By the time you guys read this, we will be on our way to the airport and off to Italy for the next two weeks! 
Ok, so now about today’s post. It’s a little different than what I normally post since, as you can probably tell, there isn’t a “recipe involved BUT I felt like I should share what we like to bring with us on long trips (I’m talking 8+ hour car rides or long international flights) because being stuck for hours without food, or worse, being forced to rely solely on the food provided by the airline is my worst nightmare.
So, first up are these Zone bars. Stephen and I have been eating these since forever (big shout out to my father-in-law for introducing me to them!) and literally eat them every. single. day. They are actually made with the perfect ratio of carbs to sugars to proteins and keep me full long enough to tide me over until I can eat an actual meal.
* You can find these at Target and/or Costco
I also NEED some sort of sweet treat but don’t love grabbing a normal candy bar, especially on a flight when just thinking about sugar makes me swell, so I reach for these dark chocolate covered almonds and dried blueberries (I like to mix them with some raw almonds) from Trader Joe’s. Sweet but still good for you! 
And because I also like to have some fresh fruit/veggies with me, I like to pack apple slices and sliced bell pepper. Both are mess free (perfect if you have kids) and are a nice change from the cookies/pretzels/peanuts they give you on the plane (although, lets be honest, I eat those too).
And, finally, the one thing I cannot live without on an airplane is my own bottle of water. I am prone to swelling normally (my fingers become little sausages), so when I am in a pressurized cabin eating salty snacks, it can get out of hand. So what I like to do is drink a TON of water the day before (this helps flush out any toxins as well as ensure I am hydrated) and then carry around a big bottle with me (empty to the airport, of course) and continue refilling throughout the flight.
So there you have it! Some easy, mess-free snacks that will help keep you full AND happy for your entire trip!
