Recently my family and I took a trip to Mexico for a long weekend getaway. During that time my father was on the Atkin's Diet, and had completely cut out carbohydrates. So for the plane ride he packed a variety of carb-less snacks to curb his hunger for the three hour flight. Shortly after we took off, the stewardess passed out mini-pretzels and my dad whipped out a plastic container of prosciutto. As he began to snack on the oh-so unpleasant smelling deli meat, you could hear several passengers grumbling about the stench. One woman even shot me a dirty look and asked if her seat could be moved away from our row. I was mortified, but didn't want to make a scene so I plugged my nose until I fell asleep. But when I awoke there was still a lingering smell all the way to first class.

This got me thinking about what you should and shouldn't eat while you're in the air. Nowadays more and more airlines aren't offering food, so a lot of people are carrying on their own snacks. But what can you eat on a plane that's appropriate and fits Nutritionista standards? iMag found out how you can stay slim and not smell up the cabin!

Food to Avoid for the Air:

- Any food with a long-lasting stench. Nobody wants to be the smelly seatmate, so don't pack anything that has a very noticeable odor. Think fish, certain types of meat, hard-boiled eggs, or strong smelling cheeses. Even though many of these foods are healthy and make a great on-the-go snack, it's better to save them for when you get to your destination.
- Any foods that require work. What if the person sitting next to you had a pile of sunflower seed shells covering his tray? That would be gross right? So, try not to bring on anything that's not easy to eat on a plane. For instance, any foods with an outer shell are probably a bad idea. Think peanuts, sunflower seeds, or edamame.
- Any food that is too crunchy or distracting. There is nothing worse than the sound of someone munching away when you're trying to relax. So don't pack anything that will create a lot of noise. Think cherries (spitting out the pits is loud), cracker jacks, or any chips that are ultra-crunchy.
- Any foods that people are commonly allergic to. One of our producers here at iMag was recently on a flight where someone brought on peanuts. There was a little girl with a peanut allergy on the plane who ended up having a reaction. They remained in the gate for hours until the girl received proper medical attention. I know there's no way to tell if the person sitting next to you has a peanut allergy, but when you know your're going to be in tight quarters it's best to just to avoid bringing it. For the 411 on common food allergies click here.
- Any food that you can't get past security. Since you can't bring liquids onto a plane it's best to not pack anything with a watery base such as pudding or yogurt. Also if you are flying internationally don't bring on any fruits or vegetables that won't be allowed back in the country. Customs may confiscate them if you don't consume them on the plane. Who wants to have airport drama over an apple anyway?

Now, you may be wondering, with all these restrictions what can you carry on without adding extra baggage to your waistline? Here are my favorite healthy snacks for a plane.

Healthy In-Flight Alternatives:

- Turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with light mayo
- Bialy or mini-bagel with a serving of Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb Cheese spread
- Any no-fuss fruit: apples, bananas, pears, grapes, cut up melon, oranges or clementines
- Celery or carrot sticks with a side of hummus
- A whole wheat pita with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
- 1 serving of Wheat Thins with a string cheese
- Any type of fruit or granola bar (without peanuts)

Do you have a favorite snack you like to bring on a plane? Share it with me! Keep checking my blog for more nutrition secrets! And for more food advice log onto iMag's Food Section.