Taking food overseas. What's OK & not OK?

[mjantz]

We're planning a big trip to Europe next year & one of the ways I plan on saving money is cooking while we're there (we'll be renting apartments). I want to pack some food in our carry-on luggage but I know the rules about bring stuff from another country can be pretty strict. Here's some of the things I'm considering packing:

-flour tortillas
-taco seasoning
-mac & cheese (boxed with sauce packets)
-rice & pasta side dishes mixes
-peanut butter
-snack foods like Pringles, pretzels, fruit snacks & such
-cereal (Cheerios) & Pop-Tarts (chocolate more than likely)

I'm sure there's more but that's just off the top of my head. And yes I do know that you can get these items in the UK. However, buying them a little bit at a time & then bringing them with us means less we have to buy (at possibly a premium) when we go over.

 

[akcire]

You never want to pack peanut butter in your checked baggage. When it is scanned by TSA or any other security force it has the same image as plastic explosives. This next to a chocolate bar for example will ensure a bag check like no other--and in France (they may detonate your bag if they see this next to say an I-pod).

To find out what food you can not bring you can read each countries website, generally speaking you can bring in anything processed, (however some countries ban certain food additives) but keep in mind many airlines have started to charge for international baggage.

Also part of the fun of going to other countries is trying new food, I am not saying you have to dine out all the time, but grocery shopping in other countries is fun. If you want to save up money, to keep your costs low, why not just start a food trip piggy bank. Much easier than dragging taco shells to Europe.

 

[SandrA9810]

I'd bring some breakfast staples like cereal and such. But try something new while you're over there. And no matter where you are in the world, you can still find a mcD's or KFC. Although it's cool too that places like McD's will also serve native food on thier menu. I know in Canada, they serve poutin (french fries with cheese and gravy), but I've never seen it on an american menu. Who knows, you might end up wanting to bring back some of the things you try over there.

 

[etoiles]

My mother in law visits us several times a year in the US and when she flies back to the Netherlands she brings a TON of food with her. We always make a big grocery trip right before she leaves so she can stock up. Good idea of you to think of bringing the Mexican type ingredients since they will not have any of that there.

My MIL brings anything that is nonperishable so no fruits, vegetables, fresh meats, etc..

Funny thing is she has brought peanut butter multiple times with her since the Dutch peanut butter tastes a lot different.

Also she brings: homemade cookies, spices, jars of pickles, microwavable popcorn, salad dressing, snack foods, campbell's soup.

She is not American either, she is Dutch and just likes the way these items taste and they are not available in the Netherlands.

One of DH's friends also brought back a six pack of root beer in his luggage. I can't say I recommend that even though it made it...

 

[Byron13]

You can take all the food you mentioned in your list. I would put most of them in your suitcase and just keep your snacks in you carry-on for on the plane. We always have to buy Lucky Charms and Little Debbies in USA to bring back to UK.

 

[snookhams]

I certainly bring some things to the US when travelling from England like t-bags, soya mix (my son will only eat bolognaise made with this), casserole mixes, cereal bars etc, I bring them partly because they are familiar to us and we know that our fussy ds will eat them and partly to save our holiday spending money for holiday things. I also bring washing powder tablets as we can only use certain ones due to allergies, normally stock up on them when they are on offer here so at the moment have about 10 boxes. At the moment if you are coming to the UK the exchange rate is in your favour so that would be worth taking into consideration. Hope you have a great time

 

[mjantz]

I want to make it clear that we do plan on eating out for some meals. However, it seems to work best for our family to eat breakfast in the apartment or hotel room (if there's a fridge & microwave), eat lunch out & about & go back to our place for dinner. The kids can unwind & take showes while I'm getting whatever we're having to eat ready. And I keep it very simple.

Microwave popcorn is a good idea. I'll have to remember that.

 

[annsteere]

At the risk of making my very first "judgemental-budget-board" post. . .

Making some of your meals rather than eating out is a great money saver.

Hauling groceries from here to Europe. Very questionable.

Two good reasons to haul food:
1) You have a very particular taste. For example, if you love Skippy and hate Jiff, you might want your own peanut butter.
2) In your carry on to stave off hunger when you want to eat immediately or get stranded in an airport or train station and want to avoid those overpriced locations.

Other than that, Europe has small markets scattered everywhere. You can pick up cheese, great bread, and some fruit for an impromptu picnic. You can walk from your hostel or hotel to the local grocery and buy what you want to cook that day or the next.

I go to Europe every year--on the very budget plan. I've always been able to pick up food at reasonable prices at local spots.

When we go to Disney, I do haul food that I was able to buy at home super-cheap with coupons and on sale. I'd much rather serve cereal I got for 25 cents a box than have to run out to Publix during vacation or pay gift store prices. I carry my own coffee and filters, and I'll even a coffee maker if we're onsite in an economy hotel. But. . .

I go to Europe every year--on the very budget plan. I've always been able to pick up food at reasonable prices at local spots.

The first time you take Ryan Air, or an overnight train, or anything else where you have to pay for extra luggage, or even just see to it that more than one suitcase per person makes the load, you'll be glad you decided to minimize this.

Lighten your luggage. Buy local.

 

[LKHomemail]

I would call your airline and ask them what can and cannot be brought into the country. I might place a couple calls to be sure you are getting correct information. You could also check the TSA website to see if there is anything in there. Years ago, my grandma brought canned ham and bacon to Israel. I am not sure about the rules, but, think you could find out from airline personnel. Have a great trip!

 

[emiliezola]

Hello-- We are an family of six living in France and I have been able to purchase each of those items in shops in the UK. I can even find some of them here at home in Paris. I don't think for the few items that you would be bringing over, that it would be too great a price to buy them in a local shop while you are vacationing.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Hi OP! Just curious which countrie(s) you'll be visiting? Though it has been a few years since DH and I went to Europe (and I realize the dollar is weak), we found it cheap to pick up items at market places and grocery stores.

Many little B&B's include breakfast and they are far cheaper then hotels. You can buy wonderful rolls for breakfast and a lot of vendors start selling ham sandwiches and such early in the morning (pretty cheaply).

Deparment stores have marvelous, huge grocery stores in their basements. Usually you'll find an inexpensive buffet or coffee shop down there too. These bigger grocery stores will make sandwiches for you and usually have a salad bar that you pay for by weight.

If I knew which countries you were going to I could be of greater help. I don't mean to discourage you from packing snacks and such, but I think you'll find the pricing over there to be still reasonable.

In fact some countries subsidize certain items to make sure that families can buy healthy foods. While I was in Austria some of the subsidized foods included orange juice, yogurt, certain cheeses, hamburger, and a dark grainey bread.

I have a hobby site with some European budget trips: www.hopskipandaway.com

 

[mjantz]

We will probably be visiting UK, Ireland, France, Germany & Italy. We may be visiting Denmark, Netherlands & Egypt.
We are packing very light. Each of us will have our 2 carry-ons & then we're checking the largest suitcase we have for souvies & such. Since that bag was probably going to start out pretty much empty, I was planning on bringing food along since we have the space anyway. I wouldn't be taking along anything extra to bring the food.

I do plan on grocery shopping frequently. We can't live on mac & cheese and Pop-Tarts!!

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I am an expat American living in Turkey - and have traveled a lot in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. I also take lot's of food products back and forth with me. What ever you take, make sure it is sealed and pre-packaged and do check your arrival country's website about forbidden items.

The only thing I would really recommend taking would be seasoning packets, like taco seasoning, may be the sauce packets out of the box of mac and cheese, possibly fruit snacks and/or pop tarts (can't remember if these are in the UK). Everything else I would just buy there - even though the prices will likely be more expensive than the States. You'll appreciate not having so much in your bags and shopping locally will be lot's of fun!

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

May be take a look at a grocery web site in the UK - I was just browsing Asda's site - to get an idea of prices - what you might be spending to buy things there - and also to see what is available. It looks like peanut butter at Asda ranges from .79 GBP to 1.79 GBP - Tesco and Sainsburys are also common markets. It looks like Old El Paso taco dinner kits are 2.51GBP at Sainsburys - I think I would just buy locally!

 

[IluvKingLouis]

From your list, I've visited Italy, France, Germany, and Denmark.

The few times breakfast has not been included (we usually stayed at B&B's or small pensions), we bought inexpensive rolls and pastries from a nearby bakery. We typically ate our big meal of the day, midday, and often at a Department store. For dinner we'd grab something from a small take out, or hotdog stand (they sell wursts and sandwiches too). We found the cost to be quite reasonable.

In Denmark, they have these wonderful open face sandwiches that are yummy and usually reasonable (try the shrimp sandwich). The shrimp there is fabulous,...it's boiled in the ocean water the moment it's caught and used by restaurants shortly thereafter.

In southern Germany the portions are HUGE and can easily be shared. Beer gardens (if they're not in a touristy area) offer good prices on food.

I have often found lodging and food to be a bit less in Austria, if that's a possibility on this trip.

Some of my favorite meals have been from small little take-away places. Spinach streudel in Munich, and wonderful panini's in Italy.

Have a wonderful time....this post is making me hungry!

 

[Traveliz]

This is interesting - for some reason I was thinking you were not able to take foods.

My husband is going on a two week business trip to China and has celiac's so was really worrying about what he would be eating. He will definitely be taking along some foods with him. I believe he is going into an apartment style housing for the trip. I know he will be eating out alot and hopefully those with him will be able to translate for him with the restaurant about the ingredients in the food. But for breakfast and some other meal it will be great that he can take some of his safe food.

He doesn't need the experience of shopping at a market there.

Liz

 

[Disneyadore]

Europe has Aldi's and Lidl's.

There very cheap. You could take a look on the website of those two so you would have an idea of the prices

 

[LKHomemail]

maybe try posting your question in the transportation section of the dis boards ? my thinking is that those there might know more the rules of what is okay / what isn't. i think your question is specific as to what you can / can't bring , and that you were not really looking for advice about if you should. if this is what works best for your family for whatever reasons, you should try to do it.

 

[annsteere]

It has been two years since I was in Egypt so things might have changed, but rather than food I'd pack a hand held fan or mister and small packages of hand wipes. We never found either of these for sale and would have really liked both.
Also, a package of tissue that can be used as TP.