I am frequently being asked about airplane snacks for kids. Flying with a toddler or youngster can be a lot of work and Parents are constantly looking for healthy food options for airplanes. It also helps if it is one they can get through security for their toddlers and children. It’s no secret that airport food is not only overpriced but usually unhealthy. Last time we were in JFK, I bought three orders of chicken nuggets that were supposed to be 5 pieces for about $4.50 each and they stiffed us a nugget in each tray! Needless to say, I was upset.
It’s also best to avoid anything too sugary to feed your kids while stuck in a tight place for an extended period of time. Although I am an advocate of the emergency sucker for out of control meltdowns, I try to avoid super sugary foods and offer foods high in protein and fiber instead. I cannot tell you how many times I have been behind parent after parent who feeds their kiddos sugary treat after sugary treat only to look frazzled and confused when their toddler is jumping off the walls!
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If you want to keep things cold for a bit consider packing a frozen Gogurt or something similar in a cooler type lunch sack. These have worked great for us in the past and really helped us serve up some healthy options on the plane. Remember 3.4 oz is the magic number for getting liquids/gels through airport
Airplane Snacks for Kids
If you are running low on ideas here are 60 to get you started. Some have links to recipes:
- Coconut Oil and Flaxseed No-bake Cookies
- String Cheese
- Crackers and Cut Up Cheese
- Grapes
- Apple Slices
- Peanut Butter Sandwiches
- Lunchables
- Trailmix
- Whole Grain Crackers
- Gogurt – We take ours frozen to keep cool until flight time.
- Low Sugar Granola Bars
- Muffins
- Powdered Milk – Just Add to Water When Ready
- Carrots
- Whole Grain Goldfish Crackers
- Graham Crackers
- Uncrustables Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
- Low Sugar Fruit Snacks
- Banana
- Banana Chips
- Raisins
- Crasins
- Pretzels and Peanut Butter Dip
- Crackers and Peanut Butter
- Applesauce or Applesauce/Veggie Pouches
- Dried Apricots
- Dried Mangos
- Teddy Grahams
- Mini Rice Cakes
- Orange Slices
- Small Yogurt Cups (under 3.4 oz)
- Freeze Dried Strawberries
- Blueberries (in a container)
- Raspberries (in a container)
- Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Sliced Strawberries
- Whole Wheat Bread
- Carrots and Ranch Dip
- Salsa and Tortilla Chips
- Quesadilla (kids won’t care that it’s cold)
- Pizza slices (again kids won’t care that it’s cold)
- Turkey Sandwich
- Ham Sandwich
- Dry Cereal
- Oatmeal Packet – Ask for hot water from airport coffee shop or on the airplane.
- Bagel, Peanut Butter, and Raisins
- English Muffin, Ham, and Cheese
- Pepperoni Slices
- Popcorn
- Ham Wraps
- Kale Chips
- Fried Apple Rings
- Pecans
- Chocolate Covered Peanuts
- Pasta Salad
- Nutrigrain Bars
- Hummus and Pita
- Sweet Potato Chips
- Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
- Turkey Wraps
Thanks for checking out our list. Hopefully, you have some new ideas of good airplane snacks for kids. Let us know in the comments about your ideas and useful tips!
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Comments 20
Thanks for this list! This is perfect timing for me. We are flying 10 hours on Thursday and there will be no food service. I need to bring all of our meals with us, and now I have some great ideas!
Thank you!!!! I always am clueless when it comes to packing food for the airplane!
Awesome! We are taking the kids on a three hour plane ride and were wondering what we could bring for them!
This is a great list. We just went snack shopping for our 24 hrs of flying this weekend. Now, I think I need to go back and get some of these suggestions.
Wonderful list! You’ve got a lot of things here that I’d never have thought of.
How has your experience been taking “liquidy” things like yogurt tubes, pouches of applesauce, etc through security? I had a friend that recently refused to open her baby’s food jars/pouches at security. They made her get patted down and tested her hands, but let her through with it unopened. I don’t know if this is common or not…
Author
Hi Andi! They should never ask to open the baby food jars or pouches. But they will likely test the outside of jars and bottles and possibly hands for explosive residue. As long as they see a baby or a toddler they are usually pretty understanding. I’ve never had anything confiscated but tested yes. I’m proud of your friend for refusing to open the food, there is no reason for them to ask of that.
Great list! I’ve had TSA take yogurt away, but only in China did they insist on opening one pouch of baby food. I wasn’t exactly fluent and I had a ton with me so I didn’t put up much of a fuss. If it had been in the states I would have been looking to speak to a manager.
Thanks for linking up to #travtipstues today!
Author
Was it a cup of yogurt they took away? I know gogurt is 2 ounces but I don’t know what the cup is. I’m impressed you took the kids to China- We may take them to Japan with us next Spring but are still trying to decide.
I think your list is great for car traveling, too. Nutritious and reasonably priced snacks and meals can sometimes be a challenge on road trips. Hope you’re doing well, Hilarye!
For the safety of people with peanut allergies. Avoid bringing snacks on the plane that doesn’t contain peanuts or other nuts. It won’t kill you avoiding peanuts on the plane for the few hours you are flying but could kill the person on the plane, and not to mention divert the plane to get the person to an ER.
Author
Good point Tasha! I can’t imagine what it would be like to have a peanut allergy and be traveling or be the parent of a child with one!
I’m with Tasha…as the parent of a child with a peanut allergy, my eyes widened every time I saw peanut butter/nut products on this list! Peanut and tree nut allergies are very serious, and you never know who is flying with you. Not the best choice of snack to bring on a plane! Try soy butter, or Wowbutter instead.
Author
Yes Sarah I agree 100% completely. I wrote this list five years ago. Might be time for an updated more allergy tolerant one
What about cooked carrots or sweet potato?
Or in general can a food be cooked or just raw?
Author
Yes! You can bring cooked food through! You just want to consider how it will keep! I like to bring frozen gogurts to help keep other food fresh.
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I would suggest removing a lot of the peanut butter snacks you have mentioned. On SEVERAL flights I have been on, there has been an announcement that there is a peanut butter allergy on board and to not open anything with nuts. Of course it was when I let my kids choose the peanut butter M&M’s, but they understood, they have friends with food allergies. A toddler might not be so understanding.