What do you bring to the airport for dinner?

[scholastica]

Granola bars, pistachio's, fruit, and sometimes sandwiches if it is less than 8 hours but more than 3.

I'm putting away the frozen grapes as a lunch cooler too.

 

[duffy]

We bring an old crockpot to the airport. There are lots of plugs to heat it up and we leave the crockpot for someone else to take home and reuse.

You're joking, right? "Look, honey! A crockpot! Let's steal it!"

 

[kellia]

Usually Subway and some chips! If it's in the morning, we've either made or picked up egg and bagel or english muffin sandwiches. We put them in a lunch bag and they stayed warm-ish!

 

[bearloch]

Ive done roolups style sandwichs! we ususally fly early am and have a big breakfast before but do bring a power bar and trail mix, or thoses indiv boxs of cereal, fruit and suckers for tke off and landings!

 

[duffy]

Ok, so the crockpot idea has given me pause.

How often have you done this? Do you have an "old crockpot" shelf? Do you buy old crockpots all the time? Why is buying old crockpots and leaving them around airports better than bringing, say, a sandwich?

What do you cook in it? Do you transport warm/hot food in it? How do you get the food through security? You can't bring liquids through, so are you buying "cream of___" soups after the security checkpoint? Where do you buy cans of condensed soup at the airport? What airport allows this?

Do you wash up after? No leftovers? Or do you take your barbecue shredded pork on the plane? Do you leave a note, saying, "free crockpot!"?

Do you know if security has ever had to explode one because a crockpot could be considered suspicious, sitting unattended? Do you worry about security finding an unattended crockpot and tracing it to you and getting in trouble?

Thank you. Please answer, so I can sleep tonight.

 

[swilshire]

If I am traveling at lunch time and know I won't have time at a layover to buy food, I pack a cheese sandwich. Processed cheese is OK for a while at room temp. I save leftover mayo packages from fast food orders and put one in my baggie with my other liquids.

I always carry some sort of snack like Wheat Thins in case of delays.

Food to be consumed on the plane is not supposed to count against your carryon allowance, but some places they are kind of picky about an extra sack. I had to toss my breakfast in Boston once because they absolutely weren't letting anything extra through the security gates.

Sheila

 

[sandgrace]

I read about GoPicnic ready to go meals in a travel magazine and I thought these would be great to take for airport/airplane meals. They even sell them on amazon and I think some Targets have them too. Here's their website http://www.gopicnic.com/

 

[MomToOne]

Ok, so the crockpot idea has given me pause.

How often have you done this? Do you have an "old crockpot" shelf? Do you buy old crockpots all the time? Why is buying old crockpots and leaving them around airports better than bringing, say, a sandwich?

What do you cook in it? Do you transport warm/hot food in it? How do you get the food through security? You can't bring liquids through, so are you buying "cream of___" soups after the security checkpoint? Where do you buy cans of condensed soup at the airport? What airport allows this?

Do you wash up after? No leftovers? Or do you take your barbecue shredded pork on the plane? Do you leave a note, saying, "free crockpot!"?

Do you know if security has ever had to explode one because a crockpot could be considered suspicious, sitting unattended? Do you worry about security finding an unattended crockpot and tracing it to you and getting in trouble?

Thank you. Please answer, so I can sleep tonight.

Wait - you forgot one!! Aren't you concerned about bothering the other passengers with the smell of your food cooking???

 

[yoopermom]

My favorite mom story on this topic has to do with when we sent DS to Atlanta for a 4-H conference when he was maybe 14. He said that he was delayed by security in Atlanta on his way home and, when I asked why, he said it was because of the HUGE burrito he bought off a food truck guy that he bought to eat on the plane! Something about it being wrapped in so much tinfoil and giving off a heat signal...

That stomach of his is going to get him in trouble one of these days!

Terri

 

[firecracker725]

We bring an old crockpot to the airport. There are lots of plugs to heat it up and we leave the crockpot for someone else to take home and reuse.

What? Seriously? Why would you go to that much trouble?

 

[duffy]

Wait - you forgot one!! Aren't you concerned about bothering the other passengers with the smell of your food cooking???

Oh noes!!

 

[honeydiane1953]

I swear I don't know!!! Those 6 dollar plus sandwiches r awful. The four dollar water was WATER. Food is awful!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We will bring quite a few items to eat. With layovers, etc. we are traveling for 6 or 7 hours. (usually over 2 meal times) On our way there I make sandwiches at home. Bring Snacks, etc. I find that I don't need anything extra to keep the sandwiches cool since I put my small collapsible cooler on the floor and it keeps things pretty cold down there. Though I've read the frozen grapes idea and think it's pretty clever. I've also read about people bringing bags of frozen fruit. Now that all rooms have fridges you can keep the now defrosted fruit in your room to eat over a few days.

We only flew one time when they didn't allow you to bring a beverage on the plane and it wasn't fun. Seems like it was the only time we had turbulence and they suspended beverage service. We were so thirsty when we arrived at MCO and there wasn't a single food place open.

Anyway, that's no longer an issue. Since we can't bring in our beverages past security what we do is stop at the Carl's inside the terminal (not my personal preference but it's the one in the SW terminal) and we grab a large sized soda to take on the plane. We'll sit there enjoying our soda (and DD will get french toast sticks or fries) and when it's close to time to board we refill our soda and board the plane. That way we don't have to wait for beverage service anymore. Then when we get sodas onboard I'll just pour it in my Carl's cup. Oh wait, I have been known to pack an empty styrofoam cup from Sam's Club in my carryon and then I switch to that. Works great!

On the way home we will use some of our CS credits for sandwiches and sides to eat on the way home. We've never had any problem bringing food items on the plane.

Happy flying!

 

[jgreco]

Please tell me the crockpot was a joke! I can't imagine taking off my belt, shoes, putting phones in bins and carrying a full crock pot LOL

 

[LadyBeBop]

We bring an old crockpot to the airport. There are lots of plugs to heat it up and we leave the crockpot for someone else to take home and reuse.

Now I'm sure this is a joke. I can never find a plug in the airport to charge my cell phone.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I freeze a lunchable the night before. It stays cool for several hours. ( They do make some that do not have sauce or drinks.)

 

[danceintherain]

Thinking of going the wrap option or buying a sandwich. Great ideas, and hoping for some more thoughts. DD9 wants to bring pizza lunchables, but does she have to assemble prior to going to airport, or does she need to put the little sauce packets in her quart size bag for security? I did try to talk her into something more convenient, but she really wants those lunchables, LOL!
Can I bring a chicken salad wrap, or do I need to keep the mayo/dressing separate cause its liquid?

My aunt actually had security make her spread peanut butter onto her crackers before going through security.
Pretty much anything that is premade/packaged is fine as long as it doesn't contain liquid.
Worst case scenario: they make her open it up and put the sauce packets in a quart sized bag. I doubt that will happen, but I don't fly through JFK much. Show it to them before you get everything situated, and they'll probably tell you what to do with it.
At MCI I've gotten through security with liquids in my carry on that I forgot about, and they didn't even flinch.
At ICN, they told me I just had to put my giant bottle of water inside my carry on (I was traveling with an infant, so maybe that was part of it) even though I was prepared to throw it out.

In general, keep your liquids to a minimum, and you'll be fine. Food-wise they only really care about fresh produce if you'll be traveling internationally (or from Hawaii etc).
It's definitely a lot more lax than it used to be, but JFK is kind of a high profile airport, so you never know.

 

[sookie]

We bring an old crockpot to the airport. There are lots of plugs to heat it up and we leave the crockpot for someone else to take home and reuse.

how do you get around the liquid restriction? your just being funny right????

 

[Debbie Jean]

how do you get around the liquid restriction? your just being funny right????

When I bring my crockpot, I use frozen grapes actually

Generally I prefer my George Foreman Grill

 

[brymolmom]

Heads-up as there have been a couple/few PB&J type suggestions. If you're planning to eat in the airport before boarding, fine. But sometimes flights are designated 'NUT-FREE' due to severe allergies on board. So if you might end up eating on-board you might want to rethink the PB idea as you will be out of luck if you end up on a flight like this.