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

[kaytieeldr]

Peanut butter, jelly, cream cheese, salad dressing, jello, pudding - anything not solid - on its own needs to go in in your 3-1-1 bag (and remember, each passenger gets one). PB&J sandwiches, already-spread bagels, predressed salads - all go through security easily, or should.

By the way, there are few, if any, peanut-free flights. The airlines may not serve peanuts, but while some may ask passengers not to use peanut products onboard, the tendency is to create peanut buffer zones when necessary (and asked - it's important to let the airline know, preferably when booking but most assuredly before an attack!)

 

[clh2]

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

NO - it isn't a liquid...it is considered a "gel". Same with peanut butter, jelly, yogurt, and pudding.

Maybe - since there are 9 of you - one or two of your group of travelers could have a "food-related" quart bag instead of toiletries. But you would need to find individual "3.4 oz or less" sizes. That is what I would do...

Now - I do have a neighbor that I am SHOCKED didn't get tossed into jail for arguing with a TSA guard about the peanut butter being a gel issue.

Can you get some of the cereals that are already in bowls? I know where I can get them in my neck of the woods - i.e. the cafeteria where I work. If you just take the lid off - you'll have a bowl with the cereal in it. YEP - they cost more, but might be a little more convenient. SPOONS - don't forget spoons.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Can you get some of the cereals that are already in bowls? I know where I can get them in my neck of the woods - i.e. the cafeteria where I work.

I've seen them at CVS, White Hen (well, before it became Store 24 ) and some supermarkets.

Another good place for travel size anything is minimus.biz

 

[jenlynn0808]

Can you get some of the cereals that are already in bowls? If you just take the lid off - you'll have a bowl with the cereal in it. YEP - they cost more, but might be a little more convenient. SPOONS - don't forget spoons.

I've bought them at Target before, they are right by the boxed cereal.

 

[alaskanabbott]

NO - it isn't a liquid...it is considered a "gel". Same with peanut butter, jelly, yogurt, and pudding.

Maybe - since there are 9 of you - one or two of your group of travelers could have a "food-related" quart bag instead of toiletries. But you would need to find individual "3.4 oz or less" sizes. That is what I would do...

Now - I do have a neighbor that I am SHOCKED didn't get tossed into jail for arguing with a TSA guard about the peanut butter being a gel issue.

Can you get some of the cereals that are already in bowls? I know where I can get them in my neck of the woods - i.e. the cafeteria where I work. If you just take the lid off - you'll have a bowl with the cereal in it. YEP - they cost more, but might be a little more convenient. SPOONS - don't forget spoons.

I HAVE seen those cereal bowls! I hadn't eventhought about them. Thanks for info on gels- I'm not a fan of arguing with TSA- just get us in and out and on our merry little way!

 

[disneyfanintn]

sub sandwichs and small bags of chips and cookies.

 

[alaskanabbott]

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.

Yeah, our airlines says that flights over 6 hours get comp food- except that our flight lands in Seattle to let people off, at about halfway, so the flight itself is considered two 4.5 hour flights....nice huh? I like the idea of cereal b/c it's one of those comfort things that kids always "know"- but then a pp kinda made me feel like it was a silly idea to have bowls of cereal in flight...I guess b/c of turbulence maybe?

 

[alaskanabbott]

sub sandwichs and small bags of chips and cookies.

that was my original plan, subs...now I'm wondering about the mayo!

 

[jenlynn0808]

Yeah, our airlines says that flights over 6 hours get comp food- except that our flight lands in Seattle to let people off, at about halfway, so the flight itself is considered two 4.5 hour flights....nice huh? I like the idea of cereal b/c it's one of those comfort things that kids always "know"- but then a pp kinda made me feel like it was a silly idea to have bowls of cereal in flight...I guess b/c of turbulence maybe?

My kids will actually eat cereal without the milk. DD12 actually prefers it that way.

 

[pixiewings71]

My kids will actually eat cereal without the milk. DD12 actually prefers it that way.

My girls love dry cereal, they would eat it fine on a plane. And yes, as I said previously peanut butter was taken from my BFF when we went thru security at Oakland Airport, it is a gel, they took hers because it was over the 3 oz rule.

 

[Ericandjenng]

Last year for our trip from East Tennessee to Seattle (stopovers in Cincinnati one-way and Atlanta the other), we took "Lunchables" for our outbound and bought Subway the night before we left Seattle for our trip back. We used an insulated lunch bag as one of our personal items (as opposed to a purse,etc). Small zip bags of ice kept things cold and were small enough to pass the 3-1-1 rule.

Also even though they are loaded in sugar, pop-tarts are great to travel with. And don't forget some small candies or mints...for when you need something but not actually hungry.

Happy Traveling!!

ETA: OH!! One of my DS's favorite thing to take on all trips is individual packets of kool-aid. You just add them to a bottle (or cup) of water and it's just powder!

 

[SandrA9810]

I'd spread the cream cheese on the bagels prior, it doesn't make the bagel all mushy or soggy, so it'll be fine later in the day.

I'd use those ziploc containers, with the screw on lid for the cereal. Most will eat it dry just to munch on something.

Don't forget your fruits... apples, bananas, grapes, and the such.

Bring some breads, like banana breads or rolls. Truthfully, a sandwich doesn't need mayo or any other toppings on it. I'd just toss in a package of meat and maybe a couple tomatoes and a bag of salad mix.

You can always buy the milk and OJ in the airport prior to boarding, along with any other beverages you don't think they'll have on board.

One time I flew, I had a half bag of salad mix, and a tomato. I knew it would spoil here, so I brought it with me. I stopped at the cafe place next to the terminal, and they gave me a cup of dressing, for free too. So I just cut up my tomato and tossed the dressing in the bag, just shook and ate it right out of the bag. Really hit the spot too.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Small zip bags of ice kept things cold and were small enough to pass the 3-1-1 rule.

Not doubting this happened AT ALL, but an attentive TSA officer would - should - have confiscated the bags of ice and discarded them. Why? Sure, the bags were compliant, but the contents weren't. The contents need to be in containers marked with the volume/weight of the contents. No container can be more than 3.4 ounces/100 ml; and the size can't be handwritten.

 

[JennyDarling]

Not doubting this happened AT ALL, but an attentive TSA officer would - should - have confiscated the bags of ice and discarded them. Why? Sure, the bags were compliant, but the contents weren't. The contents need to be in containers marked with the volume/weight of the contents. No container can be more than 3.4 ounces/100 ml; and the size can't be handwritten.

Does the bolded apply to toiletries now too? I always take my shampoo and conditioner in my 3-1-1 bag in plain travel sized bottles from Target and haven't had a problem. I had planned on doing the same for my trip to Puerto Rico next month. Will I be ok or should I just plan on checking a bag? I haven't flown since early summer and I know there have been changes.

ETA: Sorry for the hijack OP. This just caught me off guard and I had to ask

 

[jenm2878]

I would avoid any lunch meat. On a flight from San Diego to Cleveland I was sitting next to a couple that was sharing a stick of salami (think Hillshire Farms summer sausage sized) and it stank up the entire section. I usually don't find the smell of salami offensive, but I found myself gagging a few times and quite a few people around us were making comments as well.

 

[horseshowmom]

Yeah, our airlines says that flights over 6 hours get comp food- except that our flight lands in Seattle to let people off, at about halfway, so the flight itself is considered two 4.5 hour flights....nice huh? I like the idea of cereal b/c it's one of those comfort things that kids always "know"- but then a pp kinda made me feel like it was a silly idea to have bowls of cereal in flight...I guess b/c of turbulence maybe?

I wasn't the pp, but that would be my thought. I wouldn't take the chance of having milk all over me or the kids for the rest of my flight (not how I would want to arrive in Orlando! ).

I would definitely go with the muffins, Pop-Tarts, or anything else that is quick and easy and that requires little (preferably no) preparation.

 

[MinnieForMe]

What a fool I've been! I never knew (since 9-11) that you could bring food or drink through security. I've been buying meals through the security gates and spending a fortune. Thanks for all the tips.

 

[grafxgirl]

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

Don't forget to bring some kind of wet wipes to clean the sticky faces and hands!

 

[prncess674]

You can freeze deli meats. Once on a long train trip I froze the deli meats in a sandwich baggie which in turn was placed inside another sandwich baggie with the cheese. The frozen meat kept the cheese cool. Once the meat thawed in flight I had packed a few tortillas and made ham and cheese rollups. Tortillas/pitas are great since they really can't get smushed. A can of pringles are also great for a snack since you can pack the can and don't have to worry about pulverized smushed chips.

another of my favorite travel snacks are the 100 calorie packs of almonds by Blue Diamond.
http://www.bluediamond.com/index.cfm?navid=458

 

[kaytieeldr]

What a fool I've been! I never knew (since 9-11) that you could bring food or drink through security. I've been buying meals through the security gates and spending a fortune. Thanks for all the tips.

Not drink. I don't know where you're getting that idea. That's liquid, and it's prohibited unless the containers are 3.4 ounces or less each and in your 3-1-1 bag.