what to pack for dinner on a 9hr plane ride?

[alaskanabbott]

I couldn't figure out if this was "dining" or "planning" or "budget" so moderators you are welcome to move this as yousee fit!

I have 9 of us coming from Alaska to Orlando in January That's my Dfather, DH, and our 6 children. The first plane is 9 hours long, begining at 1am. I'm sure the kids will sleep for awhile, then wake up famished. Ofcourse the meals are not free, $6 each for a little snack size sandwhich. I'd like to have one of our carry-ons dedicated to food. I was thinking maybe making sub sandwhiches, and bringing packs of mayo. Any other sugestions as to food that will keep/store well, is airline friendly and easy? I also though about bringing bowls and a box of cereal, but I wonder how irritated the stewardess would be at bringing us 9 milks for breaky?

 

[darthspud]

if your a family that likes grapes then freeze grapes ahead of time and use those as ice packs to keep food cold... make your own lunchables... pepperoni (which only needs to be refrigerated after opening) some cheese crackers, pre slice apples or oranges as for breakfast stuffs dry cereal, granola bars, oatmeal (getting hot water that they use for tea from the trolly)

if you are going to bring mayo packets and what not if you need to spread it out bring popsicle sticks to use... and dont forget to bring a plastic bag for trash

Safe travels!

 

[magiclj]

My daughter likes uncrustables to carry in her backpack.

 

[FredS]

Aren't you really talking about breakfast? Why not prepackaged muffins, breakfast bars, that sort of thing?

I would hope that most passengers would sleep much of the flight, then you would have a relatively short period when people would be awake and interested in breakfast. If you will be off the plane at 10 am I would not go to the hassle of making sandwiches or bowls of cereal (you were kidding about that, right?) and would simply have a light breakfast.

Please, if you go with the sandwich idea, don't have anything smelly on them. Having been trapped sitting by someone who ate a disgusting onion, vinegar, etc. sandwich on a plane l can only imagine how much worse that would be to endure that first thing in the morning.

 

[alaskanabbott]

if your a family that likes grapes then freeze grapes ahead of time and use those as ice packs to keep food cold... make your own lunchables... pepperoni (which only needs to be refrigerated after opening) some cheese crackers, pre slice apples or oranges as for breakfast stuffs dry cereal, granola bars, oatmeal (getting hot water that they use for tea from the trolly)

if you are going to bring mayo packets and what not if you need to spread it out bring popsicle sticks to use... and dont forget to bring a plastic bag for trash

Safe travels!

I LOVE IT- so many ideas I hadn't thought of! Thanks

 

[alaskanabbott]

Aren't you really talking about breakfast? Why not prepackaged muffins, breakfast bars, that sort of thing?

I would hope that most passengers would sleep much of the flight, then you would have a relatively short period when people would be awake and interested in breakfast. If you will be off the plane at 10 am I would not go to the hassle of making sandwiches or bowls of cereal (you were kidding about that, right?) and would simply have a light breakfast.

Please, if you go with the sandwich idea, don't have anything smelly on them. Having been trapped sitting by someone who ate a disgusting onion, vinegar, etc. sandwich on a plane l can only imagine how much worse that would be to endure that first thing in the morning.

HMMM your right, who want to be assulted with foul smells and no where to turn....I'm rethinking the sandwhiches. We actually change planes at 12:30pm, but only with enough time to catch the next plane, which arrives into MCO at 4:45pm...our flight is techincally 12:45am-12:30 pm, then 1:30-4:45pm, looks very bad until you remember the 3 hour time difference...
Thanks for the advice, I think if packed correctly muffins cold be a very good idea!

 

[sarasmom97]

My daughter and I fly cross country a couple times a year. We always bring food wth us. It's a little more challenging now with so many limitations on what you can carry on.
One of the issues is that you can't bring an ice pack or ice. What we do is I pack an empty plastic zipper bag with the food in a soft sided cooler. After security, we usually purchase a beverage from one of the shops and fill the zipper bag up with ice for the cooler.
Things we have brought with us: sandwiches, bagels w/cream cheese, cut-up fruit, cheese cubes, peanut butter crackers, fruit rollups, trail mix, cheese-its, dry cereal. I would check with your airline to see if they offer milk for the cereal.
Good luck!

 

[At World's End]

Our trip takes 8+ hours, starting at 6 am. I'm planning to bring a softsided cooler with muffins, bagels & creamcheese, sandwiches & condiment packs, along with frozen grapes to keep it cold. DH thinks I always overpack food and snacks, but I'd rather overpack than have cranky kids!

I thought about bringing cereal, too, but it would be just my luck that we'd hit some turbulance at that time!

 

[lovetheduck]

I always pack extra food for our flights. Bagels, peanut butter, turkey. My DH used to think I was nuts up until the time our flight from San Diego to NY was grounded in St. Louis. Another mom on the flight was asking around if anyone had extra formula, she'd only brought one bottle since she didn't think she would need any more. I has enough for 2 days. Nobody thinks I'm nuts anymore.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you bring packs of mayo etc, you have to put them in your 3-1-1 baggie.

For a flight where everyone is trapped, along with funky smelling things...try to avoid bringing peanut products. It's just kind to those with sensitivities, and it will save you just in case you board and THEN find out that it's a peanut-free flight.


What airline are you flying? Thoroughly check out your food possibilities on their website, and think about adding some food into your budget. Alaska has a perfectly nice cheese and cracker platter for $7. The three of us shared two, and it was great for our 6 hour flight back home to Seattle. We also had protein bars, just one for each of us.


You are brave to start a flight at 1am with kids! I have yet to have DS fall asleep when I want him to fall asleep on a flight, no matter how early the flight is. So from my experience, I hope you will bring lots and lots of quiet stuff for your kids to play with, just in case they don't go along with the program. And be aware that you might not be able to sleep either, if they don't sleep....

 

[alaskanabbott]

If you bring packs of mayo etc, you have to put them in your 3-1-1 baggie.

For a flight where everyone is trapped, along with funky smelling things...try to avoid bringing peanut products. It's just kind to those with sensitivities, and it will save you just in case you board and THEN find out that it's a peanut-free flight.


What airline are you flying? Thoroughly check out your food possibilities on their website, and think about adding some food into your budget. Alaska has a perfectly nice cheese and cracker platter for $7. The three of us shared two, and it was great for our 6 hour flight back home to Seattle. We also had protein bars, just one for each of us.

.

We're flying Continental this go. Another great tip about the peanut allergy, thanks! I guess it's not so much the price, it's the lack of quality/quantity for the price. As for my "kids" The oldest is 18, then 15, 13, 13, 11, and 6....so I guess I'm not sure they even qualify for a kid rating anymore!!! (except the 6yr old) We flew this same trip, same times and everything, back in March for my son's Make a Wish trip...my family got the NoroVirus during his wish-trip so we didn't get to really finish his trip. We decided we really wanted to give him this trip, so we are taking him back, on our dime this time! In March it was wonderful, they all slept off and on, and even with a 6 yr old and a son in a wheelchair we had a pretty relaxing flight. A lot of that is due to the older teens and my DH who all take turns with James and Mackenzie, so that we all get a little respite! I will bring a portable DVD player this time though, and lots of color-books!!!

 

[alaskanabbott]

I always pack extra food for our flights. Bagels, peanut butter, turkey. My DH used to think I was nuts up until the time our flight from San Diego to NY was grounded in St. Louis. Another mom on the flight was asking around if anyone had extra formula, she'd only brought one bottle since she didn't think she would need any more. I has enough for 2 days. Nobody thinks I'm nuts anymore.

LOVE IT

 

[alaskanabbott]

OK, I'm loving the frozen grapes (which will double as ice) bagels and cream cheese, ritz crazkers and cheese slices (maybe pepperoni), muffins, and maybe some packets of instant oatmeal. the tip about the trash bag, extra zip-lock and popcicle stick- genius of you guys!!! I can see extra ziplocks coming in handy for several things!
I love you Dis-ers, seriously the smartest people I know

 

[pixiewings71]

My BFF has a special diet, we flew from Oakland to San Diego and she took some of her special peanut butter. The flight was not peanut free but it was too big to go thru security, it was a brand new jar of peanut butter, she had to throw it out. Just make sure you read the guidelines so you don't have to throw out anything you take.

 

[andycat]

Skinny Cow cheeses don't need to be refrigerated - always a good choice. Hummus needs refrigeration, but hummus and pita bread is a great snack. Celery and carrot sticks are a good choice, too. For breakfast you could have cereal in a rigid container to keep from ending up with crumbs.

Make certain to pack plastic flatware with all your snacks!

 

[shortbun]

Get some of those juice bags and freeze them so they will still be cold when you drink them and help to keep things cold. I'd pack pbj, apples and juice boxes. No smells, hardly any trash and easily kept fresh. take a wet washcloth in a ziploc for clean up, you can reuse it at WDW for something.

 

[clh2]

Get some of those juice bags and freeze them so they will still be cold when you drink them and help to keep things cold. I'd pack pbj, apples and juice boxes. No smells, hardly any trash and easily kept fresh. take a wet washcloth in a ziploc for clean up, you can reuse it at WDW for something.

A frozen juice bag qualifies as a liquid - and would need to be treated as such - i.e. the 3-1-1 rules. Peanut butter and cream cheese also qualify.

 

[v.t.]

Let the older kids pick out the snacks they would like. We have never had any trouble getting fresh fruit or veggies on but sometimes homemade sandwiches, etc. are frowned upon. I know it is more expensive but I would stick to pre-packaged items you get at the store. While a little more expensive, they are much cheaper than airport food and won't get thrown away.

 

[alaskanabbott]

cream cheese is considered a liquid now? UGH!! There goes the bagels!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sounds like it would be breakfast.

We would carry cereal bars and fruit and maybe cereal boxes. My kids would just snack on them.

I think milk would be included (like soda) and if you bought some bowls, they could have cereal and milk.

I find it crazy that a 9 hour flight doesn't include something with the ticket price. Last time I flew, I thought 5hrs plus still got something.