Bring a meal or just snacks for kids on plane?

[JJ&JSMOM]

Just curious as to what you all bring to eat on the plane. I was thinking of packing pb&j sandwichs for my kids and then thought probably not a good idea just incase someone on board has a peanut allergy - although they do serve peanuts on flights. Hmmm - not sure what to do. What types of foods to bring? I have 3 kids ages 7,4 & 2 (at time of travel). I thought maybe just bring their favorite snacks and have a meal when we get to our resort.

Our flight leaves at 7am and arrives in Orlando at noon. We have a 45 min layover before our flight to Orlando - so there probably wont' be time to buy something to eat as we'll be finding our next gate. Maybe some doughnuts/breakfast bars to snack on the morning flight and then other snacks for the 2nd morning flight and then lunch when we get to airport or the resort. What does everybody else do?

 

[MinnieGi]

It depends what time we fly. We have twice flown at 7:00 am and my kids are usually hungry by the time we are up in the air. To catch that 7:00 am flight my kids are up early and eat cereal & juice or a yogurt before we leave. Then by the time we get through airport security and are waiting in the terminal I usually have a breakfast bar snack for everyone. By the time we are mid-flight they are hungry for a sandwich. I usually pack a turkey sandwich and apple sauce for everyone. I used to also pack juice boxes but of course with the liquid ban I can't do that anymore. So we will just get our drink on flight form the attendants. If no one in your family is allergic to PB & J and that is what they want I would go for it. Yes, they do still pass out peanuts as snacks on flights which I'm always surprised at since so many people do have the peanut allergy.

I'm always glad I have packed something for everyone to eat as the lines in the morning at the eating places seemed quite packed in the airport.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

I find myself packing food for my family every weekend during wrestling season as our "match days" are long and all that is offered is usually hot dogs and nachos. These are the things that I find that travel well and my kids really like. Freeze squeezable yogurts the night before and they will last several ours into the morning. Apple cuts by Chiquita are awesome and taste great even after being out of the fridge for a couple of hours. Baby crrots and the individual servings of ranch dip. (I've actually frozen the dip and it stayed chilled for a few hours) I don't usually buy pop tarts or sugar coated cereal for regular breakfasts so, when I pack these things the kids love them. You can buy a box of cereal and just put it in baggies or you can by it in the plastic, single serving bowls and they can add milk on the plane. My kids like small boxes of raisins too. Lunches are a little harder as I can't use peanut butter. (one of the wrestlers on our team is highly allergic and it's just to risky to even have it around him) I usually have left over apples and carrots to start the lunch round. I allows bring a salty snack like Cheez-its. Sometimes I pack string cheese.

Our wrestling days usually have us (family of 5) in the car by 7AM. This is about all I pack to get us through the day. If we are there past 1PM, it's hot dogs My boys seem to just want to eat continuously while they are wrestling. I come home with very little

Hope these ideas are helpful!

 

[minniebeth]

...As a mom of a DD with a peanut allergy, I can say I am still surprised that they serve peanuts on most flights. When we fly, we alert our airline and that flight is peanut free. Luckily, she is not SO allergic that if someone down the aisle is eating a PBJ sandwich, she will be affected. I do wipe the trays and armrests down for her before she sits just in case. However, there ARE some children and adults out there that ARE that allergic and would be affected. It is so hard for those people. My 2cents is that if you are kind enough to think about it, please be kind enough to pack something other than peanut butter for flying, that would be a very kind deed....

My kids love when I pack bagels and cream cheese, even for lunch. I try to do some Gogurts for the airport or cheese sticks...something with protein or substinance other than just snacks, it really holds them much better and seems to keep any type of possible motion sickness from a rough flight at bay. (We've had a few rough flights...)
Flying is very dehydrating, so I plan on bringing empty water bottles and filling them up when we get past the gate...

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Thanks for the ideas. I could just pack jelly sandwichs for them instead of pb&j - we have to for school anyways so they're used to it. They do like ham and cheese but how do you keep it cold? I wondering if they allow individual applesauces, peaches etc. I'll have to ask my TA before we go - I have a ton on questions for her anyways!

Thanks I think I'll make a list of snacks/meals they like and pick the easiest to bring with us. That will give me something to do while I wait for May to get her .

 

[LaraK]

I don't usually buy pop tarts or sugar coated cereal for regular breakfasts so, when I pack these things the kids love them. You can buy a box of cereal and just put it in baggies or you can by it in the plastic, single serving bowls and they can add milk on the plane.

I also get food that they never get at home...it adds to the magic and is such a treat they will behave better on the plane. I get the multi-pack of sugared cereals when we fly...they can choose what they want and then they just eat it dry. It's pure sugar and has no nutritional value...but hey, that's why they call it a vacation!

 

[mollyw]

They get lunchables as a treat. It makes them feel like they are on vacation since we don't do them at home. Its very processed so I'm not too concerned about keeping them cold.

 

[Perditamarie]

We usually have early am flights too. We buy a couple of blueberry bagels from Dunkin Donuts and bring with -- we just eat them as is, and they are very filling and hearty. Then it's not so bad if they fill up on snacks after. The lunchable meals are handy, as well as the frozen smuckers pb&j sandwiches that can keep items cool as they thaw. You can use the small blue ice to keep things cool -- are these okay to bring on a plane? There are a lot of good ideas on this thread that I will borrow too!

 

[monorailsilver]

How about bologna?

As for keeping it cold, I was going to say freeze water ahead of time but that is probably not allowed.

How about freezing the sandwich the night before & then taking it out that am. I am not sure how it would taste but it is worth a try ahead of time.

 

[Elmo888]

The best advice that I was given was bring treats (this is from a British friend who flies to England with 3 kids once a year)! Bring Something that you don't normally let them eat. I brought a few dum-dums, but not enough. They were great for my 2 yo. I would have let her have them the entire flight if I had enough (except she figured out how to crunch them by the end!). She was pretty cranky on our trip back, which was in the evening. I should have brought something like those "fruit" snacks. I never let my kids have those (is any actually fruit harmed in the making of fruit snacks???), but they like them. And they take a while to chew!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Thanks for the ideas. I could just pack jelly sandwichs for them instead of pb&j - we have to for school anyways so they're used to it.

That's very considerate of you. My DD has life threatening all nut allergies and it makes me all verkelmpt when people do such thoughtful things. You really don't realize what a nice gesture that is.

 

[tomshortridge]

other than liquids and gels (yogurt??), bring as much as you can

we try to bring along subway sandwiches. If we have time in the AM, I get them before heading to airport. If not, then get them night before and keep in fridge until we head out.

We also pack: beef jerky, lunchables, nuts, crackers, chips, hard fruit (apples), and always some candy as a treat -- no M&M's until you finish your movie/book etc etc.

Dont forget that you will be IN the airport 2 hours or more before your flight and figure giving the kids a snack there too. The food prices at the airport are crazy.

 

[crazymama]

I was just thinking about this same topic tonight. We have a 5 hour flight that leaves at 8:30 am from Seattle. Will have to think about what to bring to eat. Also as a mother of a 7 year old DD with severe peanut/sesame seed allergy... I too thank you for forgoing the PB if possible. The trouble with PB is the sticky factor. The peanut protein gets everywhere. I will bring wipes for the food tray etc but really do appreciate it when people (with no allergy concerns) are worried about the safety of strangers! Thanks!!!!!

 

[jensen]

I always stop and pick up some deli sandwiches and fruit for our airline trips.

 

[erddig]

I just checked the TSA.gov site for what food items can be carried on. Basicly, yogurt and jello packaged 3 oz or smaller and in the 3 quart zippy bag can be carried on, drinks or liquids are a no-no. Take a look at the site for more specifics.

 

[susancl]

I just checked the TSA.gov site for what food items can be carried on. Basicly, yogurt and jello packaged 3 oz or smaller and in the 3 quart zippy bag can be carried on, drinks or liquids are a no-no. Take a look at the site for more specifics.

This is great since yogurt (gogurt) are great frozen to eat and to keep everything else cold.

 

[erddig]

I'm out of gogurt so I couldn't check its size, I figured they are less than 3 oz. I'm flying alone with my 3 kids (meeting DH in FL) and am cutting it close (even taking into account lines) I was planning on getting the kids McDonalds at the airport but we have to do a potty stop before we board. At least I know I can pack some food and my kids will eat well.

 

[AngieWin]

They get lunchables as a treat. It makes them feel like they are on vacation since we don't do them at home. Its very processed so I'm not too concerned about keeping them cold.

Another vote for lunchables!! We have done this a couple of times and it works great.

 

[NotUrsula]

According to the mfr., GoGurt tubes are 2.5 oz. each. While that is small enough to go into your toiletries baggie (provided it isn't too long to fit inside with the zipper closed), you should remember that 1) Each passenger only gets one toiletries baggie, and 2) while it is in the toiletries baggie, it will not be keeping anything else cold.

Any liquid or gel food that is larger than 3.4 oz. (except baby food, provided that there is a baby present) will not be eligible to pass through security, regardless of whether or not it is frozen.

The best TSA-approved way to keep packed foods cold in a carryon is a bag of frozen fruit or veggies.

BTW: people with peanut allergies who alert the airline about them in advance will be accomodated by the airline, who will not put peanuts on that flight. The airline cannot promise these passengers that other passengers won't carry peanut products, however, so it is considerate to refrain from eating them unless you have checked with an FA first to make sure that no special request has been made.

 

[tjmw2727]

I just checked the TSA.gov site for what food items can be carried on. Basicly, yogurt and jello packaged 3 oz or smaller and in the 3 quart zippy bag can be carried on, drinks or liquids are a no-no. Take a look at the site for more specifics.

Just to clarify its 3.4 oz or smaller in a 1 quart ziplock not a 3qt ziplock - and only one ziplock per person.

Personally I would skip the yogurt or pudding and stick to only necessities in the ziplock, like toiletries if needed. Also - if the lunchable has the juice box/bag you will have to remove that unfortunately.

TJ