fruit

Fruit is one of the best healthy snacks for traveling. I prefer fruit that is easily portable like grapes, bananas, and apples. Berries are also a great option and a good way to get additional hydration while traveling.

7) Protein Bars – Good Airplane Snacks

Protein bars are good travel snacks because you can find them anywhere, there are ton of options, and they will help you feel full. Definitely one of the best snacks for travelling!

8) Candy

If you have a sweet tooth like I do, you will want to pack a few pieces of candy for your trip. While that huge Toblerone bar in the duty-free shop may seem like a good travel snack, you’re better off bringing a few small pieces of candy for your trip. I like to pack a few Ghiradelli squares or a couple of snack size candy bars to satisfy my cravings.

9) Crackers

I love to carry some crackers when I travel. They are one of the best foods for road trips and make good airplane snacks. The perfect accompaniment to cheese, nut butter, or just to have a crunchy snack on its own. I’ve recently discovered Mary’s Gone Crackers, a great organic, gluten-free travel snack option.

10) Mints / Gum

I’m not suggesting that mints or gum are a snack, but they are great to have as you travel. Popping a mint or chewing a piece of gum can help stave off cravings if you’re not ready to eat. Also, chewing gum can help reduce ear pain that sometimes occurs when flying on a plane. Lastly, fresh breath is always appreciated when traveling with others.

11) Fresh Veggies

Fresh veggies are a great travel snack option. Bring along prepared, portable veggies such as cherry tomatoes, sliced carrots, celery, radishes, snow peas, and pepper strips. You won’t find a healthier option for travel eats!

12) Trail Mix

Sure, you can buy prepackaged trail mix but where’s the fun in that? Customize your own mix with your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. This way you’re not picking out any offensive items (I’m looking at you raisins) and making your own mix costs a lot less!

13) Nut Butters

I like to pack a couple of individually packaged nut butter. They are great on their own, but their high protein contact makes them a great option to create a substantial snack with some crackers or apple slices. And there are so many flavor options out there from almond to sunflower butter and chocolate, maple and cinnamon varieties. If you prefer old-school peanut butter, pack some to-go cups to snack on during the ride or to top a slice of toast or English muffin for a protein boost.

14) Single Cup Soups and Oatmeal

A travel snack idea you may not have thought of is individual cups of dried soup or oatmeal. You can ask flight attendants for a cup of hot water on planes and use it to stir up an easy and healthy snack. The portability and healthiness of this option make this another good airplane snack. You can also take as a road trip snack and use a microwave at your next stop for gas!

15) Sandwich

Sometimes nothing beats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! Or a veggie-filled wrap will provide you a snack that feels more like a meal. Pack your favorite sandwich that doesn’t require refrigeration and you’ll be ready to hit the road knowing hunger won’t be a problem.

Bonus Travel Snack Idea – Water!

I never take a road trip or get on an airplane without a refillable water bottle. Flying is extremely dehydrating which means drinking lots of water during a flight is critical to ensure you feel your best when you arrive. It’s easy to confuse thirst for hunger and water is the best way to quench your thirst.

How to Pack Your Travel Snacks

I try and pack my snacks both to save money and reduce waste. I’ve just discovered these bags from Full Circle and love them! They are sturdy, easy to fill, and easy to clean. I especially love the snack size and find it perfect for packing nuts, crackers, or some grapes. They are also available in some really cute patterns including palm leaves, doughnuts, and dinosaurs!

This is a nice set too and is well-reviewed on Amazon:

Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Travel Snacks

Looking for strictly vegetarian options? Check out this list from 52 Perfect Days.

A list of vegan travel snacks can be found here.

Traveling gluten-free? Gluten Intolerance Group has a great list of options.

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