Flying cross country w/toddler - food?

[Thing 1]

It sounds like your little one has some special needs as well and there might be some previsions made for foods for special needs children . I don't know that but you maybe can call and see. I would not introduce anything new on the plane or on the trip. We have an allergy kid and food reactions can be very scary and you want to be home and not on a plane.....just in case. I would try to figure our the easiest way to take the foods she eats the best and likes the most. One idea I have not seen here is to take foods that need to be kept cool in a small cooler with ice, but dump the ice before security. After security, get ice from any restaurant and re-ice the foods. Cheese sticks, small pieces or meats, par-boiled veggies or fruit would work. Yogurt , pudding cups etc can often be found after security and added to your cooler.

 

[Angel Ariel]

It sounds like your little one has some special needs as well and there might be some previsions made for foods for special needs children . I don't know that but you maybe can call and see. I would not introduce anything new on the plane or on the trip. We have an allergy kid and food reactions can be very scary and you want to be home and not on a plane.....just in case. I would try to figure our the easiest way to take the foods she eats the best and likes the most. One idea I have not seen here is to take foods that need to be kept cool in a small cooler with ice, but dump the ice before security. After security, get ice from any restaurant and re-ice the foods. Cheese sticks, small pieces or meats, par-boiled veggies or fruit would work. Yogurt , pudding cups etc can often be found after security and added to your cooler.

That's also a great idea. Thanks!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

The above idea of getting ice from a restaurant after security is great. Just bring a few small plastic bags to fill with ice and pack around the food. You can also use boxes of frozen peas or corn as ice packs and just toss them out after the flight. Since they're just frozen food, they'll be allowed through security and will keep the lunch items cold.

I think what you feed her at school would be fine - cut up meat, meatballs, chicken nuggets, cheese, etc. Add some crackers and fruit or veggies and she should be set for the flight.

 

[amylevan]

I find it easier to do things that don't require being kept cold. But These containers keep food warm or cold, so I fill it with chicken nuggets, noodles, meatballs, leftovers if I have something I need to keep warm. Or fill it with cut up cold cuts or fruit or whatever you have that you need to keep cold without ice.

Like someone else mentioned, the squeezable pouches of applesauce (and other varieties of fruit/veggies) are a big hit with my daughter. They are less than 3.4 oz, so you can declare them. And I find they are less messy in situations like flying than the fruit cups with the liquid that always spills on me.

Baggies of cereal.
Snacks.
Bananas - (i consider them my "travel" fruit, easy peasy to transport and doesn't need cut up).
Breakfast bars.
Bagels.
Raisins.

We bring lots of extra snacks in the event the flight ends up delayed or sitting on a tarmac somewhere.