10 TSA approved snacks for your next flight.
Confessions of a chronic snacker: I love bringing TSA-approved snacks on long-haul (and even short-haul) flights.
The TSA allows a surprisingly large number of food items. And over the years, I’ve found that I prefer packing my own snacks in lieu of purchasing overpriced chips and nut bars at the airport (though, occasionally, I slip up while planning and will cave).
Here are our top 10 fuss-free TSA-approved snack ideas for your next flight!
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Gouda
The TSA considers anything spreadable to be a liquid, and all liquids are subject to the 3-1-1 rule—one passenger gets to bring one clear quart-sized plastic zip-top bag with (up to) 3.4 oz sized liquid-safe containers.
For this reason, hard cheeses are one of the most popular TSA-approved flight snacks! You’ll want to bring foods that are firm and solid.
Gouda is a personal favorite. It’s a slightly sharp and sweet hard cheese that I cut up and slip into my snack bag before heading to the airport. Fresh Gouda also has a gentle scent: a little caramelly and buttery. It’s not a smell that should off-put anyone sitting next to you on a plane (I try to be considerate and not bring any snacks with an intense aroma).
Crackers
If you plan on bringing Gouda, consider pairing your snack with (also TSA-approved) crackers. Crackers complement Gouda’s smoky, nutty flavor and work well as TSA-approved snacks on their own, too.
You can pick up crackers at most local grocery stores. I love red pepper crackers because they have a kick. You can also pack raisin crackers or salted crackers. Just note: studies have shown that our ability to taste salt is reduced at higher elevations (it’s part of the reason why airplane food tends to taste bland)!
Sandwich
There are plenty of sandwiches that you can make with TSA-approved ingredients.
My usual TSA-approved sandwich is two slices of bread, a quarter cup of chopped salad kit in between, and deli meat or cooked chickpeas. I love croissant bread (a croissant baked as a bread loaf) in particular because it’s infused with butter, and adds a little more depth of flavor. You can also slice a regular croissant in half!
know before you go
In 2020, the TSA began recommending that all carry-on food items be stored in a clear plastic bag. Since then, I have kept my snacks in these clear Stasher bags or this clear-topped bento box (both are dishwasher safe).
I try to make my carry-on food easily accessible because TSA sometimes requires you to separate your food into a security screening container (just like how you separate your electronic devices and liquids bag).
Protein Bars
If I’m short on time, I usually grab a protein bar or two from Target before a late-night flight.
Protein bars are easy to pack. They’re clean, unfussy eats, making them some of the best TSA-approved snacks!
My favorite brands are Larabar (Apple Pie flavor for the win), Munk Pack Vegan Cookies (so soft. so good), and KIND Bars.
Breakfast Bars
If my flight is early in the morning, I pack these high-energy orange oat bars. I meal prep these breakfast bars every Sunday, so I tend to have a constant supply in my fridge, but they are TSA-friendly, too!
The original recipe calls for a food processor, but I don’t own one, so I finely chop the nuts and apricots instead. The bars still taste nutty and citrusy. I also make sure to use a creamy, no-stir peanut butter (don’t worry; the peanut butter gets stiffer and acts as a binding agent, which is why the oat mix, after baking, is TSA-approved).
Trail Mix
If you’re looking for more TSA-approved snack ideas, trail mix is always a good bet!
My go-to trail mix recipe involves cashews, chocolate chips, almonds, and dried raspberries. But I also love tossing together macadamia nuts, dried pineapple, dried mango, and pumpkin seeds.
Grapes
Grapes happen to be my personal favorite fruit. But you can bring pretty much any solid fruit through TSA if you depart from the “mainland” (how TSA refers to contiguous U.S. states).
If you are flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, I do not recommend bringing fresh fruit as your snack!
That being said, fruit can be a great snack if you’re traveling domestically and not flying in from any of those destinations.
Apple Slices
Apple slices are another one of my favorite TSA approved snacks because they are so refreshing and hydrating.
I usually bring a small 1.13 oz packet of cinnamon-honey RX nut butter (in my TSA-compliant liquids bag) to go along with it!
Salad
If I’m planning on eating at the airport while waiting for my flight, I pack a salad. My favorite TSA-approved salad is comprised of arugula, chopped toasted almonds, and dried cranberries.
Chopped Veggies
Chopped veggies also make great TSA-approved snacks! Feel free to load up on celery, carrots, and cucumbers.
You can also bring in roasted vegetables! I personally don’t because I tend to cook my vegetables with a lot of spices, which creates a very peppery, oniony aroma that I love (but I’m not sure someone sitting next to me on a flight would be thrilled if they got a whiff of my home-cooking).
Kale Chips
My mum made kale chips all the time when I was younger. When I first tried them, I had no idea they were kale (so even if you don’t like kale, you might like these). I kept requesting for more every night after school.
Kale chips are light and veggie-forward snacks. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Chop up some kale. Drizzle some olive oil and salt over top. Bake for 10 minutes.
Viola! Kale chips.
General FAQ
Personal FAQ
Did you enjoy this list of TSA-approved snacks? What are your favorite TSA-approved snacks? Let me know in the comments below!
Update: Exciting news! I’ve been mentioned as one of the top 100 travel & lifestyle bloggers by Feedspot. Thank y’all so much. It means the world to me that y’all are reading and engaging with this little slice of the Internet.
Wait. You can snacks through TSA? Mind blown.
I had to give up my sliced apple to customs when traveling between Toronto and Chicago. If I left the apple whole, no issue.
Oh, thank you for sharing this! I’ve heard things can get weird when you’re traveling internationally. Different countries have different rules about what kind of foods you can bring. This post is for domestic travel (within the USA) in particular (though if you’re flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, you can not bring most fresh fruit on board either).
I appreciate your wonderful TSA-approved food suggestions. Your clever and imaginative advice makes traveling so much more delicious and pleasurable. I am eager to test these on my upcoming flight.