The Ultimate Guide to Travel Snacks
Truthfully, I'm more of a homebody. I prefer to stay around what's comfortable - my surroundings, the food I have available and I know that's easy to get, etc.
However! Traveling is exciting. BUT we need to be as prepped for success as possible to stick with our health goals. As I tell my clients, and my clients remind me over and over again, prepping and preparing ahead of time is KEY.
If you're here for weight loss, my general rule of thumb is to have the goal of just maintaining your weight when you're traveling (versus losing) because it's just too difficult to control what food others are giving you when you're outside of your home so much. And, it gives you a little more room to enjoy yourself!
Here are my go-to lists of foods to get while traveling - in the car, on the plane, etc.
The Ultimate Guide to Travel Snacks
For All Occasions - Car, Plane, Train, etc.
SNACKS TO BRING
Turkey or Beef Jerky: A great option for on the go is jerky! Filling, easy-to-eat snack that's low in calories and high in protein. Very filling. My favorite is Trader Joe's original turkey jerky (not the teriyaki kind) or the SimplySnackin jerky.
Baby Carrots: Sometimes you just need to munch to keep your brain awake when driving for a long time! You don't have to worry too much about baby carrots going bad- and they're so easy to find at any store.
Peanut butter packets & nut packets: Nuts are probably my #1 recommended snack. They're non-perishable (they don't spoil for a long time and don't need to be in the fridge), full of protein and fat so they keep me full, and they're small - they won't take up a lot of room in your bag.
Here's my list of top nuts and nut butter packets to buy, but you can also make your own. For nut butters, put 1-2 Tbsp in a small metal container. For nuts, measure out 1/8 to 1/4 cup in little baggies. The packaging is a little wasteful I know, but making my life as easy as possible with portion size is really helpful for me!
Fiber bars: If you're like me, you may get a little "stuck" when you're traveling because you're out of your routine. Coffee in the morning can help me along, but I do tend to also rely on a little extra boost from high fiber bars. Just stick with one per day, because these types of bars are HIGH in fiber - and you can get yourself in an unpleasant situation if you eat too many. Since you may be eating these out of necessity versus something to fill you up, I do recommend getting a slightly lower-calorie one, like a 90-calorie option versus the regular 140 calorie ones.
Dried fruit: Dried fruit is just dehydrated fruit, which makes this an easy no brainer option to add to your snack mix. If you’re wanting to lean on an even more healthier side, some of the healthiest options for dried fruit with the most nutritional value are raisins, apricots, prunes and dates. Just be sure to double check the labels to make sure you’re picking up a package that’s without any added sugar.
Trail mix: Another great option is trail mix, perfect for when you’ve got a taste for some sweet and savory snacks. The mix of nuts and seeds make this road snack a heart-healthy option that’s also tasty and fulfilling. You can also find varieties that offer a higher protein boost and some with granola in place of candy. You can also make your own to have full control of how nutrient dense your trail mix can be!
Granola bars: These are pretty easy to find at gas stations or grocery stores when you’re eating on the road. Did you know? Most granola bars have between 100–300 calories, with up to 10 grams of protein, and 7 grams of fiber in a single serving. Some top choices to reach for are the Kodiak, KIND, Larabar, and Made Good brands.
Chips: Let's get a little more creative than potato chips shall we? Real veggie chips (not potato chips masquerading as colorful veggies please) like seaweed and beet chips are my go-to's. Also, many stores are now carrying parmesan cheese "crackers" - which are just baked cheese (so low carb, and non-perishable!)
Chocolate: or any sweet treat! Stick with a single-serving portion size - individually wrapped options I always think are best because they make it easiest for us to track on track. I love Trader Joe's 100-calorie chocolate bars - but you pick what works for you! Other good options include "fun size" candy bars (you know those mini ones you see at Halloween) or portion out 1-2 Tbsp chocolate chips in a little baggie. If you are bringing a treat - only bring a few (bringing this whole bag of fun-sized chocolate could be dangerous, am I right?!)
Water: It's easy to get dehydrated - and you don't want to show up woozy at your destination. Bring a water bottle that's already full in the car or on the train, or an empty one that you can refill at a water fountain at the airport.
SNACKS TO BUY
Bringing your own food is good and all, but buying some snacks is a little more fun (and I think more tasty!)! Here are my go-to's.
Chicken nuggets: Another great option that's easy to find AND easy enough to eat in the car is chicken fingers/ nuggets. I of course don't love the extra breading, but they're definitely filling, and lower in starchy carbs than other fast food snack options like fries. My fave stop for these is Chick-Fil-A. Also, here's my go-to list for fast food chains!
Ice cream: That's right I said it! Especially at fast food restaurants like Mickey Ds, ice cream in the smallest size is pretty low in calories, delicious, and easy to find. At McDonald's I like to get the Sundae with chocolate sauce - no peanuts (I like peanuts, but they don't add enough goodness for me to eat them).
At Starbucks: Here's my ultimate list, but my number one go-to is a 2% latte (regular milk) or steamer (this is the same this as a latte but with no espresso) with 2 pumps of their sugar-free syrup (I like one pump of the sugar-free vanilla, and one pump of the sugar-free cinnamon dulce).
In the Car & On the Train
I know it's weird but I LOVE long car rides. I honestly enjoyed the 8 hour drive from Philadelphia to Cleveland when I was in college - partially for the uninterrupted blasting of JLo songs (on repeat, not having to worry about annoying my roommate), and partly because of all of the fun and tasty food stops along the way I would make.
In the car, it's a little easier to pack more perishable foods if you're traveling by car or train. Bring an insulated lunch box (I linked one I like on this page) to hold your perishable food. If those ice-packs give you the creeps (what is IN them?!), freeze a water bottle overnight to keep in your lunchbox- it does the same trick and then you can also be hydrated!
Here are a few healthy road trip snacks when you’re eating on the road.
High-fat yogurt: Especially if you're not the one driving, a yogurt can be a delicious, filling snack that takes a while to eat. I usually recommend choosing a plain yogurt and adding your own fruit, but choosing a flavored one is fine in this instance. Try to choose one without added sugars.
String cheese: These pre-packaged snacks are easy to nibble on while driving and rich in protein, low in carbs, and a modest amount of fat.
Boiled eggs: While this one does require a bit of meal prepping ahead, you can also find boiled eggs at most grocery stores already made and ready to pack into your lunch box. Eggs are great healthy road trip snacks because they’re so nutrient dense and basically a superfood with all the protein and other nutrients they’re jam-packed with
Extra beverages: You probably will have to stop to go to the bathroom, but when you're driving for a long period of time, you may need something to keep your brain awake that doesn't derail our health goals. Pack some extra seltzers or water bottles in the car to keep your hands occupied! You can even pack a protein powder drink to keep you fueled during the times you’re wanting to make fewer stops.
PRO TIP: bring a plastic bag in the car as a trash bag - it's no fun to have random trash in the car seat pockets and crannies.
On the Plane & In the Airport
What food can I bring on a plane? Excellent question! I'm linking here the TSA exact specifications (why have I not looked into this before?!). Here's the A to Z list - telling you what you can bring on Carry-On and Checked: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/food
The article is super helpful, I HIGHLY recommend going through their whole article. It does say though: "The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint."
Another note to be aware of from their website: "TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine. Travelers are encouraged to organize their carry-on bags and keep them uncluttered to ease the screening process and keep the lines moving."
Checked Bags
Candy, including chocolate, if you need a treat (let's stick with single-servings please)
Empty coffee thermos or water bottle
Baked cheese crackers & non-starchy veggie chips (like those beet chips or seaweed chips)
Nuts
Nut butters
Carry-On Bags
Candy including chocolate, if you need a treat (let's stick with single-servings please)
Empty coffee thermos or water bottle
Baked cheese crackers & non-starchy veggie chips (like those beet chips or seaweed chips)
Fresh fruits & veg "Passengers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland cannot take most fresh fruits and vegetables due to the risk of spreading invasive plant pests."
Nuts
Nut butters less than 3.4oz
Meals
If your flight is during a meal time, I recommend buying a salad or similar veggie & protein meal at the airport (I don't personally want to risk it being taken away at security if I bring it in from the outside!), instead of eating the one that's offered on the plane. Typically those meals available on the plane are packed high with extra carbs and sugars, which I want to avoid.
My go-to at a pub or restaurant at the airport is a Cobb salad or a Caesar salad with chicken - pretty easy to find and keeps me full for hours!
That's all guys! Let me know if there's anything I missed!
That's all guys! Let me know if there's anything I missed!