I somehow managed to do two things that scare the living daylights out of me – travel alone long-distance and engage in a very large social setting where I don’t know many people. For some, this is no big deal, but when you have bad anxiety the apprehension can feel crippling at times. I made the decision to work through the fear step by step of my trip. Of course, it wasn’t nearly as hard as I imagined it to be and I had a great time hanging out with many new and long-time blog buddies at the Vida Vegan Con. As my lovely roomie Hannah said, you can only conquer anxiety by doing exactly what you are afraid of. Isn’t that the truth. Nothing feels better than doing something you originally didn’t believe you could do. It’s so empowering. The beauty is that each conquered step makes the next one a bit easier.
The love and attention to detail that was poured into this conference was so apparent. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a more welcoming, friendly setting with a better group of people. The good times were a rollin’ and the time went by much too fast. I met a lot of amazing bloggers and authors, but there were still so many I didn’t get a chance to say hello to or even get a photo with. Next time. :)
While I’m getting caught up on work and getting ready for another trip this week, I thought I’d show you some simple snacks that I packed for my flights. This list is hardly the final word on airplane snacking, but it’s simply a glimpse of what I enjoyed during this particular trip. I’d love to hear your own suggestions below!
When I pack food for a flight these are the things I try to keep in mind:
1. Hydration (high-water foods sneak in extra water)
2. Protein for satiety
3. Foods that take a long time to eat like sliced vegetables or firm dried fruit.
4. Crunchy foods to keep the mouth busy when bored
5. Things that hold up well and don’t fall apart or bruise
Here are some of the things I packed:
1. Grapes
I stuffed a zip bag to the brim with grapes for my flight from Toronto to Vancouver and it was honestly one of my favourite snacks of the entire trip! Grapes are so hydrating and hold up very well – two major points, plus they just taste great. Watermelon chunks or pineapple would also be a super hydrating option if grapes aren’t your thing.
Side note: When I eat fruit during travel I try to do so on an empty stomach. I’ve made the mistake of eating fruit after a protein-rich snack on a flight and I suffered a lot of stomach pain (fruit breaks down much faster than protein). When I make a point to eat fruit on an empty stomach, I rarely have issues, but of course everyone’s tummy will be different!
2. Dried Fruit
Speaking of fruit, I try not to pack fruit that bruises easily like delicate fresh pears. Dried pear slices (or any other dried fruit) can be a great option. I found this bag of dried pears at a store called Food Fight in Portland. They are super chewy and took a really long time to eat which is a major plus for someone who is a boredom snacker. Of course, you can also make your own dried fruit at home using a dehydrator or an oven on the lowest setting.
3. Coconut Water
I drank this coconut water before heading home on my first flight yesterday and I felt so hydrated during the flight. Coconut water isn’t something I normally buy, but since I was fairly dehydrated on this trip I knew it would do me a lot of good!
4. Roasted Chickpeas (or other crunchy crackers like Mary’s Crackers)
I also found these protein-packed gems at Food Fight in Portland and saved them for the flights home. They are super crunchy (to the point where you feel like you might break a tooth in some cases!) and also take a long time to eat. My only complaint is that the pepper flavour is really spicy and I would’ve preferred a less spicy flavour for traveling. My mouth was on fire eating these! Not ideal. You can also make your own roasted chickpeas at home, but they will turn soft very quickly. A reader let me know that this product is also available at Noah’s in Toronto – so keep your eyes peeled!
5. Protein Bars or Energy Bites (homemade or store-bought)
I always have a protein bar tucked away in my purse when I travel. Sometimes I just pick up a couple vegan bars from the store to stash in my purse or if I have time, I make them before the trip. Shown below are my Last Minute Protein Energy Bars or you can try my recent Banana Bread Protein Bars too. Both are fairly delicate though and shouldn’t be in very hot temperatures or stuffed into a suitcase. If you are looking for raw energy bite recipes try my Chocolate Chip Cookie Larabar Knockoffs or my Dark Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites, to name a couple good ones. Energy bites/bars are great when you are starving and you need a burst of energy…or bust.
6. Super Power Chia Bread
Ok, scratch what I said about the grapes. This bread was hands down my favourite snack of the entire trip! I’m in love. I actually wished I brought a double batch with me because I ran out of the bread by Saturday and would’ve loved to have some for my flights home! It held up perfectly and was great paired with hummus, packets of almond butter, or just enjoyed plain. I got into my hotel late on Thursday night and it was the first snack that I reached for to tame the hunger. Worked like a charm.
Many of you have already made this bread and left some great comments with your adaptations, so be sure to check out the original post and comments for ideas! I just got home last night and I’ve already made a double batch. I have issues.
7. Sliced Cucumbers & Carrots + Hummus
This post wouldn’t be complete without sliced vegetables! I packed this hydrating snack in my bag on the way to Portland. I peeled and sliced an entire English cucumber as well as a few carrots (to make two stuffed zip bags). Then I brought along a container of hummus to go with it. Keep in mind most spreads like hummus have to be under 100 ml when going through security (I, of course, went WAY over and they threw half of it out….*sad face*). Sliced veggies also take a long time to eat and keep me a happy traveler during a long flight.
I’m off to visit San Francisco with my mom and sister Kristi later this week (we’re celebrating our birthdays!), so I’ll be sure to pack a bunch of these snacks once again. If anyone has any suggestions on what to see and do (or skip) while in San Fran I’d love your tips!
Wishing you safe & happy travels this summer and beyond.
Thanks for this post, Angela! Since changing how I eat I seem to have a wee bit of anxiety about what to pack on flights and so I love seeing what other people do – also great ideas for other forms of travel.
This February I ventured off to Costa Rica and packed in my carry on a few packets of Artisana’s raw nut butters. They turned out to be a lifesaver on my unplanned night in Houston, Texas. They were a great addition to fruit and even taste great on their own!
Looks like you had a lovely time at the conference! And congrats on meeting your fear head on!
Enjoy SF! My best friend and I went a couple of years ago, and it was such an awesome trip! Definitely do the Ferry building (the whole waterfront area, really), Haight Ashbury, Golden Gate park, Mission district – actually, just pack in as much as you can, because everything we did was amazing! :) One more tip: bring good shoes for all of the hilly walks you’ll be taking! Have fun!
You conquered a fear of many! :) congrats! I love you site and I try to keep up with your posts. Thanks for inspiring me with all those recipes! Great site
Thank you for all these great ideas! Later this summer I will be flying with two of my little ones to visit my parents for a week. The four-year-old is a constant snacker, and it’s hard to think of different nutritious snacks he can have without going for the usual goldfish, chips, etc. I would never have thought to take grapes on a plane, but that is a great idea – especially hydration-wise.
One my my favorite things about all the photos from your trip is the glowing faces. :-) They just display healthy at a whole new level. I love how healthy looks!!
Please please go to “Blue Bottle” (cafe)
I was there a couple of years ago and I wish we had Blue bottle here in Toronto!
The coffee is amazing! Their french toast is just to die for! I heard they recently changed their menu so I hope they still have their french toast for you to try! They have several locations, I went to their down town location, btw – they have long line ups during the weekends!
Have fun!
Love the idea of eating fruit to add hydration! I hate how dry and gross airplanes are, yuck. I also cannot believe they made you throw some of your hummus out!? So frustrating. Can’t wait to hear more about Vida Vegan Con!
I lived in SF for 16 years… and I always took my guests to see Beach Blanket Babylon. It’s a long running show in the North Beach area of San Francisco. It’s a fun and unique show that you can’t see anywhere else.
SF is my playground as we are huge Giants fans. If you end up on the Embarcadero The Plant organic cafe is a great restaurant by the water. Vegan and non vegan food, all organic, YUM. They also have green juices. On Saturdays and a couple other days they also have the farmers market at the ferry building. HUGE market. The Ferry building is cool too. Vegan doughnuts inside. Also a sweet little wine tasting spot inside where you can get a loaf of bread and hummus to snack on.
We usually go down for baseball games, but there is so much to do there! They rent bikes and little go carts. It all depends on what you are up for – feel free to email me for more specific ideas :)
Just came back from 10 days in San Francisco. If you have a car, we found a lovely estate and gardens down near Palo Alto. It is called Filoli. Did not think the Tea Garden was worth the price of admission but loved the Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. Also thought the “Girl with a Pearl Earring” exibition at the de Young was worthwhile especially if you time your visit when there is a docent tour.
Why would the airlines throw out your food? Why do they need to be kept under 100ml. I don’t fly, so I never heard of such a thing!!
Angela: I’m so glad you had a good time. It looks like a lot of fun! I love your travelling food recommendations. I will be using those in the next few weeks.
By the way, I wanted to tell you I made your veggie-tofu summer rolls last night with the spicy peanut dipping sauce. SO GOOD! I won’t be getting any professional summer-rolling jobs in the near future, but it wasn’t as hard as I’d thought, and they were so good and refreshing. The sauce was a keeper for sure!
I recently flew to Scotland and had a big ziploc bag of grapes with me in preparation…but they confiscated them at security! I knew it was a risk, but I was still so disappointed. Then the airline I was flying with (KLM) lost my vegan meal request, and the only thing they could offer was a “Sorry. Do you want an extra bun?” But then couldn’t verify that the buns were vegan. Luckily I had an energy bar in my carry-on but it was a loooong 8 hours…next time I’ll have to bring some of your chia bread!
Also, did you get any side glances from people around you when you brought out your own (crunchy) food? I find it SO hard to discreetly eat my cut-up veggies and other so-called “weird” healthy food! Any tips on how to deal with looks or questions?
Oh my goodness – so much fun!!! I definitely will have to hit VVC up next year =D
Let us know what kind of fun restaurants there are out there to check out.
Have fun in San Francisco! I actually live about 45 minutes from there and have loads of tips for you. If you have a chance be sure to check out Palace of Fine Arts. I’m guessing you will see the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of Fine Arts is just a few minutes away. Trust me – it is worth it! Beautiful, it’s my absolute favourite thing ever. Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf are cool too. If you hit up the Ferry Building, there is a bakery in there called Mariposa and they have some amazing gluten free & vegan treats. But be careful as it’s not all vegan. Try the whoopie pie if they have it. The penguino is good too.
As for restaurants – check out Source – it’s fantabulous. Herbivore is pretty good too. If you are near Golden Gate Park, there is a restaurant called Judahlicious. I haven’t personally tried it but heard it’s good and it’s on my to-try list. Oh and if you have a hankering for pizza there is a place called Patxi’s that has utterly amazing vegan deep dish pizza. There is a very cool health food store called Rainbow Grocery near the Caltrain Station in San Francisco too. There is *so* much other food places to eat – send me a note if you want some more tips. I’m happy to help. And if you have some time to meet up for tea or lunch – let me know =)
These have already been said for the most part, but I agree in the City hit up Source, Herbivore, Philz, Plant cafe (you can see the Bay Bridge Lights from there, definitely worth it!) My favorite attraction is Twin Peaks, very beautiful at night! If you do make it across the bay (my home) Timeless Coffee in Oakland is an all-vegan coffee house with the best pastries around, and Natures Express is good fast food (all vegan). Also Cinnaholic, vegan cinnamon buns you’ll be dreaming about for months! Enjoy your visit, I think we have one of the most beautiful and fun areas.
The Good Bean roasted chickpeas are also available at Goodness Me here in Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford. I’ve tried the Smoky Chili & Lime and Sweet Cinnamon Flavours; neither of which I can say I liked. The sea salt would probably be the best but even then, I doubt I’d buy them again!
Oh my gosh PLEASE go to Source in SF. My husband’s favorite is their vegan burger (multiple types available) and my favorite is the Live Tacos. They are pretty simple but delicious and every time I get them I seriously think “I wish OSG would replicate this so I knew how to make it at home.”
hah thanks for the tip!!
San Fran go on the a double deck hop on and hop off bus tour that goes all around San Fran with a stop in Saulsalito and then you can take the Ferry back to the wharf area in San Fran. Alcatraz is a must, pre-book tickets.
I am on a major grapes kick right now, so that definitely sounds like the perfect snack. I really want to try those roasted chickpeas! I love roasted chickpeas, and being able to purchase them already made sounds awesome!
Pretty cool!
Nima Zahadat