Tomorrow my husband and I are leaving for a weeklong visit to Kenya, which means we're facing about 36 hours of travel. And that's just the trip there! We are looking for good ways to stay nourished and hydrated on the long flights and stopovers in unfamiliar airports. Here are some of the things we are planning on packing, but we would love your ideas as well. How do you keep yourself alive on long international flights?
posted originally from: TheKitchn
The particularly challenging thing about this trip is that there are two equally long flights. The first one is easy: it's an overnight flight, and in order for our bodies to adjust, we need to sleep. The second flight, however, will begin in the middle of the night (according to our bodies' clocks, anyway) but we need to stay awake. It's an all-day flight and we want to stay awake and energized without relying on caffeine (and terrible airplane coffee).
Here are some foods we are planning on packing:
• Odwalla bars for sheer sustenance.
• Clementines
• Sunflower seeds
• Celery sticks
• Dressed, shredded cabbage
• Empty water bottles, to be filled after the security checkpoint
• Herbal teabags
• Honey sticks: does anyone know if these can get through security?
What are some of the best foods for international travel, and how do you get through these long plane flights?
Related: What Foods Can You Carry On The Plane?
(Image: Flickr member larskflem licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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i can't travel internationally without my No Jetlag and a collapsible water bottle.
view hipersons's profile
I'm a nervous flyer, and i often find it difficult to sleep on planes. I try and bring a small bottle of liquor (are they called nips?) on the flight, so I can nod off with a cocktail. Amoretto and ginger ale works for me.
I also can't deal with planes without gum to chew during takeoff and landing!
view emsy's profile
Plan to eat as much of your fresh fruit as possible on the first flight, as it may be confiscated at security before your second flight. Then aim for your packaged food.
As for staying energized and awake on the second flight - As soon as you get on that second airplane, change your watch/clock to reflect the local time where you're landing, and don't think about your former time zone. Add regular walks around the cabin, streching in your seat, lots of water, and tasty healthy snacks.
I always travel with a lavender-filled tie-on eye pillow & earplugs, which helps ease me into sleep in strange & noisy places. The next time you plan to travel internationally, I highly recommend ordering a special vegan meal - skipping on milk, cheese, and meat is easier on the digestion and leaves me feeling better for my travel adventures!
view LexaFeather's profile
Ditto on the fresh fruit comment.
For that same confiscation reason, small amounts of nuts and dried fruit are also good to take, and the protein/fat fills me up without making me feel bloated and heavy mid-flight.
When I have to take an early morning flight, I like to defrost a homemade pancake or two, or some bread I've baked, by leaving it out overnight.
view Frugalista's profile
I always bring a water bottle for flights, even short ones.
Please don't bring nuts or nut products on an airplane. People with airborne allergy can have life-threatening complications from your snack since you're sharing the same air. So no peanut butter or nuts in the granola, please please please.
For the same air-sharing reason, be careful not to pack "stinky" foods. Garlicky hummus may be wonderful to you, but the person across the aisle might not appreciate the intrusion.
view Aimi's profile