Flying for the Holidays? How to Pack Snacks and Meals for the Plane

Holiday travel days are long. Between the drive to the airport, the security line, a delay or two and the flight itself, it is easy to spend eight hours away from a real kitchen. Airport food fills that gap, but it is expensive, often not very good and packaged in layers of plastic that go straight into the trash.

Packing your own food takes a little planning and pays off every time. Here is what you can generally bring through security, the snacks that travel best, how to pack a full meal, what to do with the empty containers and how to keep kids happy from gate to gate.

The security basics for food

In the United States, solid foods are generally fine to bring in a carry-on. Sandwiches, wraps, crackers, cut fruit and vegetables, cheese, cookies, nuts and cold cooked meals usually go through without trouble. Solid food sometimes needs to come out of your bag for separate screening, so pack it near the top.

The catch is anything that counts as a liquid, gel or spread. Yogurt, hummus, soup, peanut butter, salad dressing, applesauce and dips over 3.4 ounces fall under the liquids rule for carry-on bags. That includes the size of the container, not just how much is inside. The rules change and have exceptions, for example for baby food, so check TSA's current rules before you fly. When in doubt, choose a solid version: cheese instead of a cheese dip, whole fruit instead of applesauce, a sandwich with the spread already inside.

Snacks that travel well

The best plane snacks are sturdy, not too messy and do not have a strong smell that bothers the person in the next seat. A good mix of protein, fiber and a treat keeps everyone content on a long day.

• Trail mix, roasted chickpeas or almonds
• Cheese cubes with whole-grain crackers
• Apple slices tossed with a little lemon juice, or clementines
• Carrot, cucumber and bell pepper sticks
• Homemade granola bars or energy bites
• Pretzels, popcorn or rice cakes

Small steel containers keep these from getting crushed at the bottom of a backpack. The ECOlunchpod is shaped for carrot sticks and pretzel rods, and the round ECOdipper holds a generous handful of nuts or crackers. Both are for dry and damp foods only, which is exactly what you want to pack for a flight anyway.

Packing a real meal

If your travel day spans a mealtime, pack something more substantial than snacks. Good options are food that tastes fine cold or at room temperature: a hearty wrap, a grain salad with roasted vegetables and a lighter dressing mixed in, cold noodles with chicken or tofu, or a bento-style spread of cheese, crackers, sliced meats, fruit and vegetables.

A multi-layer box keeps everything organized on a tiny tray table. The Tri Bento stacks three round layers, so you can put a main in one, fruit in another and snacks in the third, then eat one layer at a time. Pack the food cold from the fridge and eat perishable items within a few hours, since food should not sit at room temperature for more than about two hours. Skip anything that needs reheating, as there is no way to warm food on board.

Empty containers for the trip home

One of the best things about stainless steel is that it nests. Once the food is gone, smaller pieces tuck inside larger ones and take up very little room in your bag. Rinse them in an airport restroom or wipe them out with a napkin, and they are ready to go.

Those empty containers are useful on the other end, too. Take home leftovers from a family dinner, pack snacks for a day of sightseeing or use them to carry cookies from a relative's kitchen. Just remember that anything packed for the flight home follows the same security rules.

Packing for kids

Kids often get hungry at the least convenient moment, like during takeoff or right after the seatbelt sign turns on. Pack more snacks than you think you need, and portion them into small containers they can open themselves. The Splash Pod has easy-open tabs for little hands, which helps when you are wedged in a middle seat.

Bring a mix of familiar favorites and one or two special treats saved for tough moments. A snack reveal every hour or so can also break up a long flight. Browse the Snack Containers collection to build a travel kit that fits in your carry-on.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring food through airport security?

Solid foods are generally allowed in carry-on bags in the United States. Liquids, gels and spreads over 3.4 ounces are restricted, so check TSA's current rules before you fly.

Can I bring hummus or yogurt on a plane?

Only in containers of 3.4 ounces or less in your carry-on, following the liquids rule. Solid alternatives like cheese or whole fruit are simpler.

What are the best snacks for a long flight?

Sturdy, low-mess and low-odor foods work best, like nuts, crackers, cheese, cut vegetables and granola bars. Pack a mix of protein and fiber to stay full.

How do I keep food fresh on a travel day?

Pack it cold from the fridge and eat perishable items within a few hours. Choose foods that are fine at room temperature for the later part of the trip.

Are stainless steel containers allowed on planes?

Empty food containers are generally allowed in carry-on bags. Rules can change, so it is always worth checking TSA's current guidance before you travel.