by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
Although airports are more likely to indicate which food establishments have “vegetarian/vegan” options, my experience is that many places don’t have much in the way of vegan options other than beverages or maybe a bag of nuts. If you have an unexpectedly long layover or a canceled flight, you can make do but, all too often, choices are limited, and prices are high. That’s why I usually bring my own food. My criteria for plane and airport food include:
- Not messy.
- Little chance of leakage. I don’t want anything that could seep out of a sealed container into my carry-on bag.
- Meets TSA regulations.
- No strong smells out of kindness for my seatmates.
- Does not need to be kept cold or warm. Also, no food safety concerns.
Here are some foods I bring for the plane:
- Bananas
- Apples
- Resealable bags of nuts
- Trail mix or granola
- Bagels
- Nut butter and jelly in a tortilla – this doesn’t seem to get as soggy as a PB and J sandwich
- Carrot sticks
- Dried fruit – dried mango is a treat
- Vegan jerky
- Energy bars or granola bars
Nothing terribly exciting but it’s enough to get me from one coast to the other without hunger pangs.
Here are some more ideas for food to bring to the airport and on the plane: Budget-Friendly Airport Tips for the Conscious Vegan Traveler
Here are some ideas for finding vegan food in U.S. airports