TSA Approved Thanksgiving Food Items

If you're traveling by plane for Thanksgiving and don't want to show up empty-handed, you'll want to make sure you're only bringing TSA approved food items.

AAA reports that over 54 million people plan to travel for Thanksgiving this year. If you're taking a road trip, it's easier to bring a dish or a dessert to your gathering, but if you're catching a flight, it could be more difficult. The TSA has some food rules to remember before you leave.

Lisa Farbstein is a spokesperson for the TSA. She told TODAY: “If people want to travel with food during the Thanksgiving holiday, what they really need to do is focus on whether the item is solid. If it’s a solid item, then it can go through a checkpoint.” So think pie, cake, brownies, cookies. etc. Frozen foods also fall into the solid category. As long as it's still frozen upon getting to TSA, you're good to go.

Most airlines, except Southwest, charge for checked luggage. Whether you don't need a bag that big or are trying to avoid the fees, you may be wondering what you can bring on the plane.

Now, if the food is liquid or spreadable, that needs to go in the checked bag. Think much like TSA rules for anything liquid. Unless the liquid is less than 3.4 ounces it needs to be checked. Cranberry sauce, wine, beer, canned fruit and veggies...if you hear liquid, it'll need to be checked.

For a full list, you can visit the TSA website and use the "What Can I Bring" feature.

Pies, cakes, cookies and brownies

Frozen, cooked or uncooked meats like turkey, chicken, ham and steak

In a box or bag

Potatoes, yams, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots and greens

Apples, pears, lemons, limes, pineapple and fresh cranberries

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, you may be starting to think about Black Friday shopping and the best stores to shop this year.

Everyone wants a good deal. The whole point of Black Friday shopping is to save a buck, or if you're lucky a lot of them. There are some, like my brother, who just getting out and being a part of the mix. I'm usually of the mentality that if I don't need something, I don't venture out into crowds like that. Usually regular weekends are too people-y for me, so Black Friday weekend? I'll pass.

Even though I'm not into it, last year 66.5 million people were in stores looking for holiday scores. Talking to a lot of friends who plan to head out into the chaos this year have the eye on larger ticket items. Hearing a lot about TV's, computer's, video game console's, stuff like that. And I get it, with the high cost of those items, to be able to save some money is definitely nice. And hey, if it's a gift for someone else, may open up a few extra dollars to put something else with it.

But maybe you're wondering just where these good deals are found. Well, our friends at WalletHub have crunched the numbers so we don't have to and put together a list of the best stores for Black Friday shopping. They looked at about 4,000 advertised Black Friday deals from the ads of 16 of the largest retailers in the U.S.

The average discount is 22.9%

The average discount is 25.7%

The average discount is 27.6%

The average discount is 28.4% with the best deals on consumer packaged goods.

The average discount is 28.5%

The average discount is 30.9%

The average discount is 31.1%

The average discount is 32.9%

The average discount is 32.9%

The average discount is 40.7%

The average discount is 44.2% with the best deals on jewelry.

The average discount is 49.9% with the best deals on furniture.

The average discount is 53.0%

The average discount is 64.2% with the best deals on apparel & accessories, consumer electronics, toys and appliances. 

The average discount is 64.7% with the best deals on computers & phones.