Any suggestions for food items to take on the plane?

You should be given an actual meal on an international flight. Some airlines are pretty good about food. Two years ago we flew Virgin round trip SFO to London and they kept coming around with more and more food and snacks. But, if you fly on a US carrier, that won't happen, but you should get one meal.

We have found on some flights we get hungry and the thought of something sweet turns us off. We like to take beef jerky. It feels more substantial than nuts, crackers or candy.

Limit the salty snacks and buy a large bottle of water or apple juice, etc. when you're through the Security Line. Yes, there's water on the plane, but you will want it more often, especially when you just wake up from a nap.

We like to bring a couple of Ziploc bags of carrots, celery, cauliflower to snack and another set with a low-salt nuts/dried fruit combo. And, I like to bring a bag of Lifesaver large individually wrapped peppermints - use them during the flight and also the trip. And, we have a tradition of bringing a package of red licorice on every trip.

Remember to not bring items that would be perceived as smelly to other passengers.

Ha, just saw the two posts that came through at the same time with differing ideas! You'll see that everyone has what they prefer. When you're thinking about your items, consider what normally appeals to you if you're taking a long ride in the car during a vacation.

Flying to Europe from where I live is about a 6 hour flight. I can exist that long with just the airline food which is sometimes quite tasty. The wine is always welcome, too. Yeah, I know, shouldn't drink wine on long flights. Phooey. Always do, always will.

I fly from LAX so international flights are always long. My snacks include raw almonds, dried fruit, a peanut butter sandwich cut in quarters and a banana. I use the ziplock bag I carry the banana in to dispose of the peel. I will also take Wethers caramel hard candies and a large bottled water. Coupled with the flight meal I'm not starving when the plane lands.

A good question! One important thing to consider is not to take anything too fragrant (i.e. stinky) so as not to discommode your fellow passengers.

I usually take fruit, nuts, a bit of cheese, and of course some chocolate. I try to avoid eating the airline meal, it's usually so nasty, and i find I fly better if i don't have all that gunk in my stomach anyway.

Croissants in little zip-lock bags. They're great with juice or milk.

Check your airline's web site. It should tell you what is served on a trans-Atlantic flight.

We like a sub sandwich, trail mix, and perhaps sliced apple,or orange. Whatever you'd eat for a sack lunch. PS. A few Hershey kisses for my chocolate fix.

Try to keep it simple, neat, and dry, like nuts/cheese/crackers etc. I wouldn't take a sandwich or juicy fruit like an orange just because they can be hard to eat without risking a spill or getting stuff on your hands. As others have said, avoid anything others might find smelly (even in a good way). Or be content with the airline meal (which may violate the neat/dry principle).

Before leaving, we each buy a kind of soda that comes in a narrow little plastic bottle (I forget the brand, we don't drink it usually). We drink it before leaving, and fill the bottles with water inside security. They fit nicely in the seat pocket and take up less room than standard bottles. After the trip we dump them in recycling.

On United flights from the east coast, you usually get a hot meal (meat, veg, starch, and a roll, maybe a little dessert) and then a snack later which is something like a ham sandwich, bag of chips, and baby carrots. The food's been fine the past few years, but I'm not super-picky. I usually pack a few granola bars or something like trail mix, Belvita "cookies", etc. They're good with your coffee/tea or whatever you're drinking. Past few time I've been on the daytime flight so haven't had to worry about avoiding caffeine during at least the first part of the flight. They bring water often, but I agree to bring your own bottle of water in addition.

I like Kashi bars, but any brand of snack bars you like will work. Not only are these dry, so they don't make a mess, but they are small and sealed, and handy to have after you land, in case you want a quick snack.

However, I use these mostly for long US flights where food is not included and extra-cost. For flights to Europe, most airlines still feed you for "free" (Icelandair is a notable exception). Going from the US to Europe, the flights usually leave in the evening US time and land in the morning European time, so you will get dinner and breakfast. Coming back, you usually get lunch and then a snack before landing. Most, but not all, also have free alcohol; soft drinks are free (again, not on Icelandair).

I find that these day the onboard food, while variable, is perfectly palatable. The food on SAS and Turkish Air was memorably better, and on Delta memorably worse, than average; otherwise it's been good enough, and that includes Aeroflot (which did worry me beforehand - it was fine).

If you want or need any kind of special meal (Kosher, vegetarian, lactose free, low sodium, etc), be sure to reserve it in advance. These have to be loaded specially on your flight - you can't just get it on the plane without advance notice.

sandi,

As the others have mentioned most international flights offer meal service, which typically includes a full meal about two hours after takeoff, and a "continental breakfast" about an hour prior to landing. My flights are typically 9-10 hours, and I find that's usually adequate.

As someone else mentioned, it's a good idea to buy a bottle of water after you've gone through security. The flight attendants will walk through the cabin frequently with large bottles of water to help passengers stay hydrated, but sometimes they get busy so it's nice to have a "backup".

Norma, I most definitely agree regarding the wine! I know all the "experts" recommend against alcohol and caffeine, but I like having a glass of wine with the meal and don't feel that affects me at all.

That's interesting Emma! Definitely something to consider.

Also for water, they usually during the long part of the flight have drinks open in the galley in the back, so you can go back and get more water (or a Coke or whatever). Also good for stretching one's legs as you're supposed to do on a long flight anyway.

And I'm with Norma and Ken. I always have a glass of wine. It's never bothered me.

Remember that yogurt counts as a liquid/gel/cream/paste when passing through airport security.

I always take food in case my requested vegetarian meal is not loaded. I also fly from/to the Western part of the US so have a long flight to Europe. I would typically take a cinnamon raisin bagel with peanut butter, cut in to 4 so I am not sure what I would do if the nut allergy announcement was made. I also have a couple of Clif bars and some of the previously mentioned Belvita bars. The bagels are sturdier than bread for travel. I also pack a few Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut spread individual packets which have to go in my 3-1-1 bag as they are gel-like. I guess in future I could just pack the bagel separately so I could have that if a No Nuts request was made.

There is plenty of food service, at least on Delta, again, assuming the special meals area loaded. I did have 2 international flights last year where they were not and did have to depend on the food I brought along.

I echo the suggestion above--nothing smelly!!! I had with me a the rest of the sandwich I had gotten at the Subway in the airport food court before boarding and it had onions. NOT GOOD (and embarassing). Don't be me!

You will likely get a meal, as others have said. I had a flight that left the east coast after 8:30 pm and still they gave us a hot meal (plus snacks, plus a tray of snacks and drinks available during the flight). I always travel with snacks like granola bars (KIND bars), individual packs of nuts/dried fruit like trail mix. Sometimes you want a snack and sometimes flights are delayed and you really want a snack...... I find the fruits/nuts/grains to be more substantial and also they don't crush or spoil.

I love bagels and I always pack some in my carry on. ( hold the lox and cream cheese). They are indestructible, filling, and can be eaten whole or munched piece by piece as needed. I get a couple almost every day from my nearby deli, but when I order 6 or so, they ask, "So where are you going now, Denny?" For some reason though they seem to cause consternation for the TSA agents, who inevitably pull me out of line when the bag goes through the X-ray. I was raised in a house where the ultimate sin was to throw away food and must laugh at myself when my partner finally tosses the remains on day 5 of the trip. You just never know when you're going to need that bagel. Have a good trip!

CLIF Bars are my go to. They are great during the trip as well when you just want a snack instead of a meal.