Top 5 Travel Snacks Tips | Nik Snacks

1. If you have not purchased or were gifted a membership to your favorite major airline's sky lounge/club, spend $50-$60 for a day pass and reap the benefits of the club. Snacks, drinks, hot breakfast, lunch items, non-alcoholic beverages, strong wi-fi, clean restrooms and in some cases, showers and live entertainment (epic people watching, even though most are just on their devices being boring).

I had TWO 4-hour layovers to get to Oakland to visit with some family and attach a work-related excursion onto it. GSO >LAX >OAK = LONGEST flights of my life. I bit the bullet in Greensboro and purchased a day pass for $50 in order to relax all day. It was the best decision of my travel life.

View from one of the Delta Sky Clubs at LAX

2. PB and J is an easy and popular sandwich choice to pack on a trip, but using an alternative spread such as Sunbutter or Speculoos/cookie butter will be great to try and definitely safe for anyone suffering from tree nut or peanut allergies who may be traveling with you or sitting around you.

3. Utilize your water bottle by filling up at a water fountain. For those of you who cannot stand the taste of plain water, use those water enhancer packets for a little flavor boost. One packet is too much for me, so I use 1/2 packet and it's perfect for me.

4. Be careful with your salt and alcohol consumption the day/night before your flight. It's tempting to party hardy and tie one on the night before you travel home, but don't do it. Your feet swell, you get dehydrated faster and you feel like a miserable whale. Or is that just me?
The same goes for the night before leaving on your trip, too.

Me. Not being bloated after a 5 hour flight to Las Vegas.

5. Whether you're flying solo, in a couple or with a group, here's a list of snacks from which you should choose:

unsweetened applesauce pouches (or cups),
fruit cups packed in water or light syrup
crackers
cookies
potato chips
Carnation instant breakfast
oatmeal packets
beef jerky or pepperoni logs

cereal bars
candy
dried fruit
chocolate bars
shelf-stable dips like salsa or hummus; water enhancers without aspartame
pre-packaged cakes
cookies
granola bars
trail/granola mix [see recipe below]





Granola 
[Recipe adapted from Machete: Greensboro]

2 3/4 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup pepitas (shelled, raw pumpkin seeds)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup maple syrup (Grade A or light amber)
1 cup unsweetened coconut chips
1 cup chopped pistachios [optional]
1 cup sliced almonds [optional]
1/2 T kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup dried, chopped sour cherries*
1/2 cup milk or dark chocolate chunks

Combine oats, pepitas, coconut chips, nuts and olive oil in a container or bowl.

In a saucepan, bring vanilla, maple syrup, salt and brown sugar to a boil, pour and mix into the dry ingredients in the large container or bowl.

Spread mix on a parchment paper or silicon baking mat lined sheet pan and bake in 325°F oven for 23-25 minutes.

Mix in cherries and chocolate chunks after granola has cooled to room temperature.

*DO NOT BAKE CHERRIES. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED


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