It’s gotten easier to find vegan travel snacks. I’ve been thinking about posting one of these for a while. I’ve noticed a lot of people searching for vegan-friendly, travel-friendly snacks and I think this post can help with ideas. Vegans are all too familiar with the anxiety that comes with flying. You have to request vegan meals at least 24 hours in advance, but sometimes the airline messes up, and you’re stuck with vegetarian meals that you can’t eat (*cough, cough* United). Your flight may not offer meals at all if it’s a shorter one. There’s also no way to know what snacks will be offered. Most of us have to pack our own food to ensure that we don’t starve.
So, one of the best things we can do is pack enough snacks. I tend to be a sweet snacker. I love flavored popcorn and pretzel crisps just as much as the next person, but sweet snacks are where it’s at for me. Most of these are readily available at grocery stores and can likely be found at airports. They are also mostly kid-friendly! For some inspiration, here is a list of my favorite vegan travel snacks.
Protein Bars (NuGo Nutrition and Misfits)
One of my personal favorites are protein bars! I usually carry a few with me for hikes or breakfast, and you’ll get some nutrition. It can be hard to find good vegan ones, but I like the Nugo brand ones (I can get a bulk box at Costco) and the Misfits bars, which are a new discovery. They both come in a variety of flavors. My only dislike is that the Misfits ones are a bit chewy and get stuck to my teeth. I’ve also recently enjoyed the Mezcla granola bars, which you can purchase directly from them, but I’ve also been able to find them at Sprouts, Costco, Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, etc. You can also find GoMacro bars at your local grocery stores (and sometimes at the airport!), but the flavors I’ve tried taste and feel a bit too much like Tootsie Rolls for me.
Lenny & Lenny’s Protein Cookie
This is another protein-forward snack (or easy dessert) that I love and I’ve also been able to find at airports! It’s a great sweet treat to have after any airplane meal when the only dessert they’ll offer is likely fruit. Fruit is great, but not always what you’re looking for in a dessert. They also have a ton of other snacks, like their fitzels (protein pretzels, that I LOVE) or cookie-fied protein bars.
Fresh Cut Fruits and Veggies
BUT fresh fruit and veggies that you’ve brought from home are an excellent snack. For this suggestion, however, you’ll have to double check the rules of whatever airline you’re flying and what country you’re flying into. Many of them are quite strict! I sometimes bring an apple or a banana. You can cut fruit and keep it fresh with a sprinkle of lemon juice.
Fruit Leather or Bars
If you don’t want to risk fresh fruit, fruit bars or fruit leather are another great option. I believe the brands That’s It, Pure Organic, and Black Forest Stretch Island are all vegan-friendly, but I would double-check the ingredient lists.
Dark Chocolate Quinoa Crisps
These dark chocolate and sea salt chocolate quinoa crisps from the brand Undercover are so good. You can find these at your local supermarket and sometimes at the airport in bigger bags but for the last few years, United has had these as one of their snack options! They’re the perfect size too.
Granola or Trail Mix
Homemade or store-bought granola or trail mix is also a fantastic option. I’m a fan of the MadeGood Granola Minis, and they come in a few different flavors, but you could very easily make your own trail mix, and I might do that for my next trip. You could also make a child-friendly version with chocolate candies or chips, pretzels, marshmallows, popcorn, cereal, etc.
Nuts
I don’t like munching on nuts (nut butter or nothing), but this is a convenient snack for most and readily accessible. My parents love roasted peanuts and will take them on their trips. Just be mindful of the folks around you and their allergies!
Crunchy Chickpeas
If you don’t like nuts, maybe chickpeas are more your vibe and are a high-protein snack too (not that nuts aren’t). Biena Chickpea Snacks and Saffron Road both offer vegan varieties. Most grocery stores carry chickpea snacks but if you can’t find them, you can easily make them. I like to toss mine with olive oil and buffalo sauce, and a handful of seasonings like garlic powder, and air fry them until nice and crispy. You can snack on them as is or use them in meals like buffalo chickpea wraps.
Cold Veggie Sub
A trick that I’ve started doing lately if I have a flight that’s longer than six hours (and doesn’t serve meals) or it’s a flight that departs around lunch or dinner time is to buy a cold veggie sub (from Wawa or a local deli shop) to have as a meal. It’s quick, it’s light, it’s easy and convenient, and I won’t have to worry about not getting proper food. Just make sure to eat it at your gate or within the first hour on your flight or it’ll get soggy.
Popcorn
This one might be obvious, but popcorn isn’t just the perfect movie theater snack! This is a perfectly light treat, and you can flavor them however you want. There are plenty of brands that have vegan popcorn; LesserEvil is my personal favorite. You can also make your own! A lot of microwave popcorn brands are actually vegan. They’ll use butter ‘flavoring’ or butter-flavored oil that doesn’t contain any actual animal products or byproducts.
Bobo’s
My dad has become a big fan of Bobo’s Oat Bites; at one point, we had five boxes in different flavors in our pantry. Some of their most recognizable flavors include Strawberry, Original Chocolate Chip, and Apple Pie. It can also be eaten with breakfast! This is a pre-packaged, whole-grain sweet treat that the whole family will love.
Vegan Jerky
I have never tried vegan jerky (I’ve never had meat jerky), so I can’t offer any recommendations here, but more and more brands now sell vegan jerky. The most popular one I’ve seen is Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. They come in so many different flavors: general Tso’s, smoked black pepper, hot buffalo wing, maple bacon, smoky Carolina BBQ, and pepperoni pizza. They also have limited small-batch flavors, including honee glazed ham and cheddar jalapeno popper.
Chips
Last but not least, potato chips! Most of your name-brand potato chips (Lay’s, Pringles, etc.) have vegan flavors but there are plenty of other brands that have an even greater variety. I’m partial to Kettle Brand and The Good Crisp but no matter where you are in the world, you can always find vegan-friendly chips.
Did I miss your favorite vegan travel snack? Let me know below!
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