No catering on 7 hour flight...

[Totallyconfusedaboutlife]

I booked flights for me and OH last month and have just gone into my booking to try to order a GF meal for me - I'm coeliac. But there is no catering on this flight. This is OK (kind of... ) for me, but OH is type 1 diabetic and could really do with a meal half way through. I've never been on a flight this length that doesn't offer catering. Is this a new thing? The flight wasn't cheap (not Easyjet or anything like that).

This is common on some airlines on some routes, even medium haul ones. Who are you flying with? As PP say, take something with you.

Does he eat nuts, cheese and eggs (antisocial though)?
Presumably as a diabetic, he needs protein and fat rather than carbs.

Nuts will work for him.

Carrots

And maybe a big meal shortly before flying.

It's a flipping good job I checked! Else he might actually be in trouble on the flight. @rattlehum - it reminds me of the time my GF choice when everyone else was having a rather nice looking chicken meal was a plain rice cake. The flight attendants were very embarrassed.

I'll investigate mini cool bags - thanks for the tips.

It's Air Canada.

It’s very, very likely they will serve one hot meal during the flight, but ‘due to Covid’ many airlines aren’t offering special meals on long-haul segments anymore.

I tried to request a veggie meal for my upcoming flight to the US and they don’t offer it. Right now the only options are kosher meal or whatever they have on board on the day.

I’d take packed food in case what’s offered on board isn’t suitable for either one of you.

the stuff I will take for me will be very carby and that may not be the best for OH

Unless there is going to be a massive drip feed, is he not capable of sorting out his own food?

Nuts will work for him.

Just hope that there is not a “No nuts, or someone will die” announcement when you get on.

Which airport? If it's Heathrow, get there early and get a picnic from Gordon Ramsays Plane food in T5. It comes in a brilliant (and useful afterwards) cool bag and there are plenty of choices suitable for a diabetic (T1D frequent flyer here). Whenever I've done it I've been the envy of my row! Or get a couple of protein pots/salads from Pret.

I'd also take some suitable snacks as flying can do funny things to your blood sugar, nuts, babybels, peperami, cereal bars/ snack bars (I find the Graze ones very good around 15g of carb) and some fast acting carb in case it's needed.

This does seem like a bit of a non problem. Just take food from home, something like (egg muffins and crudites would seem like the obvious choice for DH or buy it in the airport, there's lots of 'protein pots' involving boiled eggs and spinach or hummus and carrot sticks or falafels available or you can just make it all at home at a fraction of the cost, although you probably want to leave out the hummus or take a sealed mini pot as it might flout the liquid rules.

@Parpophone

the stuff I will take for me will be very carby and that may not be the best for OH

Unless there is going to be a massive drip feed, is he not capable of sorting out his own food?

This is what I thought. He’s not a child: surely he can sort out his own food. His body, his issues that he must have learned to deal with and cater for

For goodness sake get a grip.

Surely he knows how to pack himself a lunch of foods he can eat. Cheese, some fruit, whatever else. If you are crossing borders, then it just needs to be consumed before landing / customs.

Why does he not know how to manage his own food for a day? Has he never packed a lunch?

Most airlines have food that can be bought, even if meals aren't served.

@Parpophone

the stuff I will take for me will be very carby and that may not be the best for OH

Unless there is going to be a massive drip feed, is he not capable of sorting out his own food?

Ooooh it took a little while for that comment!!! You are losing your touch, clearly.

Yes, of course - but we've been married for 35 years and we look out for each other. It's lovely.

I’m surprised there’s nothing for a 7 hour flight; obviously out of touch as I’d’ve expected two meals in that time.

But a packed lunch made at home should be fine unless you’re in a hotel the night before. Something eggy with lots of salad probably.

Otherwise if you need more shelf stable, then nak’d bars or other protein ball type stuff, self opening tins - I like the tuna lunch tins but not if he’s veggie. Kale chips. Long life yoghurts.

I'm coeliac, and any airport food is a million times better than plane food. I usually take something on board anyway. If you are worried about keeping stuff you buy at the airport cool, then take some ziplock bags and ask for some ice when buying drinks at Starbucks or whereever to put in them and pack around what you buy. The Pret boxes are very healthy and protein packed

@Iwouldlikesomecake

I'm not being horrible here but has he never had a packed lunch??

I'm now wondering if this is the same couple where the OP was fretting about what her DH would eat while she was in hospital having a c-section.

If he's managed to make it to adulthood with a serious health condition, he must be capable of managing it and know to plan for times when suitable food might not be easily available.

Thank you lovely people!

Oh shit ... I've just seen it's Air Canada. Be grateful you're not having the diabetic meal, Air Canada is the worst experience I've ever had (and I've flown a lot) eg in business class the 'diabetic meal' had a sweet tasting sauce on the meat and a huge wedge of cake for dessert, with no list of ingredients or carb count so impossible to estimate insulin properly. I asked if I could swap it for a cheese plate from the normal menu and was met with a flat refusal.

Ended up with a v bad blood sugar crash just after landing which panicked my colleague somewhat.

Take your own food, at least you will know the carb count and have some idea of what is suitable food for a T1D!

I'm now wondering if this is the same couple where the OP was fretting about what her DH would eat while she was in hospital having a c-section.

Haha no - OH is in his 70s and I'm late 60s.

We look out for each other, thats all. It's lovely.

Where are you flying from?

Op last time I flew air Canada they took my meal order inflight not before, could this still be the case? (Its been a few years since I flew)

I have never been on a flight that long, even during Covid, without having at least one, usually 2, meals served? But I agree with everyone else. Pick something up at the airport, if there is an M&S they tend to have lots of low carb options.

@Defiantly41

Oh shit ... I've just seen it's Air Canada. Be grateful you're not having the diabetic meal, Air Canada is the worst experience I've ever had (and I've flown a lot) eg in business class the 'diabetic meal' had a sweet tasting sauce on the meat and a huge wedge of cake for dessert, with no list of ingredients or carb count so impossible to estimate insulin properly. I asked if I could swap it for a cheese plate from the normal menu and was met with a flat refusal.

Ended up with a v bad blood sugar crash just after landing which panicked my colleague somewhat.

Take your own food, at least you will know the carb count and have some idea of what is suitable food for a T1D!

Thanks - we'll be better off with stuff we take on board then, clearly. OH's bloods are all over the place when he travels across time zones so perhaps its for the best.

@TabithaTittlemouse

Where are you flying from?

Heathrow

Air Canada have stuff you can buy onboard. I'm a keto person and there isn't a great deal for me but some (which works with high fat and protein).

www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/2022_ac_cafe_menu-en.pdf

No one will starve!

I was very pleased to find an Itsu at the airport last summer. Much better than aeroplane food!

Though I did used to find traditional aeroplane meals quite fascinating and miss seeing what you were going to get. I did get something like a bacon roll on BA recently which was quite nice. I'd totally forgotten that they still feed you. Also free wine! That was even better.