snacks or light meal when flying

[Deb]

This is my first longer flight in over a decade. I'll be flowing coast to coat with a connection each way. What do people pack when they will not have time to eat between flights?

 

[georgina]

If you don’t think you will have enough time to grab takeout on the layover, you have 2 options - buy a sandwich or salad at the airport to take on your first flight to eat on the plane, or pack fruit, granola bars, sandwich etc from home.

if you buy food at the airport it does not count as a carryon item. Most airports have places with premade items as a grab and go - salads, wraps, yogurt, etc you could get between flights.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I pick stuff that I like that isn't messy or too smelly. (I don't want to annoy my seatmates.) I usually bring something like a turkey sandwich, and add chips and candy or some other dessert to eat if I'm bored of feeling sorry for myself because the flight is long.. A small ice pack can be packed in a quart size ziplock bag and then placed inside a gallon bag to hold whatever I bring that needs to stay cold.

If I'm on an early morning flight, I'll pack Belvita or a granola bar, and maybe a small piece of fruit, plus a specialty teabag. When the flight attendant comes around, which they always do about an hour into the flight, I'll order hot water and juice (you can ask for two beverages if you want) and I've got breakfast.

I also pack wipes and plenty of napkins and hand sanitizer, as well as a quart size zip lock bag to use for my trash. As soon as I get on the plane, I wipe down my tray table, handrests and seatbelt buckle, and use hand sanitizer before I touch my food. No guarantee, but I haven't caught anything on a plane in years, and I fly a lot.

I use a napkin as a place mat (like a civilized person would ), and always feel that I've created my own happy little world while I eat and watch the movie I've downloaded onto my tablet.

Enjoy your flight!

 

[Deb]

If you don’t think you will have enough time to grab takeout on the layover, you have 2 options - buy a sandwich or salad at the airport to take on your first flight to eat on the plane, or pack fruit, granola bars, sandwich etc from home.

if you buy food at the airport it does not count as a carryon item. Most airports have places with premade items as a grab and go - salads, wraps, yogurt, etc you could get between flights.

I'm concerned about making the connection. Not even contemplating time to buy food. Less than an hour in unfamiliar airports

 

[Deb]

I pick stuff that I like that isn't messy or too smelly. (I don't want to annoy my seatmates.) I usually bring something like a turkey sandwich, and add chips and candy or some other dessert to eat if I'm bored of feeling sorry for myself because the flight is long.. A small ice pack can be packed in a quart size ziplock bag and then placed inside a gallon bag to hold whatever I bring that needs to stay cold.

you can get through security with an icepack?

 

[TaunTaun]

When packing snacks, I opt for pre-packaged things like granola bars, pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, etc. However, most of the time, I find myself grabbing a sandwich or something from the airport. If you don't have time to grab something during your connection, you might could before your first flight and just save it for later for the connecting flight. I've had to do that before

 

[RF536]

you can get through security with an icepack?

Yes, you can just make sure they are frozen solid, or at least most of the way frozen.
So funny\scary story. I had to fly home from dropping a truck off to our son. He had asked me to bring a 4 inch striaght knife he had left at home. I was also in a drug trial and the pills need to be refrigerated, so I had them in insulated lunch bag with 2 ice packs. Security was so concerned about the ice packs they never looked at the pills with no med name on the bottle. They also totally missed the knife I forgot to give son. Found the knife still in the carry-on back 2 weeks later.

 

[tvguy]

When our kids were little we always packed bagels and foil packs of cream cheese that did not require refrigeration.

 

[disykat]

Not a meal, but lots of snacks! I find even if I eat a meal, I still want a snack for some variety of activity so I might as well just have several snacks to eat throughout the flight. crackers, cheese, cut up fruit, a cookie, etc. I have my water bottle and sometimes take juice (and more pretzels or cookies or whatever they're offering) when they come around with the cart. We also sometimes grab a sandwich at the airport to split.

I find I actually need more food on the way home. Often we fly out in the morning with plans to eat later at our destination, whereas we fly home in the afternoon and want to drive straight home without stopping and then go straight to bed. (I say "often" as if I'm flying all the time, but I'm laughing at myself because I've been on one airplane trip in the last 6 years! We had two trips cancelled for obvious reasons so it's not like we never go anywhere, but we're not exactly jet setters!)

 

[anniemae]

I bring a lot of snacks that can make up a meal. Things like nutrigrain/granola bars, crackers, rice cakes, grapes, chocolate etc. I also have brought homemade blueberry muffins. Things that don't need refrigeration.

 

[Magical2017]

I take some non-perishables like baked chips and also buy a sandwich and drink at the airport or eat a meal at the airport right before the flight.

 

[jo-jo]

I would pack cheese crackers, the sealed apples/fruit you get at grocery store (not fresh cut), cookies, chips muffins etc. And once past TSA buy a sandwich. Eat sandwich and chips first leg, other snacks second leg.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I would double check as to what will get through security. (Is yogurt a liquid?). Also, maybe plan to get to the first airport with extra time, so you can buy food after you've gone through security. I would do this, even if I brought snacks--you don't HAVE to buy more food, but it would be nice to have the time to, on the off chance your snacks don't make it through security.

I only say this because our vacation in July involved passing through airport security 6 times. On Time #6, my DD19 got stopped for something that made it through the first 5 times. It wasn't a food item, and they let it go once they saw it--it was a multi-tool thingie shaped like a credit card, but metal. Security can be really random.

 

[EACarlson]

Clif Bars and Combos are always in my backpack when flying. I'm also a diabetic so I have glucose tabs with me just in case I go hypoglycemic. That can get me through any domestic flight. You very well may have more time than you think between flights. I've made it from one end to the other in both O'Hare and MSP with enough time to grab a sandwich on 30 minute connections this year. Just about every airport has the Farmer's Fridge vending machines with sandwiches.

 

[slo]

I’d make myself a PB&J to eat on the plane and take a few other snacks too. Protein bars will also be good to take. Have a good trip!

 

[rwdavis2]

Yes, you can just make sure they are frozen solid, or at least most of the way frozen.
So funny\scary story. I had to fly home from dropping a truck off to our son. He had asked me to bring a 4 inch striaght knife he had left at home. I was also in a drug trial and the pills need to be refrigerated, so I had them in insulated lunch bag with 2 ice packs. Security was so concerned about the ice packs they never looked at the pills with no med name on the bottle. They also totally missed the knife I forgot to give son. Found the knife still in the carry-on back 2 weeks later.

Don’t you love security theater.

 

[mjkacmom]

A bagel, from a bagel shop, if I eat one I’m full for the rest of the day.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

You might find the list at the following link helpful. It covers everything that you can carry unlimited quantities of (as long as they fit in your carry-on), such as brisket, tea bags, spices, pizza, cereal, etc. To the things that are considered liquids and need to be carried in portions of 3.4 oz. or less and fit in a quart bag (yogurt, peanut butter, frosting, jelly filled donuts, salad dressing, etc.)

Can You Bring Food on a Plane? TSA says Bon Appetit

 

[karen4546]

I miss the “GoPicnic” boxes. Those were the best for layovers and flights.

those fruit, cheese and cracker snack trays are good because cheese and grapes are fine at room temp.

 

[monsterkitty]

you can get through security with an icepack?

Yes. You can also freeze a water bottle and take that on. I always take my own food in a soft sided cooler, using the frozen water bottle to keep it cool.

I always tell TSA that I have the frozen bottle. Most thank me for the heads up.