Airplane snack options for bottomless preggo lady?

I'd recommend protein, like individually-wrapped cheese sticks or wedges, as it will help keep you from getting hungry again so fast, and it will help keep your blood sugar more even. In addition, you can buy food at the airport after you have gone through security, so you don't have to worry about carrying it to the airport and getting it past TSA.

Chex® Party Mix - tasty variety of flavors and textures. Make your own, or buy pre-bagged. No problem in carry-on.

Downside: lots and lots of sodium in the bagged versions. If you make your own, you can cut it way down. Recipes here: http://www.chex.com/Recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=6709&CategoryId=343&t=1

We like the Hot'n'Spicy flavor, which we call Tex Mex Chex Mix.

How about some trail mix? With raisins, nuts, m&ms, etc. -- salty and sweet. Will keep forever.

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Agree with the suggestion of cheese...you can buy those individually wrapped string cheese snacks and they pack well.

Also think nuts (such as almonds) would be good for you.

Protein is key...keep away from the sugary stuff and you'll be satisified longer.

Follow your body's cues. For example, if you get a craving for a banana, it's because your baby is saying "hey, we need some more potassium down here!"

Thanks for the suggestions! Will the string cheese go bad over the course of a day? And the nuts are a great idea -- I love cashews and didn't think of them.

Robespierre...I normally do obey my cravings, but unfortunately for a flight, I can't do much more than make predictions!

Hi karameli,

don't forget that both flying and eating will make you thirsty.

you can buy water to take on the plane once you're through security.

also fruit like melon, pineapple, apple and pear can be very refreshing and should escape confiscation.

regards, ann

Try the Julia Child special: peanut butter with bananas on whole wheat.

All cheeses will be fine on a 10 hour or so flight. Over here in Europe we keep all but the really wet runny cheeses at room temperature for a whole day if we are planning on having them for dinner.

Hi karameli,

Try fig newtons or meal-replacement bars.

Good luck!

s

Those teensy carrots are really useful. My fave when I was pregnant were Sesame Snaps which have the added benefit of being tiny and virtually weightless.

If you're worried about the cheese then pack it with one of those freezer packs that you put in coolers. Can't remember what they're called but mine are blue!

I usually find them useful while on vacation to keep picnic items cool or to cool a swollen ankle or you name it! Of course they're not so useful if you don't have a refrigerator wherever you're staying lol.

Would you be permitted to carry one of those gel pack cooler things on a plane?

I am fairly certain you can't take a gel ice pack on the plane.

Cashews (bought at the airport) are my usual emergency staple.

Any kind of trail mix, dried fruits, or fresh fruit (apples), work nicely too.

Various energy and snack bars work fine (Luna, Lara's, etc.). Small boxes or packs of crackers like ritz or wheat thins.

A normal sandwich is good for at least several hours without refrigeration (I buy from Starbucks at the airport).

Individually packages string cheese or cheddar is OK also fine even when it gets a bit warm.

My mother brought those little Nab crackers (at least that is what we New Englanders call them). The little rye crackers with peanut butter in them. You can get the fluorescent orange crackers with PB too. I love those but who knows what they are really made of.

A sandwich-sized baggie filled with lightly steamed then chilled vegetables (green beans, asparagus) or raw vegetables (celery, cuke, carrot sticks).

I have taken the hard plastic sealed gel packs on the plane (while frozen).
This doesn't mean that they're allowed just that mine haven't been confiscated. Too late for you but the rules regarding liquids are being relaxed towards the end of 2009....

My mom always makes me a fabulous trail mix before I leave on a big trip (yes, I'm 26, but I'll never turn down food from mom!). She loads it with almonds, cashews, macadmias, raisens/craisens, and big ol' dark chocolate chips. She gave my husband and I a huge bag before we left for Italy and we ate it on the flight, as a snack after a long day, snacking by the pool...throw in whatever your favorite things are and the nuts and dark chocolate are healthy!

Thanks for all the ideas!! Went to the food store and loaded up on those orange PB crackers, some bananas (might try that sandwich!), oatmeal bars, and Clifs. Hopefully that should do the trick!!

I always take mango flavored dried pineapple that I can only find at Walgreens.

karameli,
you would be surprised how well food lasts on long flights.

i used to fly to nyc regularly from sfo and was always hungry - partly from boredom i think.
anyway, i always carried a small shopping bag filled with assorted food for assorted cravings - almost a mini picnic.

fresh baguette with 2 or 3 different cheeses(hard and soft) and my favourite eggplant spread
hummus and pita
raw almonds
raw walnuts with dates
raw veggies
fruit salad
farro salad or with any other grain or lentils

the choice eased the boredom of eating just one thing.

if on the rare occasion there were any leftovers, i would keep them in the mini bar at the hotel for a snack with a drink before heading out to dinner.
enjoy your travels.

Hi Karameli. Congratulations on your pregnancy! I have been trying hard to resist interfering, but the mother in me just won't let me. I don't know if you are aware of the dangers of salmonella and listeria poisoning? If you are, don't worry to read any further.

If you're reading this far, I take it you want to know more, so here goes. In each of my pregnancies I was warned to be careful to avoid foods that can cause Salmonella and Listeria poisoning because this can have serious repercussions for the health of your unborn baby. Because you will be overseas and also will be eating on the plane, it is likely you will be less in control of how your food is prepared. My advice would be to avoid all of the following foods:
- raw fish, raw seafood, smoked seafood unless it is hot, sushi, etc
- all unpasteurised dairy products
- soft cheeses and feta unless they are really hot
- raw eggs
- hummus
- the stuffing in chicken or turkey
- cold meats (processed meats)
- cakes with cream or custard in them, unless you know that the cream or custard is really, really fresh
- salads unless you know that the ingredients are really fresh and have been washed very well.

In any case, if you haven't already, please talk to your doctor about this, because he/she will know far more than I do.

I found that apples (wash them first) and wholewheat crackers were wonderful for filling me up while I was pregnant.

Have a wonderful holiday and take care!

If the plane isn't serving food, I always buy a sandwich at the airport. I like to have something more than just nuts and snack bars on a long flight.

I try to eat before the flight, but on long flights to Europe I take a ziplock bag of my own trail mix. I use raw almonds, cashews, walnuts and dried fruit like cranberries, apple slices, pineapple...you can buy a mixed bag of the fruits at Sam's, and I've seen smaller bags in the grocery stores. Throw in some dark chocolate chips for something a little sweeter. Turkey jerky is good too ( I cut it into more managable pieces before I pack it in my purse).

The way to take water on the plane is to carry empty bottles through security and refill them at the water fountain or restroom on the other side.