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Main site > Forums > Household & Travel > Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning > What to eat on a flight?
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      Gettingtherequickly
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    • By Gettingtherequickly 22nd Feb 13, 9:40 AM
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    What to eat on a flight?
    • #1
    • 22nd Feb 13, 9:40 AM
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    What to eat on a flight? 22nd Feb 13 at 9:40 AM
    I will be flying to Jordan with my class in a couple of weeks, flying Easyjet so have no wish to pay for the awful food which they will probably be supplying.

    I am on a diet, but realise that it will have to be adjusted for this trip, so was wondering what I could take with me to eat on the flight. Unfortunately, we have our last class before Easter the night before and will need to be in Gatwick for about 7am the next morning, so I will potentially having to go without eating "properly" for over 24 hours. Eating before the flight is not something that appeals to me as it will be far too early and unless I get absolutely desperate for a caffeine hit on the flight, it will be water only.

    I have some containers which I am quite happy to bin afterwards but have no idea what to fill them with!
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  • nuttyp
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 9:52 AM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 9:52 AM
    Before we flew we popped into boots and got the meal deal with the shapers sandwich etc in. I got it after i had been through security. It is also cheaper than buying on the plane. When we were in the airport, we saw a group of teenagers all been told by their tutor to buy before they went as it was far cheaper. They also got chocolate etc too......
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    • By Honey Bear 22nd Feb 13, 9:58 AM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 9:58 AM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 9:58 AM
    Another meal deal vote. That's what I always do, and you can take the drinks on board because you've bought them after security. Don't limit yourself to one - buy enough to keep you fed all the way trough the filgt. Boots also does fruit with their meal deals, so you can get a really good mix of sweet, savory, snacks and drinks. Don't forget your Advantage card to rack up the points.
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    • By Lilyplonk 22nd Feb 13, 9:58 AM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 9:58 AM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 9:58 AM
    What time is your flight departing - it's often a couple of hours AFTER you need to 'check in'?

    Are there any restrictions on what you're allowed to take on a flight to Jordan with you?

    I think I'd be inclined to at least carry some of those 'breakfast replacement cereal biscuits' in your handbag - something like Belvia would be 'nutritious' IF you like them. We take those with us on long, early morning coach trips as OH won't eat anything at all before setting out.

    Would you perhaps feel like eating something like a 'home-made version' of a 'fruit corner' before departure time?

    What about a mixed salad in a container with some chopped chicken in a bag inside it - you'd probably need one of those foldable chill bags to put it in - but that could then be collapsed down to go in your hand luggage.

    How about a container of couscous?

    Good luck - I travelled to the States and back last summer during a very strict diet regime - finished up at McD's in the Airport having a Grilled Chicken Salad without the dressing . Then selected the lowest calorie option on the flight - but it was a scheduled flight with all catering/drinks provided in the price.

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      Gettingtherequickly
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    • By Gettingtherequickly 22nd Feb 13, 10:17 AM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 10:17 AM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 10:17 AM
    Thanks for those suggestions, usually make my own food, so didn't even think of meal deal. Couscous is a great idea as it is quick & easily made up when I get home from class.

    Lilyplonk, well done on being so strongwilled, I am currently 3stone down, but am going with the attitude that as long as I maintain for holiday, it has been a good one!
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    • By Lilyplonk 22nd Feb 13, 10:42 AM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 10:42 AM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 10:42 AM
    Well done, Gettingtherequickly - 3st down is fabulous going and certainly not something that you want to spoil at this stage of things ...............

    My weightloss has now slowed down - but I've still got about another 3st to go. Believe me, mine was a 'serious problem' that has been a long-haul ..................... but I'm doing it through our local NHS Dietitian Service and Council-run Gym. They refuse to term it 'a diet' - they use the term 'life-style change', which is exactly what it is .

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    • By maman 22nd Feb 13, 12:52 PM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 12:52 PM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 12:52 PM
    “
    What time is your flight departing - it's often a couple of hours AFTER you need to 'check in'?
    Originally posted by Lilyplonk ”
    I've been to Gatwick for early flights and often there's very little open. I don't know how you can check but I wouldn't rely on a meal deal without being sure Boots is open/will have them.

    I always buy water in Boots (using points if poss) as anything on the plane is a huge rip-off.

    I'd take pasta salad, fruit and crisps!

    P.S. when you say a class, are you with a group of children or is it all adults? Children will need food advice too.

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    • By bargainbetty 22nd Feb 13, 1:28 PM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 1:28 PM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 1:28 PM
    Make sure you eat everything you take, or discard it on the plane. If you can't do that, make sure you aren't restricted by their Customs Dept as to what fruits, veggies, home prepared foods etc you are permitted to take into the country.
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    • By Gettingtherequickly 22nd Feb 13, 2:48 PM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 2:48 PM
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    • 22nd Feb 13, 2:48 PM
    “

    P.S. when you say a class, are you with a group of children or is it all adults? Children will need food advice too.
    Originally posted by maman ”
    All adults It's hilarious, we are all working, but it is like being a student again doing things on the cheap! Oh, happy days of being a student.
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    • By Gettingtherequickly 22nd Feb 13, 2:50 PM
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    “
    Make sure you eat everything you take, or discard it on the plane. If you can't do that, make sure you aren't restricted by their Customs Dept as to what fruits, veggies, home prepared foods etc you are permitted to take into the country.
    Originally posted by bargainbetty ”
    Forgot about that, although I travel to Egypt regularly, it is generally a later flight, so I don't need to worry about taking food, actually, not been there since I started my diet, so may have to rethink that later in the year
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    • By HeadAboveWater 22nd Feb 13, 2:50 PM
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    Just a wee pointer:

    Much as nuts are handy to have, you may not be allowed them, or anything containing them!

    Last time I was on a flight there was an announcement over the tannoy that someone on the aircraft had an allergy and nobody was allowed to open/eat anything containing nuts.

    Just keep that in mind!!
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    • By suki1964 22nd Feb 13, 3:23 PM
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    “
    Just a wee pointer:

    Much as nuts are handy to have, you may not be allowed them, or anything containing them!

    Last time I was on a flight there was an announcement over the tannoy that someone on the aircraft had an allergy and nobody was allowed to open/eat anything containing nuts.

    Just keep that in mind!!
    Originally posted by HeadAboveWater ”
    Happened to me as well

    Although I cant understand why they do this as even the products they sell on planes are not nut free - as they are often processed in the same plant as nuts are used. So if a microdot of nut from me eating a nut bar 10 rows away is going to kill, then surely the microdot of nut in a nut free product that was made up next to a product that contained nuts is also going to kill

    So will the next step be that no food or drink other then airline supplied be allowed?
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    • By Alisha2008 22nd Feb 13, 3:27 PM
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    When I fly I usually take my home made sandwich, but if I can't make one I love Pre-a-Manger (in both terminals now in Gatwick). Boots is also good and the meal deal quite cheap.

    Also the food Easyjet serves is quite nice and not that expensive..last time I tried a small box that contained a bit of cheese, crackers, nuts, a (very very little) chocolate.. it was lovely!

    The thing I make sure I buy from Boots is water.. MUCH cheaper than on the plane or any other airport shop.

    Also I don't know if it's just me or it happens to more people, but I can't eat anything 1 hour or less before landing, or I get very sick.. I make sure I eat as soon as we take off (my flight is about 2.5 hours).

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    • By maman 22nd Feb 13, 6:41 PM
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    “
    When I fly I usually take my home made sandwich, but if I can't make one I love Pre-a-Manger (in both terminals now in Gatwick).
    Originally posted by Alisha2008 ”
    I'd forgotten about pret. They do a lovely salad nicoise with a little bottle of dressing you add yourself so ideal for anyone dieting. Assuming, as I said before, that they're open that early in the morning.

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    • By Alisha2008 25th Feb 13, 4:07 PM
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    I'm sure you can check the opening times, but when I've been in the airport all shops opened around 5:00 in the morning..

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  • welhamroad
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    Cheese and biscuits and fruit can be a good option. Also you often find that if you buy a Daily Telegraph in WH Smiths you get a free bottle of Buxton water with it....
    I'd go with cereal bars, biscuits or flapjack too as they will keep an so long as not chocolate won't melt if you eat them when you get there.
    Boots Meal Deals are often a good bet as you will get a drink, snack and sandwich/salad/sushi.

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    • By Pink. 13th Mar 13, 5:27 PM
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    Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.

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    • By callum9999 13th Mar 13, 5:59 PM
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    “
    Happened to me as well

    Although I cant understand why they do this as even the products they sell on planes are not nut free - as they are often processed in the same plant as nuts are used. So if a microdot of nut from me eating a nut bar 10 rows away is going to kill, then surely the microdot of nut in a nut free product that was made up next to a product that contained nuts is also going to kill

    So will the next step be that no food or drink other then airline supplied be allowed?
    Originally posted by suki1964 ”
    How do you know the person is 10 rows away from you? How do you know the person won't walk past you/you walk past them at some point on the flight?

    You're just being ridiculous - it's a simple measure to reduce the risk of a fellow human being getting seriously ill. No need to start moaning about how they should either let the cabin be full of nuts or ensure every "microdot" of nut is removed from the aircraft...

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    • By Seakay 13th Mar 13, 6:06 PM
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    of course the reason the measure needs to be taken is that the air isn't cleaned as it was when smoking was allowed. Much more likely to get illnesses off other people on the plane these days as the stale air is constantly recycled instead of being filtered. If it was filtered everyone would be a lot better off including the people with allergies. Rather than pay to keep us all healthy and headache free the airline would rather we pay more and receive less care.

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    • By thegirlintheattic 13th Mar 13, 6:39 PM
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    I'd grab something at the airport - you really don't want to take a chance at forgetting the food in your bag on landing.
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