In one of my weekly newsletters, I asked readers to share what snacks and other airplane prep products they eat on flights. The Food52 community has delivered and I’m excited to share!
But first, a quick side note: Some of you have referenced a story about airplane snacks that I wrote for the New York Times in 2002. This could mean that you have a great memory or that I wrote something unforgettable, or that I am old. Let’s not think about it too much.
In the story, I admitted that I was afraid of flying even though I traveled a lot. I’m happy to report that after, oh, 30 years, I’ve finally overcome this fear. My remedies: exposure therapy, taking half a Xanax before takeoff, and seating as close to the front of the plane as possible, because at the front of the plane you feel and hear less of those ka-thunks that make you think: What was that?! I’m really looking forward to flying now.
These days I only pack for flights. I make sure I have dried mangoes or Turkish apricots, raw almonds, maybe a bag of potato chips or corn nuts, a bottle of Naked Mighty Mango, and bottled water.
Here’s what our Food52 fellow flyers had to share:
Let’s start with my mother:
Actually, you know what I take with me on the plane for nutrition – carrot sticks, celery, peppers, cucumber slices, sometimes romaine leaves. I’m like a rabbit. The veggies are filling and hydrating without requiring me to drink a ton of fluids, which would result in me having to use the unpleasant bathroom. Sometimes I go with sliced cheese and crackers, unique pretzels, raw almonds and candies. It works for me and there are no unpleasant food smells for those sitting nearby. Oh, if they come over with drinks, I like spicy tomato juice.
Laura, who read my story earlier, wrote:
It made me look at airplane food in a completely different way: as a chance to be creative, a little indulgent, and healthier. I like to make a big grain salad (farro, couscous, quinoa, lentils, whatever I have) with lots of dill, chickpeas, parsley, good olive oil, lemon zest, mushrooms and almonds. Anything tastes delicious when you throw it in – sometimes I leave it as is, and sometimes I sprinkle leftover chicken or steak on top. Also, I’m a huge idiot and invested in buying the adorable little travel tins of Maldon sea salt that make everything more delicious.
Laura eats well in heaven! Next came a very practical, no-nonsense group of travelers:
I take a peanut butter sandwich (the rest of the loaf and the jar are in my checked luggage on long trips) and an apple, along with my favorite tea. -Rosemary
I always make sure I have Fijian water, the original Swedish fish, earbuds and a great book. – Siobhan
Water and chocolate. – Jan
Sandwich of good cheese on good bread, cut in half, each half individually wrapped. A few ounces of nuts. A few small, easy-to-peel citrus fruits (clementines, tangerines, etc.). –Nancy
Maura is also Team PB&J, but goes into particular focus on the brands:
The only food for my plane rides: peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Teddie peanut butter. Dave’s thinly sliced white bread, done right. Smuckers strawberry or raspberry jam.
Nishi didn’t like the food, but wow, they’re prepared for the rest:
EO Lavender Cleaning Wipes (for wiping everything around the seat, including seat buckles and air vents). Emu mist hand sanitizer. As many “How was that done?” podcasts as I need. Ultima Lemon Electrolyte Stick Packs. Mini facial spray (like Evian or Mario Badescu) to combat dry air. A good lip balm (for the same reason). Saline nasal mist (again, for dry sinuses). A pack of facial tissues. Noise canceling earbuds. I wear Feetures PF relief socks to keep my feet feeling supported even on a long day of travel. A hoodie from Prairie Underground or a wrap sweater from Athleta if it gets cold. Lem’s Drifters are easy to slip on and off slippers that are perfect for airport security and comfort on the plane. A soft-bristled curling brush to remove tangles and bring life back to hair. Tangy xylitol chewing gum with spearmint. The Peak Design shoulder bag ensures that everything stays organized. 🙂 🙂
Janetta packs foods she loves to combat her fear of flying:
I bring any combination of the following: Soppresatta with gluten free crackers. Chicken salad. Oven Roasted Chicken and Bow Ties with Peas and Parmesan from Shubies Marketplace in Marblehead, MA. Raspberries that you would think would be crushed, but that is not the case. Really good chocolate. And I always carry a travel-sized piece of flake sea salt with me.
Sandra, who has just returned home after a month in Spain, said:
No matter where we go, I have a cup that keeps my coffee or tea hot and the water cold and somehow has a grounding effect on the entire trip.
Since I have had several cases of airplane ear since childhood and had a ruptured eardrum a few years ago, I always travel 100% on Afrin, Earplanes and plain Sudafed or Benadryl in a pinch.
Muji sells the best and even cheapest small travel sprays, pumps and other toiletry containers. I’m obsessed with them, they’re so good! I buy them online and then label them with my label maker.
Lisa packs much more than just snacks:
Stand for watching TV on my iPhone. Noise-cancelling beats from Dr. Dre for loud people who talk too much behind me. A pair of glasses and a necklace for the glasses so I don’t lose them. A pair of socks when it’s cold (I live in California and travel to Hawaii often, so flip-flops are often my “shoes”). And a bucket bag for all that crap and snacks.
A good bar of chocolate is enough for Alice:
1. An empty water bottle that I fill up at the airport or on the plane. Flight attendants usually like to refill the bottle instead of using a plastic cup. 2. Chocolate – the darker and fancier the better, for those exhausted moments when I really need a pick-me-up. My current favorite is the Coco brand cinnamon roll dark chocolate – although next week it might be something different! 🙂 3. A salad from a farmer’s fridge at the airport if I can find one. Their salads are fresh and delicious. 4. A salty snack like Cult Crackers’ crispy cassava crackers, as addictive as they claim. 5. A Ziploc of my favorite loose leaf green tea and biodegradable Rishi loose leaf tea bags as well as PG Tips tea bags for my (English) husband and a Ziploc of raw sugar or a small jar of honey.
Aimee’s Essentials includes an unexpected item:
Original Burt’s Bees lip balm, dried mango, a small wooden bowl in my purse where I keep my wedding rings for when we reach our final destination, and a book for the plane ride that I don’t normally read because I watch movies instead.
Beverly sent her list while she was at Sea-Tac Airport!
1. 12 oz. Thermos bottle with my own stickers. Refuel after security check. Keeps me hydrated on all my trips without the aftertaste of plastic. 2. Costco unsalted mix of nuts and dried cranberries as a snack between meals. 3. Fruit bars; Protein bars. 4. Lemonade with lime on the plane.
Rachel, a former flight attendant, packs water bottles just like us:
The most important thing I take with me on flights is a reusable water bottle so I don’t have to wait for service to start and also don’t have to worry about covering a small cup in case of turbulence! This way I can just put the lid back on and not have to worry about getting soaked. 🙂 That and snacks!
Anna Maria always eats the same snack on her overseas flights:
Always have a refillable bottle of water. A cozy cardigan for when it gets chilly on the flight. And when I travel abroad, I have to have peanut M&Ms with me. I don’t know why, but I can’t fly without it.
For Althea, a bento box solved more than just her snack situation:
My last trip was from Detroit to Fresno in memory of my father. In my carry-on luggage I had a bento box with sliced strawberries, nuts, sliced cheese, deli ham, carrot sticks and a small mixed salad with spring vegetables, a few cherry tomatoes and thinly sliced red onions. I put a few packets of balsamic and ranch dressing in my toiletry ziplock.
Although you could probably find these items at an airport supermarket, it was reassuring to have them on hand at all times without having to wait in line or rush between connecting flights. I already had enough to think and feel as it was.
And finally, Donna has a small but concrete list:
An empty bottle for refilling in the departure area. Cashews. Turkey jerky. Two Baby Bell cheeses. Hard Maple Candy at the Vermont Store. A sumo orange.
What do you like to pack for the flight? Tell us below!