10 Healthy & Packable Snacks for Travel Energy

With meals on flights either non-existent, expensive, or horrible tasting, and airport food not too much better, one way a traveler can make their vacation a little more pleasant is to make some food to take along.  You’ll still have to avoid liquids and gels (get those once you pass through security), but packing a few healthy and yummy snacks, can stave off hunger and the crankiness it can cause.

Since I’m not a fan of prepared energy bars (or prepared anything for that matter), I look for the closest thing to real food that I can get, and that is still practical and convenient to carry.

Here are some snacks that are easy to pack:

1. Peanut butter sandwich – Add jelly, honey, or leave it plain, and make sure that it’s wrapped up good and tight.  This won’t need refrigeration, is tolerant to a little bit of squishing about, and offers a quick hit when your energy is sagging.  Make it really, really full of peanut butter, and you can use the excess as a bit of a dip.  (NOTE:  You can try bringing through a container of just peanut butter, but I’ve heard mix reports of whether it’s being considered a “gel” type product.)
2. Raw vegetables – The crunch of celery or carrots can be satisfying and healthy, and a baggie of them is easy to slip into a carry on bag or a purse.  Also good are jicama, cucumbers (add a squeeze of lime and some chili powder for extra flavor), and broccoli.  Choose your favorite.
3. Dried fruit – Fresh fruit gets bruises or smashed too easily, so try bringing along some dried.  I’m partial to dried pineapple and mangos.  Their sweetness if just enough to keep me away from candy.
4. Nuts – Put together a mixture of your own, or stick to your favorite(s).  Keep a big baggies of them in your carry on, so you can grab a handful whenever you need a bit of energy.  They go perfect with dried fruit as well.  It’s best to avoid salted nuts, if you can.
5. Cereal – With a cup and some milk, this makes a simple breakfast, and you can always snack on the dry mix for a little crunch.
6. Cheese – If you know you’ll be eating it within a few hours, a few slices of cheese is a good protein snack.  Much longer than a few hours, though, and you’ll need to worry about refrigeration.  I think hard cheeses travel best, and are least likely to deteriorate in packing.  A wedge of Parmesan is perfect!  String cheese is great for kids.
7. Crackers and chips – These are easily crushed, so I recommend taking them along only if you’ll be eating them fairly soon.  Chances are they are not going to stay undamaged more than a day.  There are healthy choices in this category, but honestly, I’m partial to Fritos.
8. Licorice – Sweet, chewy, easy to pack, and low in fat and calories.  A great way to assuage your sweet tooth.
9. Salami – You’ll have to be careful with this, as it will eventually need refrigeration.  Additionally, there’s some pretty strong smelling salami out there, and you don’t want to stink up the joint.  Still, paired with cheese and other snacks, it can almost make you feel like you’re having an appetizer plate somewhere in Italy.  Well, okay, that’s going to take a vivid imagination.
10. Hard candies – Great for a sore throat, or just one that’s a little dry, and they are available in sweet and sour flavors to match your taste bud preferences.  Also good for kids at take off and landing, when they need to swallow and clear their ears.

Do you have any packable snacks that are your travel favorites?  Please leave your suggestions in the comments.

Photo credit: SXC