Packable Snack suggestions wanted!

[Sydneygirl]

Looking for advice on the best snacks that pack small but are filling! I am getting the hang of minimalist packing but often end up with a huge separate bag for food and would love some suggestions on how to downsize while still keeping the whole family happy.

I'm allergic to nuts so those are out..... open to everything else though - thanks!

[G42]

Arrrg, I'm allergic to everything growing but thankfully not food (yet). I love nuts and would be very sad, ahem.

Depends on if / when you have access to refrigeration and if you're flying and subject to 3oz liquids rule, so take all this with that in mind...
I do variations of all of the below for flights and car trips...with the addition of nuts and my favorite bar is a KIND protein nut bar but that's out for you

-mini pita or large ones cut up (they last a reasonable time without molding, go for wheat)
-good dense crackers
-seeds (if you're not allergic; ie, roasted salted pumpkin seeds from Trader Joe's, sunflower, etc)
-hummus (refrigeration after a bit unless you get one of the shelf stable ones, but they're not as good)
-dried meat/jerky, there are also mushroom versions & others if you don't do meat
-cans of smoked oysters, clams, etc, if you can be a little messy/stinky, like on a road trip...bring one of those tiny cocktail forks or toothpicks if you can't wash
-roasted/spiced chickpeas - good protein and any spice flavouring you want to do (do your own for less $ and customization)
-hard cheeses last a long time without refrigeration, do your homework
-babybel cheese in wax last for flights.... and work well in coolers when the ice gets melty
-Halo's mandarins, very refreshing, sweet, and good moisture if you're eating dry crackers/seeds/cheese
-baby carrots, persian cucumbers, cut celery, etc., if you have refrigeration - good moisture
-those small chicken or tuna 'on the go' packs...kind of pricey and lots of packaging but sometimes it's worth it
-squeezeable fruit pouches, very refreshing shelf stable or refrigerated
-dried fruit
-old fashioned 'gorp' just watch out for your nuts
-granola cluster type cereals... high protein, reasonable sugar cereals make great snacks for travel if you're ok with grain
-granola bars/nutrition bars in general, there's a version out there for every dietary focus
-hard boiled eggs last a while without fridge
-cooked/chilled edamame and / or dried soybeans (allergens)

Basically, I balance the need for compact protein dense solutions, with whole grain good carbs, reasonable natural sweetness, crunch & texture variance, and recognize the need for moisture that isn't just the refillable bottle of water.
If you have a freezer, that opens up a whole 'nother world

[bchaplin]

One thing that is counterintuitive, but seems to work for me, is to chop up any fruits into a Tupperware. An intact apple keeps better, but somehow having it in pieces makes it more inviting to eat (and share). I like to add raisins to the container; they get soft and taste better than they do straight from the box. Same with carrots, oranges, etc. Otherwise it's hard to add to @G42's list!

[twosandalz]

I find how I pack the food makes a bigger difference than what the food is. Sometimes corraling it into a tidy rectangle packs up more tightly, like giving everyone their own bento-style box. Sometimes packing the food into a sack makes more sense. It depends on the bag that the food is getting packed into.
All that said, when I'm on a trail for lunch and looking to save space in my pack, I make sandwiches. Sometimes jam and butter, or hummus with veggies and cheese, chicken salad, chickpea salad, and so on. Others in my family like cold cuts too which are super compact.

[bijoux]

Fruit roll ups may be called fruit leather in your country
Beef jerky
Cheese (pre sliced) with seed crackers

For my taste, all these items are ok in the same ziplock bag. Just pick and choose different taste combinations in each bite. Makes it easier with just one bag/container.

[GoStanford]

A couple of things that have gone over well especially when we have a group travelling together:

-dry fruit like apricots, hardy and squishable if your bag gets jammed against something
-a bar of chocolate (if it won’t melt)
-animal crackers or other dry biscuits
-carrot sticks, grape tomatoes, celery or other fresh veg

I think you’re smart to bring some of your own snacks. So much of what is available for purchase at airports or in gas stations is full of sodium or additives. Hey, I like that stuff too but having something of your own choosing can be a nice option.

[Sydneygirl]

Thanks for the suggestions - these are brilliant! We are thinking mostly flights where the food has always been pretty bad. This is my cut down list based on what I think my kids will eat from the above:

mini pita

dense crackers

twiggy sticks

roasted seeds

roasted/spiced chickpeas

edamame and / or dried soybeans

babybel cheese in wax

hummus/dips

cut veggies

mandarins

fruit pouches

dried fruit

roll ups

cereals

granola bars/nutrition bars

M&M's

lollies

Suggestions for best chocolate that doesn't melt? M&M's? Thinking a mix of maybe skittles, M&M's and some healthy-ish crackers to bulk it out.....

We use stackable snack cups that work quite well but do have size restrictions on the shape of food. Mostly small stuff that's pourable works well.

[bijoux]

. Suggestions for best chocolate that doesn't melt? .

Mini M&Ms or Mars bars in the share packs/ Favourites box (mixture of flavours)/ mini Whittakers bars.

[GoStanford]

For chocolate, I’ve had good luck with solid bars of dark chocolate, but I try to keep the bag out of the heat. Another good option is chocolate chips mixed with small dried fruit like cranberries to make a trail mix.

[Denises]

Thanks for the suggestions - these are brilliant! We are thinking mostly flights where the food has always been pretty bad. This is my cut down list based on what I think my kids will eat from the above:

mini pita

dense crackers

twiggy sticks

roasted seeds

roasted/spiced chickpeas

edamame and / or dried soybeans

babybel cheese in wax

hummus/dips

cut veggies

mandarins

fruit pouches

dried fruit

roll ups

cereals

granola bars/nutrition bars

M&M's

lollies

Suggestions for best chocolate that doesn't melt? M&M's? Thinking a mix of maybe skittles, M&M's and some healthy-ish crackers to bulk it out.....

We use stackable snack cups that work quite well but do have size restrictions on the shape of food. Mostly small stuff that's pourable works well.

Is this for domestic or international flights? If it's international flights, hummus, dips and fruit pouches will be classed as liquids and gels.

It's also worth checking what special meals you can request, as this sometimes gets you a better standard of meal.