News Room

While very few things will beat the morning Biscoff cookies that airlines like American Airlines and Delta provide, some of the recent afternoon snacks have truly piqued our interest. Want to know which snacks to indulge in and which ones to skip the next time you travel? Here's our ranking of the 13 worst to best complimentary afternoon U.S. airline snacks on flights right now.

"This small, calorically dense bar has two servings per package that add up to around 260 calories, yet it remains incredibly light and airy in your mouth. The texture is all fresh crunch, with no sticky gooiness to get stuck in your teeth and not a hint of unnatural, powdery aftertaste. This is also the only bar we tested that has 100% organic ingredients."

Inexpensive, mass-produced single-use plastics promised to be more hygienic and to keep food fresher longer, but created its own nightmare: waste that can take as long as 1,000 years to degrade.

Now, numerous food manufacturers are working on eco-friendly packaging – made out of such materials as corn starch, cane sugar pulp and calcium carbonate – to cut down on waste.

As professional snackers, it’s our job to sample as many snacks as we can get our cheese-dusted fingers on — and we take that job very, very seriously. We tasted our way through dozens of bags, boxes, bars, and cans to find the most exciting snacks on shelves right now.

What we love most about these bars is their familiar soft chew that rivals the best homemade energy bars. They’re so good, in fact, that Patty had one on a flight and then saved the wrapper so she could remember the brand. A photo just wouldn’t do this bar justice!

Delicious and perfectly portable, granola bars can be a convenient snack when you're in a pinch. Typically made with a mixture of whole grains, nuts and dried fruit, they are a shelf-stable option that can be incredibly nutritious. But, granola bars aren't always synonymous with healthy. In fact, some varieties can have even more sugar than a candy bar.

That's why our team of registered dietitians at the Good Housekeeping Institute evaluated dozens of granola bars on the market, zoning in on ingredients, nutrition facts and flavor profiles.

"Here at Healthline, we take product selection seriously. Our team vets all items and brands included in our articles to make sure they match up with our medical and business standards, along with our general approach to well-being. Here are Healthline's picks for the 10 best healthy finds on Amazon."

"If you need a bar that keeps you full, tastes great, and gives you energy these are for you. With all organic whole food ingredients, fiber, protein, and less than 8 grams of sugar these are perfect for breakfast on the run or to fuel you before a workout. Obviously, the peanut butter dark chocolate bars are our favorite but really we love them all!"

"Energy bars are a staple for running, backpacking, and skiing, providing essential calories and nutrients in a portable format. With the help of a team of outdoor enthusiasts who eat energy bars regularly, both during activities and to fulfill daily caloric needs, we taste-tested 25 products across 12 brands. We primarily considered flavor and texture to figure out which bars were the most delicious, while also factoring in portability: the size of the bar and its ability to withstand different temperatures--and some minor squishing--in a backpack."

“When looking for the healthiest options for protein bars, I always prioritize ingredients and ensure the ingredients are simple and natural,” Kayla Barnes, certified brain health coach and nutrition expert, told the New York Post. “You should be able to pronounce or have heard of the ingredients before. Avoid bars with pro-inflammatory oils like canola and soybean and artificial ingredients.”

"Granola bars are convenient snacks that can be eaten as a pre-workout boost of energy or simply to keep hunger at bay between meals.

However, many granola bars are high in sugar and other unhealthy additives."

"Energy bars are a staple for many hikers, backpackers, runners, and skiers, providing essential calories and nutrients in a portable format. But when you’re getting your heart rate up on a hike, run, or ride, it can be hard to motivate yourself to eat, even when you need food the most. So, it helps to bring tasty snacks that you actually want to eat."

Starting in August, customers in all cabins will enjoy Lemon Coconut bars from Kate’s Real Food; Delta currently offers their Dark Chocolate Cherry and Almond bar. Kate’s Real Food is a woman-founded company that makes delicious, whole-food, USDA-certified organic bars that are perfect for travelers on the go.