Mainly curious more than anything else... are you all Americans, and don't you have catering on your flights?

Nuts or trailmix of somesort.

I like bringing homemade onigiri (rice balls) from home. I try to be considerate and not bring anything that has any odor.

The lady next to me once brought kimchi as a snack. WOW that stunk. FA came by later to ask her to stop.

in addition to string cheese and crackers (and 1/4 cup portions of almonds in mini-ziplock baggies), i take turkey jerky from trader joe's. oh, and chocolate.

I am not American, and I never carried any food around until I started heavy US domestic travel. There is no catering to speak of on most of those flights - even on 2-hour F flights, all you get is snacks. Coming from Asia where you get a full meal on flights shorter than one hour in economy, I was shocked. I'm glad I'm not doing those flights anymore.

Xanax Pez!

like others have said, i like having some powerbars, cliffbars, and other nutrition bars when i travel. i try to carry at least 500 calories with me in bar form.

I always love some cheese and crackers, any variety will do!

Obviously ... Scooby!

I am not American...Around 90% of my flights have at least some inclusive food, but that's beside the point...A cold mini-sandwich isn't enough for lunch (and can you imagine anyone asking for a second Alisnack box? :eek: ), and the dim sum offered in CX J for breakfast may be great for Chinese pax, but my stomach just can't take fish soup in the morning. The one time I suffered BA longhaul Y, their main midflight snack was a godawful cup of instant noodles. Things are even worse when you've got a connection. Airport food is inconsistent and expensive and, even when you've got lounge access, lots of lounges only have pretzels and crisps to offer, as pax clearly prefer being able to drink a pigswill of a blended Makro-own-brand whisky than having anything substantial to eat.
Similarly, I just can't drink the WHY class tea, that's why I bring my own bags.
If I'm flying a familiar airline that can be counted on to deliver adequate quantities of good-tasting food in the class of service I'm in, I am a bit less vigorous in terms of checking the snacks I'm carrying...

I think some basic guidelines for snacks to bring when traveling should be established. Here is what I have come up with:

Foods that...

1. Do not require refrigeration/freezing, and should not require heating.

2. Do not create crumbs or any kind of mess.

3. Do not create an odour.

4. Will pass through security (no liquids or gels).

DH and I have been dieting for about 9 months now. He's lost 70 lbs, but still weighs in just under 350, so a big guy. First off, he just can't eat most airline food that is offered these days. The lunch box "sandwich" 1 slice deli meat, 1 slice cheese, on a white rolls - insubstantial and yet horrible nutrition to boot. Even if you have heart healthy or lo calorie meals in your profile, all that usually means is they leave off the cheese! Forget asking for vegetarian - all cheese and pasta (if hot), forget including actual vegetables!

He is usually a Monday morning flier, so even if we're leaving the house for the airport at 5 AM, I make sure he eats a large, nutritious breakfast. If he lands at a time that means lunch, but won't have the opportunity for a real meal, I pack him a sandwich on a lo-carb wrap (usually w/cold grilled chicken) and a baggie of crudites (carrot sticks, etc). One time I packed him dessert: diet jello. :eek: Somehow they missed it in TSA screening, but when he discovered it, he told me to not include that again, jic.

Always in his computer bag are Kashi bars, baggies with a combination of 1 oz nuts, .5 oz dried fruit, 5 gr dark chocolate (= about 220 calories), sometimes small baggies of baked whole grain or soy chips. If he doesn't have these snacks available to him, he might stray and eat the full fat chips in the lounge, or the pizza they bring in for lunch, etc.

I agree w/above posters list. Especially the part about no foul odors (no tuna sandwiches please. I love them, but know they stink) or messiness.

I usually bring granola bars, fruit and my own herbal tea. Saltines are added when my stomach feels a little off.

I bring Smuckers Uncrustables. At least 3 of them for a BOS-SFO transcon.

For the unenlightened, these are frozen PB+J sandwiches. I take them out of my Freezer and put them in my carry-on the morning of my travels. They are good for at least the 8 hours or so between the freezer and the pacific.

They make very little to no mess and seem more substantial than a trail mix or a granola bar. I have never had trouble with TSA calling them 'a gel.' If they did, I would cram them into my ziplock.:p

Here are some good snacks
 

I enjoy making tea sandwiches with cucumber,cream cheese. I also bring dried cranberries, nuts.

I will sometimes go to the market and buy some English Tea and ask the flight attendant onboard to put hot water in my travel tumbler. It never fails and I ask the flight attendant for some milk and I have an English Tea on the plane. I also get some scones for later.

On overnight flights I will make a cheese,grapes,nuts,dried fruit platter and put it into a take-away container and its better than Buy On Board Meals. Add some Carr Crackers and a cookie and I have a snack.

I have never been able to understand why someone does not sell a gourmet box lunch at the airport, but all we ever see is a string of McDonalds and Pizza Hut offerings. I would certainly pay a premium price for a great box lunch.

Flying is still an adventure for us, and since I cannot buy a gourmet box lunch I make our own. I use artisan bread and my own chicken salad sandwich mix. With some raw vegetables (carrots, celery, tomatoes) and a few potato chips we can comfortably fly across the US and eat better than the folks in FC.

Our of concern for those occasions when an airline holds passengers captive on the tarmac for eight hours, I also take jerky, nuts, trail mix and power bars. Thankfully, these are usually consumed by the grandchildren after we arrive out our destination.