Tips For Eating While Flying?

[AKcollegestudent]

I have a routine for flying: I pack protein bars, stews, fruit, and some other strange things that I've discovered work well and can be eaten warm or cold. (Stew can last for about 18 hours before you have to question it. I wish I didn't know this.)

But this upcoming flight is special, even for me: I'm leaving campus on Friday at 4:30pm; I won't get to my destination until 1am on Sunday. And Friday night into Saturday morning, I'm going to be staying with a friend--however, I won't be able to keep food in his fridge or prepare anything.

My protein bars and fruit can go, obviously. But what else do I need to pick up? How can I manage this one? Because I cannot starve. That'll make my other issues far, far worse.

[texasred8211n]

I have a routine for flying: I pack protein bars, stews, fruit, and some other strange things that I've discovered work well and can be eaten warm or cold. (Stew can last for about 18 hours before you have to question it. I wish I didn't know this.)

But this upcoming flight is special, even for me: I'm leaving campus on Friday at 4:30pm; I won't get to my destination until 1am on Sunday. And Friday night into Saturday morning, I'm going to be staying with a friend--however, I won't be able to keep food in his fridge or prepare anything.

My protein bars and fruit can go, obviously. But what else do I need to pick up? How can I manage this one? Because I cannot starve. That'll make my other issues far, far worse.

I just found single servings of Bush's baked beans

[Jestgar]

Canned tuna

jerky

hard cheese

pretzels/crackers

nuts

salami

pepperoni

[munchkinette]

I usually take the pouches of tuna now. I actually got stopped by airport security for tuna in cans, because the water it's packed in counts as a liquid. Not kidding.

I often cook and freeze a bunch of stuff for school, because sometimes I'm on campus for 12 hours and have to eat 3 meals in one day there. If I take it out of the freezer in the morning, it has thawed by dinner that night, and I don't have to worry about spoilage. I recommend this for flying- stuff will keep longer. It works especially well with stews, curries, and meat/rice bowls.

[Darissa]

We use Udi's bread and make peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Not too exciting, but they last long, don't have to stay cold and work out good. The Udi's brand of bread is good when it is thawed and it doesn't have to be toasted. Good luck.

[BethM55]

You don't have to starve! The previous suggestions are excellent. I'd add gluten-free cookies, fruit and nut bars (like Kind bars) or sesame seed bars, and dried fruit if you can tolerate it. Bring extra zip top bags and maybe lightweight resealable plastic containers for things you don't want to get crushed, like crackers and cookies. If you pack bread frozen, it will keep pretty well until you need it. Whole Foods Markets makes good gluten-free bread, kept in their freezer section.

I hadn't thought of tuna pouches, what a great idea! Less weight to lug around than cans, too. Can't believe the TSA counted the water in the tuna cans as carry-on water... someone must've forgotten their lunch that day!

Good luck, have a great trip!

[sa1937]

Does security hassle you about bringing foods on board?

I know they've gotten very strict since I've last flown and I really want to go to Denver this summer to see my daughter and family. After driving to the airport (over 1-1/2 hours) and a 3+ hour flight, I don't want to starve.

[munchkinette]

I hadn't thought of tuna pouches, what a great idea! Less weight to lug around than cans, too. Can't believe the TSA counted the water in the tuna cans as carry-on water... someone must've forgotten their lunch that day!

Yep. Flying home from Indianapolis two years ago. Flying HOME- meaning nobody cared in San Francisco when I went through security with half my suitcase full of food, including 3 cans of tuna. I started an airport thread at the time, because I was curious if other people had ever been questioned by TSA.

[missy'smom]

You can purchase individual servings/travel sizes of things at minimus.biz. I made it through security just fine in the past with mini jars of jam-they were within the limits and put in a clear ziplock. They have a gluten-free list at minimus but there are many things that are not on the gluten-free list that are gluten-free. You just have to know your brands or do a little research.

[tgrahek]

Pick up a packet or two of Tyson chicken. Bring along Minute Rice and chicken broth packets. You have the makings of a really good dinner that you can make even on the plane. We request a cup of hot water, add some rice and cover it for several minutes. Then add the broth and voila. We like the broth packets at Trader Joe's, if you have one near you. They are liquid and mix very easily. Carry a bowl in a large ziploc and then you have room to add the chicken for an even heartier meal.

[Mango04]

instant soup bowls that just require you to add boiling water, such as the trader joes rice noodle soups.

[AKcollegestudent]

Awesome tips. Thanks, ya'll. I'm definitely going to look into minimus and I'll pick up minute rice before I leave. I'm not certain about the tuna--I know the pouches have soy in them, and most of the canned brands around here do as well. I might just pick up my usual nut bars and deal with that for protein.