The Best Airplane Snacks For Kids

Few things cause as much anxiety as traveling with kids. The last thing any of us want to do when we’re knee deep in suitcases, laundry and toiletries is to attempt to make and pack homemade muffins and other snacks from scratch. It’s also not the time to teach lessons about the value of broccoli. Now is the time for convenience (and just plain survival). The right airplane snacks can be the difference between spending hours apologizing for your children’s crying and screaming and a peaceful, tantrum-free few hours. Bags of celery sticks probably won’t cut it, but that doesn’t mean you have to resort to junk food.

We’ve rounded up a list of healthy (and a few healthy-ish) airplane snacks, so you can keep the kids happy and your sanity level high. While all of our picks come in ready-to-pack packaging you can also opt to put them in reusable bags if you’re dividing among kids (and parents). We love Smelly Proof and Stasher for this purpose. These bag options are also great if you opt to bring cut fruit, sandwiches or other items you’re looking to keep as fresh as possible.

Read on for some great, ready-to-buy airplane snacks for kids.

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The Best Airplane Snacks For Kids

Raisels

We all remember that house that gave out raisins on Halloween. No one wants to be that house. Raisels is the best of both worlds. Basically they're fun flavored golden raisins made with nothing artificial. There are sweet, sour and spicy options like Watermelon Shock, sweet Raspberry and Fiesta Pineapple Chili Limón.
Real Food From The Ground Up

Real Food From The Ground Up makes some of the best crispy snacks. They're clean enough that you can feel comfortable giving them to the kids, but tasty enough that they'll actually happily eat them (and hopefully give you some peace). Standouts include their Cauliflower Chips and Purple Carrot crackers.
Lesser Evil

Lesser Evil recently launched a line of organic toddler snacks called Lil' Puffs. Made from up-cycled watermelon and pumpkin seeds, they're on-the-go puffs also have ingredients like berries, beets and more. Options include Veggie Blend, Sweet Potato Apple, Non-Dairy Cheddar and Strawberry Beet.
Nature's Garden

Nature's Garden has dozens upon dozens of options that are perfect for travel, including plenty of sugar-free and nut-ones. The mixes are perfect on their own though once at your destination, they're great mixed into salads (they even have special salad topper mixes), rice and just about any savory dish.
Hungry Buddha

Very low in sugar and salt, very high in protein and fiber and made only with recognizable ingredients Hungry Buddha's bars are perfect for travel as they'll keep the kids satiated and from bouncing off the walls.
The Matzo Project

Matzo all year round? Yes! The Matzo Project makes truly delicious matzo-based snacks (and this is coming from people who don't even want to eat matzo on Passover). Plus, everything comes in LOL packaging.
Educational Snacks

Educational Snacks might be the only snacks loaded with learning. Think education on an animal cracker. The mini cookies are made with non-GMO ingredients and are 100% nut-free. They have six varieties including States & Capitals, Presidents, English & Spanish, Food & Nutrition, Fun & Fitness and Farmers Market.
Blake’s Seed Based

Blake’s Seed Based has just launched gluten-free, vegan, allergy-friendly Rice Crispy Treats. They're lower in sugar when compared to other rice crispy options and have seeds including pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Blake's is probably one of the only kid - and Vogue - approved snack brands.
Setton Farms

Setton Farms makes fruit and nut bites. We love the ones in resealable pouches, like this one, which have no added sugar, are low in salt and provide some protein, fiber, potassium and antioxidants.
Pamela’s Whenever Bars

Most bars are loaded in added sugars, fat and salt (because salt and sugar are addictive, both are used and often extra sugar is used to cover the salt taste). Pamela’s Whenever Bars offer a middle ground. They're not totally clean but they're non-GMO, corn-syrup-free, gluten-free and low enough in added sugar and salt that you don't need to worry about the kids bouncing off the airplane walls.
The Good Crisp Company

The Good Crisp Company basically makes healthier versions of Pringle's. They're stacked gluten-free chips made with simple ingredients that are free of gluten, MSG, artificial flavors and colors. They come in a few different flavors including Classic Original, Outback BBQ and Sour Cream & Onion.
UNITE Food

UNITE Food bars sound decadent (and they taste it because their main ingredient is nut butter), but they're actually loaded in clean ingredients, high in fiber, protein and healthy fats.