These Healthy Snacks From Costco Are TSA-Friendly And Convenient For Your Next Flight

You arrive at your gate with an empty stomach and some time to spare. You figure this is a good time to go pick up a quick snack that will satiate you on your flight, so you don't have to settle for the usual dry pretzel sticks. However, the airport only has an array of junk food that won't settle your nervous stomach for a flight, which all cost about 50% more than they would at your local grocery store. So, you settle for the flavorless in-flight pretzel sticks and a grumbling stomach, and hope you're able to stop somewhere when you land.

While some airlines carry gourmet plane snacks, the typical airplane snack selection usually has little to no nutritional value. However, you don't have to go hungry for your flight if you can't spare some extra cash for snacks. Luckily, Costco has an array of TSA-approved healthy snacks that TikTok creators swear by. These snacks are the perfect way to squeeze in some fiber and protein on a long flight day without having to spend $10 on a bag of chips. These snacks have been carefully selected based on nutritional content, portability, and whether they are TSA-approved. Preparing your plane snacks can save time, money, and your taste buds from bland flight snacks, and put you in control of what you eat on travel days.

Savory single-serving nuts and seeds

Bringing along some of your favorite nuts and seeds to snack on is a great way to sneak in some protein and fiber on your trip. One TikTok creator and dietician, @jaclynlondon, recommends the Kirkland Single-Serve Nuts Variety Pack with cashews, peanuts, and almonds. For $19.49, you can get 30 individually wrapped packages with a serving size of nuts, the perfect size to stow away in your carry-on pocket. These assorted nut snack bags are Kosher and low-sodium while still maintaining a salty crunch.

Another creator, @thatcrunchymomkate, recommends buying the Go Raw Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds for travel days. These particular seeds are only two ingredients: sprouted pumpkin seeds and sea salt. According to Go Raw, sprouted seeds are better for digestion, gut health, and more nutritious than unsprouted seeds. To avoid filling your carry-on with the large bag the seeds come in, you can store the seeds in Ziploc bags or small Tupperware instead. This is a great way to get some healthy fats, proteins, and carbs in during a tiring trip.

DIY variety snack bags

Another way to reduce your travel stress and get in some nutrients while you are traveling is to prepare a customized snack bag for your flight. Dietician @jaclynlondon shows how she combines her favorite Costco products to make healthy, satiating snack bags for your carry-on. First, she recommends the Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Low Sodium Crackers. These vegan and gluten-free crackers are made with a shockingly low amount of sodium (110 mg) while still offering a savory crunch to snack on. Made with six seeds and all-natural ingredients, these are a great source of whole grains, fiber, protein, and fat.

Using these crackers as a base, you can mix and match a variety of TSA-approved additions for your trip. Kirkland Signature Organic Hummus Cups are perfect to dip the crackers in, as well as a cheese stick. The combination of healthy fats, proteins, and fibers will keep your energy up throughout your travels. You can also switch up the ingredients, however you like. Maybe you trade out the hummus for some Jif To Go Peanut Butter Cups or swap the cheese sticks for Chomps Original Beef Sticks. Note the snack-sized peanut butter cups are essential, as a full jar of peanut butter over 3.4 oz wouldn't pass TSA inspection.

Fruit on the go

While packing fresh fruit is a bit of an inconvenience for a flight, there are snacks that can make sure you get your fruits in on the go. A bag of That's it Mini Fruit Bars costs $15.99 for 24 assorted fruit bars. The bars are only made up of apples and other fruits, including mangoes, blueberries, and strawberries. They are easy to stick in the front pocket of your travel bag for easy access. There are also some great snacks for little ones to help with ear pressure on long flights. Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars are made with real fruit and are great for munching on the plane. The chewing jaw activity will alleviate some of the air pressure on flights, plus they taste great! Amara Organic Yogurt Smoothie Melts are also perfect plane treats for little ones as they have no added sugar.

These mess-free Costco snacks are easy to eat when rushing through the airport or when you're trying to juggle multiple bags at once. You can dip them in peanut butter for extra protein, or just eat them straight out of the package for an easy sweet treat. You can bring a lot of different foods through TSA, but here are some exceptions.

Methodology

We selected these Costco snacks after reviewing their nutritional content and comparing them to other market snacks. We chose snacks with organic or natural ingredients to make sure they have quality nutrients for travel days and ensured each suggested item is TSA-approved and easily stored in cabin baggage. The snacks chosen were also vouched for on social media, either by frequent travelers or nutritionists.

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