Feeding five people at an airport can get pretty expensive, especially when you you travel as much as we do. We generally pack our own snacks when we head off on a trip. Here are some of my tried and true favorites.
Go-gurt: Freeze them overnight and they will stay cold until you eat them. Plus, the thicker texture of frozen yogurt means less spilling.
Pringles: The canister keeps these chips intact and takes up very little space in your carry-on. I also like that Pringles has multi-grain and lower-fat options.
Grapes: Pack these in a plastic container with a lid to prevent squishing. I love grapes because waste is minimal and a lot less slimy than waste from other fruits (think apple cores and orange peels). Just store the leftover grapevines in the plastic container until you have access to a trash can. Easy and mess-free!
Nabisco Go-Packs: Packed in convenient ready-to-go plastic containers, these packs come in several varieties including Cheese Nips, Teddy Grahams, Ritz Bits, and Honey Maid Cinnamon Sticks. The snacks are all bite-sized, so crumbs are minimized.
Pizza: Yes, pizza. A great alternative to sandwiches, pizza travels well. I individually wrap slices of cheese or pepperoni pizza the night before a trip and stick them in the freezer. They don't get soggy like sandwiches with condiments do. It also eliminates the picky eater problem of determining "is this the ham, no-cheese with mayonnaise or is this the ham with cheese and mustard sandwich" while you are squished in an airplane seat.
Bagels with Cream Cheese: These have saved me many times when we have had to make a 6 am flight. Pre-assemble the night before a trip and grab them on your way out the door. Eat on the plane or on the way to the airport!
Airplane Food Do's and Don'ts
Fish Crackers: Always messy, never a good idea.
Pull Top Foods: Remember that an airplane is pressurized but the food sealed inside your container is not. So foods with a pull top, such as pudding or yogurt can often "explode" when opened.
Waste: If you have something messy, like paper towels from a spill or an apple core, to throw out, wait until the flight attendant comes around with a trash bag. Place the waste directly in the bag yourself. Do not expect the flight attendant to handle it. Also, do not throw food waste in the lavatory trash receptacles.
Know your Limit: TSA limits liquids to 3.4 ounces or 100 ml. All liquids and gels, including food items, need to be placed in a quart-sized bag and screened separately. For more info, see http://www.tsa.gov/311
