As travel starts to make a come-back, so do all the bothersome little tasks that go with it, such as figuring out how to pack as much as possible without going over the weight limit, how to deal with liquid beauty products that you want to put in your carry-on, and how to prep food on the go (because who wants to pay the extortionate airport prices for a bag of chips that’s half full of air anyway?).
Here are three food-packing tips that will keep your snacks fresh according to Viv, a flight attendant who’s been flying professionally for six years.
Keep things whole
“My biggest tip for keeping food fresh is leaving my vegetables whole when I pack them,” Viv says. “It may take up a little more space than cutting them, but most vegetables don’t need to be refrigerated, and they’ll last on a longer trip.”
Use glass jars
If you need to prep your veggies, then pack them in glass jars as sealing them tightly with a lid will keep them airtight, keeping out air and slowing down the ripening process.
Freeze your food
To keep everything fresh and cold for as long as possible, Viv says that she “usually [freezes] a couple of yogurts or puddings and [puts] them in [her] lunchbox.” The frozen snacks “[works] as an ice pack, and you end up with more food when it thaws out.” If you’re going on a longer trip, she recommends prepping some meals and freezing them before you head out.
