ALLERGY FRIENDLY SNACKS FOR TRAVELING
You’re all packed for your flight, but have you thought about airplane snacks? We’re talking allergy friendly snacks for traveling that can breeze through TSA. Snacks that you and your kids will enjoy eating and sate your appetite.
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Top 10 Allergy Friendly Snacks To Pack
- GoGo squeeZ Applesauce pouches
- Grapes
- Bananas
- Nut-free granola/protein bars
- String cheese
- Chips
- Crackers
- Cookies
- Cereal
- Half sandwiches
Allergy Friendly Airplane Snacks
The moment hunger strikes, it’s smart to have portable snacks that are delicious and filling within arm’s reach inside your carry-on personal item. With just a little planning, you’ll be prepared with a mix of healthy snacks (and a few sweet treats) to satisfy those cravings and snack attacks!
Allergy Friendly Snacks for Traveling a Long Haul Flight
Since you’re in the plane for quite a few hours, you’ll need to pack meal type foods in addition to treats. Think protein and savory foods.
Nut-Free Travel Snacks
Try to bring a mix of savory and sweet foods to satisfy your needs. Some allergy friendly snacks for traveling can be prepackaged, while others can be homemade. You might want to bring some crunchy foods and some soft foods.
Whether you have an allergy or not, it’s a good idea to bring nut-free snacks, since you won’t know if they’ll declare that nuts are not allowed to be eaten on the flight. It may happen and you should plan for it.
What Kind of Snacks Can You Take on a Plane?
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) states that solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked baggage.
TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.
Source: TSA Snacks
TSA Approved Airplane Snacks
TSA requires that all food must undergo x-ray screening. Foods that are liquids, gels, or aerosols must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
Source: TSA Liquids Rule
Food Allergy Facts
The top 9 most common food allergens are cow’s milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nuts, sesame, fish, and shellfish.
More than 50 million Americans have an allergy of some kind. You probably know one of those people or are one yourself. Food allergies are estimated to affect 4% – 6% of children and 4% of adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Food allergy symptoms are most common in babies and children, but they can appear at any age. You can even develop an allergy to foods you have eaten for years with no problems.
Source ACAAI Food Allergy Overview
How to Store Airplane snacks
Food can be packed with a solid plastic ice pack and a small cooler. Get a note from your doctor stating the need for food allergy medication and safe foods.
Don’t try any new foods on travel days. Make sure you’ve eaten the food many times before. It’s not worth the risk mid-flight.
Make sure you have enough food for the flight and a little extra in case of delays.
Do beware of what is allowed through customs in your destination. Certain foods may need to be consumed before deplaning.
Bring your Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan. This may help when carrying your EpiPens or other Epinephrine injectors. TSA may allow small drinks for the allergic child with a doctor’s note.
Best TSA Approved Airplane Snacks
What follows is a comprehensive list of allergy friendly snacks for traveling. Pick and choose what works for your family. Try them out at home first. If they’re accepted and safe, add them to your personal list.
For latest allergen info, be sure to contact the manufacturer.
PROTEIN
- Protein bars are an easy grab and go. Look at this list of nut-free granola/protein bars
- Cubed chicken pieces
- Deli meat
- Pepperoni
- Beef jerky
- Cheese
- Garbanzo beans
VEGETABLES
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Cubed sweet potatoes (cooked)
- Baby carrots
- Celery sticks
- Fresh broccoli florets
CARBOHYDRATES OR CARBS
- Crackers
- Sandwiches
- Bread
- Instant oatmeal packets – just add hot water
FRUITS
- Bananas
- Apples
- Pears
- Grapes
- Dried fruit
- Raisin boxes
- GoGo squeeZ applesauce pouches
- Fruit leather
BARS
- Granola Bars, Breakfast Bars, Protein Bars and Cookies
- Made Good granola bars, minis, and cookies
- Enjoy Life bars
- 88 Acres granola, seed bars, and snacks.
- Protein bars are an easy grab and go. Look at this list of nut-free granola/protein bars
SNACKS
- Chips
- Veggie chips
- Pretzels
- Dry cereal
- Popcorn
- Skinny pop mini popcorn cakes
- Ka-Pop popped chips
- Popcorners gluten-free chips
- Enjoy Life Seed & Fruit mix, Breakfast ovals.
- Gerbs Allergy Friendly Foods makes nut-free dried fruit, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.
- Safe & Fair granola
- No Whey Chocolate trail mix
COOKIES
Some of these may have wheat. So decide what works for you.
- Plain and double-stuf Oreos contain Wheat
- Scooby Snacks
- Graham crackers
- Animal crackers
- Make some Wowbutter cookies or for an eggless version, Wowbutter cookies with no egg, to control exactly what ingredients work for you.
CANDY
- Gummy bears
- Yum Earth candy
- Fruit snacks
- Chocolate bars
NUT ALTERNATIVE BUTTERS
Peanut butter alternative spreads on rice cakes or bread make for a filling healthy snack! If you’re a toast type of person, go for the rice cake for the crunch.
If you prefer a chocolate spread, check out these Nutella alternative spreads.
Make sure to use containers that are 3.4 ounces or smaller to comply with the TSA Liquids Rule.
- Wowbutter
- Sunbutter To Go Cups or small pouches
- Biscoff Cookie Butter
- Seed butters
- Alternative nut butters
HOMEMADE FOODS
- Dollar sized pancakes
- Waffles
- Sandwiches
- Make homemade meatballs for an easy to eat protein.
- Trail mix with your own blend of safe foods.
- Make your own granola with oats, honey, olive oil, raisins, craisins, chocolate chips, seeds.
- Make your own rice krispie treats with safe cereal and safe sweeteners
Allergy Friendly Snacks for Traveling on a Road Trip
If you’re not traveling by airplane, these all make great road trip snacks as well! Whether you’re traveling by car, van, RV, or bus, you’ll be prepared. In fact, you don’t need to worry about TSA rules, so it’s even easier to pack whatever you like!
RV (photo courtesy of Pixabay)
THE BOTTOM LINE – FLYING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES
Remember there are others in similar shoes, living this life with food allergies.
Follow some of the ideas above. It will hopefully make your life a little easier and more prepared for your vacation.
If you have a tip to share, please add a comment below and help another family.
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