Travel
How to Pack the Ultimate Carry-On Bag of Airplane Snacks
Merrill's 10 commandments of eating while traveling.
Popular on Food52
54 Comments
Joy
April 17, 2024
Who in the hell brings tuna on a plane? Or anchovies? Sure way to be that annoying paasenger.
lizarddiva
February 18, 2024
While these may be delicious, do NOT bring tuna or anchovies on a plane unless you want someone to take viral videos of you describing what not to pack to eat on a plane
Dina
April 13, 2023
On the plane? Half of these I can’t pass through security let alone eat next to my seat mate - pain bagnat ? Tuna?
I got protein bars & a sealed store bought bag of nuts, not a picnic.
I got protein bars & a sealed store bought bag of nuts, not a picnic.
Jennalynn
April 12, 2023
How about also what NOT to take?
Anything where the aroma could wander more than 2ft (think eggs/fish) DO NOT BRING.
Anything where the aroma could wander more than 2ft (think eggs/fish) DO NOT BRING.
Mary-Elizabeth T.
March 4, 2023
I get a few ice cube trays with plastic lids - mine have 6 pretty big compartments - maybe 2x2 inches - and fill each with treat. Rosemary and hot pepper taralle, olives, cubed dried Italian pepperoni, savoury dried chickpeas and fava beans, dried apricots, and chocolate covered almonds or sour candies.
PH69
October 30, 2022
My favorite guy on the plane is always the person that brings tuna, anchovies, and onions.
Susanna
August 21, 2022
You contradict yourself by first recommending a baguette, then saying in the next sentence to take crackers instead of bread for the crispness factor. Then you say to bring a shareable wedge of cheese—ah, no. How are you going to cut it? You can’t bring a knife on a plane. And please, please don’t bring any strong cheeses. Your seatmates will be rightly offended. Same goes for a flatbread with anchovies, crazy recommendation.
Gail D.
August 11, 2022
Yikes! I HAD to fly recently, but wore an N95 from arriving at one airport to leaving the other, including layovers at OHare and Dulles. I snuck a couple sips of water under my mask, likewise I ate a Kind Bar one quick bite at a time. I did NOT get COVID--but my son and his bride did on their boat and train honeymoon. #CovidIsNotOver #MonkeyPoxIsAirborne
ElleT
April 13, 2024
It's 2024 and I'm STILL doing this exact thing, because so many friends have gotten sick with a virus soon after flying. I'm probably going to do it for life because I always seem to sit in front of a sneezing, sniffling, poorly attended toddler who ends up TOUCHING ME with her little wet hands. Also, if you pack tuna, onions, strong cheese, garlic, or anchovies, practically everyone near you is going to hate you and, these days, someone just might act out.
Marianna F.
August 11, 2022
Smitten Kitchen has a delicious chickpea pan bagnat https://smittenkitchen.com/2021/05/chickpea-pan-bagnat/ for the conscientious
Vivian K.
August 11, 2022
Seems as if this non-fishy version would be rather messy if the typical amount of oil is used.
Rose C.
August 11, 2022
Those all seem very delicious, but quite a few have a very high “stink factor.” I think this is an important consideration when traveling by plane. It’s rude to other passengers to stink up the plane.
PH69
October 30, 2022
They really do stink! I was surprised by the amount of stinky suggestions for flying. I mean, there's not caring what other people think, and then there's being terrible on purpose.
Vivian K.
August 11, 2022
Apple slices, strips of red pepper, cubes of hard cheese, cubes or sticks of hard salami, dried apricots, small open faced cheese/salami sandwiches, my favorite no-grain granola bars, mixed nuts. Everything is its own ziplock bag or reusable plastic container. No way would I take a tuna bagnat sandwich!
billy
March 4, 2020
Eating half of this stuff on a plane would be super stinky and rude.... eggs, tuna, stinky meats, just no. All of these are "selfish snacks." Dry foods that are not stinky are best.
creamtea
July 22, 2019
Lately, when I make chocolate chip cookie dough, I roll it into logs using baking parchment and put the logs into ziplock bags and on into the freezer. Recently before a flight, I took out a log (the night before), sliced it and baked a small batch of cookies in the toaster oven for my husband and myself. 8-10 minutes baking time and a brief cooling period, and we had fresh cookies for the flight! (I was rather proud of myself, as we're usually very no-nonsense pack-and-go-to-the-airport-early types).
Greenandleafy
July 21, 2019
Great ideas! And could we please remember when in an airplane or train or other enclosed spaces, please go easy on the strong smelling food?
Melissa B.
July 21, 2019
When driving long distances with kids, I give each kids a shoebox packed with snacks. They are allowed to eat anything in the box— no permission needed. Everything is divided up fairly beforehand. No bothering adults necessary, no fighting over the last cookie. My kid with allergies gets fun new packaged snacks to try. A cooler in the way back means that one kid gets to be in charge of something— a power to be wielded wisely. And I get to have actual conversations up front. :)
creamtea
July 22, 2019
Brilliant! My kids are grown. Wish I'd thought of the shoebox idea when they were little!
Lindsay S.
January 5, 2019
I once saw a french family at the airport eating hard boiled eggs. I do this now, ha. If you cook them properly they don't smell strongly. I made "Louisa's peach cake" and took frozen leftovers with us and we ate it once we got to the hotel, it was so perfect still! Also I have always loved the french ham and butter on a baguette as a travel meal, and also the Italian version with prosciutto plus a san pellagrino limonata! :) Can't get much yummier than that!
Helen
October 6, 2018
I like to make my own trail mix of toasted or raw nuts, different kinds of raisins, roasted chickpeas, pumpkin seeds etc. It is easy to carry, eat and doesn’t smell. Peanut butter on triscuits are good too. I think avoiding strong smelling food is really important. Sometimes i pack a few dried apricots, apples, figs for something sweet that isn’t messy. I buy water in the airport past security and am good to go. I usually avoid meat and fish when traveling but a few slices of cheddar are good if you eat early enough. I prefer to eat vegetarian than risk food poisoning on a trip. Been there done that. Homemade trail mix, peanut butter crackers, dried fruit, hard dark chocolate and water are my go-to snacks.
See what other Food52 readers are saying.