Snacking on PLanes

The Truth Behind Your Eating Habits

Have you noticed how snacking on a plane feels different than when you’re snacking anywhere else? Yeah, flights do that to a lot of us. Between the boredom, the easy access to snacks, and the stress of travel… it’s incredibly easy for us to override hunger and fullness cues without even realizing it.

But, why? Why does flying make us want to snack more than usual?

Food Becomes Exciting

Boredom sets in and long flights leave us with nothing to do but sit. No movement, a few distractions, a little fun, a lot of quiet, and a shit-ton of time. And when we’re tired and annoyed, food feels like a quick and easy fix.

It gives us something to do because it breaks up the monotony on sitting in front of a screen, stuffed into a tub like sardines. And bonus, it adds a little bit of comfort to an otherwise draining experience.

Those are pretty good reasons to eat when you’re not hungry, right? But, we have to go deeper than that and determine if the food is actually helping anything. This is an easy this to recognize when we know what to ask ourselves. So, the next time you reach for a snack mid-flight, consider “Am I actually hungry, or am I just looking for something to do?”.

Whatever your answer is, validate it. You don’t need to punish yourself for wanting food as a way to pass the time, you just need awareness to make a different choice.

Access Makes It Effortless

Planes are one of the few places where food is literally handed to you every few hours, whether you’re hungry or not. So, grazing on snacks feels like it’s a requirement with travel. You know what I’m talking about:

✔ Flight attendants bring snacks.
✔ You packed food just in case.
✔ Airports are full of tempting, travel-sized treats.

This constant accessibility makes it incredibly easy to snack mindlessly, simply because the food is there. And it’s frustrating, feel confined and tormented by food you don’t really even like. But, you can try this supportive tactic instead! When flying, keep snacks out of sight instead of in front of you. And as the flight attendants come by, check in with yourself before responding with a hard “yes” to the snack cart.

If pause and discover the answer is “no, I’m not hungry but want something to do” review your surroundings. Grab the book you packed, scroll through the movies/shows on the screen, listen to some music, indulge in a quick game, or get up to stretch instead.

Understand “Vacation Mode”

Flying can be stressful, especially if you’re new to it. Rushing through security, checking bags, filling water-bottles, gate changes, delays, time zone differences, claustrophobia, ears popping, babies crying… it all adds up!

And when we’re feeling all of that, heavily overstimulated:
>> We eat faster.
>> We ignore fullness.
>> We reach for comfort foods to feel better.

Then, add in vacation mode. You know, the mindset that brings excuses front and center like “I’m traveling, so it doesn’t count”. And suddenly, food choices feel less intentional than they would at home because we chose to let loose.

So, how do we combat this mindset without depriving ourselves of that kind of mental release? Once you determine the reason behind your consumption, you give yourself permission to enjoy food (if you choose to eat). But the difference is, you do it with awareness and stay hydrated!

Dehydration is often mistaken for hunger, especially on planes due to the dry air circulating inside.

Final Reminder

The goal isn’t to restrict ourselves. We want to bring attention to our choices, so that food feels enjoyable and intentional, not like an automatic response. Your actions can match your goals and values, even while flying. So the next time you’re on a plane, don’t forget: Food is meant to support your experience, not distract you from it.

Here’s to stress-free travel and snacks that actually satisfy you! And if you want to talk about it, you can email me at info.khhllc@gmail.com.