Favorite Snacks to Bring on a Plane, From Frequent Trader Joe's Shopper

2025-08-09T11:13:01Z

I travel once a month for work, and I’ve come to rely on Trader Joe’s for the best in-flight snacks.
I think the perfect plane snack is mess-free, odorless, and has some nutritional value.
Some of my favorites include peanut butter crispy-rice bites and freeze-dried strawberries.

As someone who flies at least once a month for business, I’ve learned that packing the right plane snacks is essential.

In my opinion, the perfect plane snack is mess-free, doesn’t have a strong smell, and offers some nutritional value. I’ve found that many of the snacks at Trader Joe’s check all of these boxes.

I like to switch things up for each trip, packing a mix of sweet and salty options to help me power through long delays or missed meals.

Here are 12 of my go-to Trader Joe’s snacks for traveling.

The Citterio salami and cheese packs feel like a mini charcuterie board.

I think of these little Citterio snack packs as portable charcuterie boards. Although they need to be refrigerated, they’re fine for short trips in an insulated snack pouch.

They’re packed with protein, so I like to bring one along for flights that don’t offer meal service.

Trader Joe’s dark-chocolate bar with almonds has a nice crunch.

Trader Joe’s dark-chocolate bar with almonds is made with 73% cacao, so it’s a must-try for those who love darker, slightly bitter chocolate.

There’s also a version without almonds, but I prefer this one for the crunch and extra protein.

The dark-chocolate caramels are the perfect sweet treat.

These rich dark-chocolate-covered caramels are perfect for when I’m craving a tiny sweet treat.

I stash a few in a Ziplock bag instead of taking the whole pouch, otherwise, I’d probably eat them all.

Trader Joe’s peanut butter crispy rice bites are the perfect size.

I like Trader Joe’s peanut butter crispy rice bites even better than name-brand Rice Krispy treats. They’re the perfect size for a quick sugar fix on the go.

In my opinion, they have just the right balance of flavors — there’s not too much peanut butter, and the marshmallow flavor isn’t overwhelming.

These dark-chocolate almond-butter cups are a twist on a classic snack.

Trader Joe’s dark-chocolate almond-butter cups come individually wrapped, making them perfect for snacking or sharing.

They offer an elevated twist on traditional milk-chocolate peanut-butter cups and have a dollop of creamy almond butter in the center.

Trader Joe’s milk-chocolate peanut-butter pretzels are one of my favorite snacks.

This is hands down one of my all-time favorite snacks. Trader Joe’s also sells regular peanut-butter-filled pretzels, which are very good, but the sweet milk-chocolate coating on these takes them to the next level.

The PB&J and PB&C cups are like snack-sized sandwiches.

The Trader Joe’s peanut butter snack duos are great for kids.

The chocolate version (PB&C) pairs a cocoa-creme-filled wafer stick with a creamy peanut butter dip, and the jelly version (PB&J) includes a peanut butter wafer with a raspberry dip.

Both come in small, travel-friendly portions that meet the TSA’s liquid and gel requirements.

Chili-and-lime rolled corn tortilla chips make a great tangy treat.

These chili-and-lime chips are the perfect salty snack with a kick. The rolled shape makes them great for travel since they don’t break easily.

When I’m craving something savory, Trader Joe’s mini everything bagel sandwiches hit the spot.

I can’t get enough of Trader Joe’s mini everything bagel sandwich crackers. They’re buttery and savory, with a dollop of tangy cream cheese in between seasoned crackers.