Simple Plant-Based Solutions to Long and Tiring Plane Rides

If you’re somebody who travels often on airplanes, you know that even the best-made plans sometimes go awry. You can do everything right — wake up early, pack your suitcase way ahead of time, check-in to your flight the night before — and still get to the airport only to realize you’re starving because you had to skip your pre-plane meal. The problem with eating at airports is that sometimes the options are limited, and the few plant-based items available for purchase are often much more pricey than usual.

Sometimes it’s just not feasible to cook yourself a nourishing, filling meal before journeying to the airport. Travel is exhausting in and of itself, so to streamline the process, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite meals and snacks from our Food Monster App that are not only super easy to transport but healthy for you too. Never worry about what you’re going to eat at the airport, or how much money you’re going to have to spend at one of those pesky airport kiosks, again.

1. Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are some of the most accessible and convenient meals out there — plus, they are infinitely adaptable. All you have to do is throw your chosen ingredients and flavors into a container the night before you’ll need them, and give your jar a good shake. Then let your oats soak in the fridge overnight, and grab them on your way out the door to the airport in the morning for a healthy meal.

This jar of Halva-Style Overnight Oats by Maya Popovich is a versatile choice for a long day of traveling.

You can easily sub peanut or almond butter for the tahini, hemp seeds or ground flax seeds for chia, and blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries if you’re not a raspberry fan. Just pop all the ingredients into the fridge the night before, and enjoy your hassle free meal at the airport!

If you use plane rides as an excuse to indulge in your sweet tooth, this Dirt Pie Overnight Oatmeal by Lauren Smith is perfect for you.

2. Whole Grain Salads

The problem with packing leafy-green based salads is that by the time you’re all done getting to the airport, going through security, and finally buckling yourself safely into your seat on the plane, your greens are probably wilted and suddenly not looking so appetizing anymore. Whole grain salads are your solution. They can be made ahead, keep well in the fridge or the freezer, and are going to be satisfying even after sitting in your bag for a few hours.

This Quinoa and Beet Salad With Hazelnuts by Cathy Elton is gluten-free and ultra nutritious.

This Pomegranate and Hazelnut Moroccan Grain Salad by Rebecca Fallihee features an array of textures and colors to keep you satisfied during your flight.

3. Burritos

Burritos are ideal for traveling because they are physically dense, which makes them extremely convenient to travel with, and nutritionally dense if you assemble them wisely. Plus, they’re just as delicious to eat at room temperature, provided you pick the right fillings.

These Sweet Potato Bean Burrito With Plantains and Guac by Nicole Fraser won’t leak all over the place when you’re ready to eat.

We love the idea of crunch in our burritos, which is why this gluten-free Asian Crispy Tofu Burrito recipe by Rosie Newton and Dillon Sivyou is ideal.

4. Energy Bars

If you’re looking for a light and portable snack that provides you with lots of clean energy, look no further than vegan home-made energy bars. Sometimes it’s just not practical to consume an entire meal when you know you won’t be able to move around a lot and digest until after you land, which is why these bars come in handy.

Matt Frazier‘s Homemade Energy Bars are chock full of whole foods and recognizable ingredients.

These raw Banana Bread Energy Bars by Julie Van den Kerchove are cozy, healthy, and comforting.

5. Miscellaneous Snacks

The key to packing the perfect airplane snack is to choose a recipe that won’t make a huge mess all over the place. You want your snacking experience to be hassle-free and enjoyable; nobody wants to spend an entire flight hunting around for wayward crumbs, or running to the airplane bathroom over and over to make sure there’s no food residue all over your face.

These Six-Ingredient Spirulina Snackies by Kimmy Murphy provide all the benefits of the superfood Spirulina with no mess necessary.

Portable, snackable, convenient cake is made possible in these raw, gluten-free Carrot Cake Bites by Laura Hemmington.

Hopefully, the above suggestions helped make the overwhelming travel-planning process seem not only more manageable but even exciting and easy. Next time you’re plane-bound, use the experience as an opportunity to whip up some truly tasty plant-based meals and snacks, and let us know if you take any of our suggestions from above!

If you’re looking for more delicious vegan recipes, we highly recommend you download our Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 8,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to ten new recipes per day. Check it out!

Lead image source: ZinaidaSopina/Shutterstock