There are things in life you never want to put in your mouth: feet, dirt, power cords and airline food, for example. The latter, airline food, is something some people no longer need to worry about: Many flights are no longer serving full meals, instead handing out a bag of crackers and a shot glass-sized soda pop. Still, that lack of food might be better than handing out an entire in-flight meal: Unless you’re sitting in first class, an in-flight meal is sure to be a stone in your stomach.
Given the lack of food, or at least edible food, planes are often things that make hunger fly. This leaves people helpless: getting up and going to a snack bar or cafeteria is not exactly feasible. For this reason, it’s important to bring snacks with you on your flight, snacks that fill you up without contributing to jet lag or air sickness.
candy: Yes, candy may contradict everything you’ve ever read in your doctor’s or dentist’s office brochures, but candy is a great airplane food. Not only is it easy to carry, but it also holds you tight as you go from point A to point B. The chewing motion that most candies require can also help keep your ears from getting uncomfortably clogged as you grow taller.
Trail mix or dried fruit: It is healthy, easy to carry and fills you up. Taking a bag of trail mix or dried fruit on the plane is a great way to guilt-free snacking. It’s also a great thing to bring if you have kids; it will keep you busy while forcing you to eat well. However, since salt can contribute to jet lag, it’s a good idea to purchase a trail mix that is unsalted or low in sodium.
cracker: Sure, the stewards and stewardesses will probably give you a bag of crackers during the flight, but those bags contain about three crackers and a fair amount of air. Instead of relying on them to feed you, just feed yourself and bring a box of crackers in your carry-on. These can hold you back until you eat a decent meal, and they can also help you ward off things like airsickness.
bottle of water: Nobody wants to be the person who has to constantly get up to go to the bathroom, but drinking enough water during a flight will help you not feel lethargic at the end of the flight. Instead of relying on airline staff to give you a bottle of water – since their bottles are generally as small as possible – bring your own bottle and drink liberally during the flight. If you’re worried about the bathroom thing, just request an aisle seat.
bagels: Skipping breakfast and catching a morning flight is a great way to starve at 30,000 feet. Instead of not eating or eating something loaded with fat and preservatives, get on the plane with a bagel. Many airports are full of bakeries. So if you’re not bringing one from home, it should be relatively easy to find one before your flight takes off.
There are a million and eight things that make flying uncomfortable… but starvation will dramatically increase the discomfort. Plan ahead and pack groceries that are easy to carry and eat (boarding a plane with a plate of crab legs is probably not the best idea). Staying well fed during the flight is the first step to making your ride as turbulent as possible.
Thanks to Jennifer Jordan
