Snacks for children on a long haul flight

[wrenster]

We are taking our 6 year old triplets on a long haul flight for the first time at Easter. They are quite fussy and I'm concerned that they aren't going to eat the inflight meal. So to avoid whining and any bad behaviour I am going to arm myself with lots of snacks, but want to avoid chocolate and sweets. I need some more ideas from you more seasoned travellers!

So far I have thought of:
Sandwiches
Mini cheddars
Bananas (too squashy?)
Grapes
Dried fruit
Nuts
Little packets of plain biscuits (which ones?) I don't normally buy this kind of thing
Cereal bars - ones with no chocolate

Any more suggestions so would be gratefully received. Thanks

dont forget they will probably sleep for half the time you are flying.also see what the entertainment is, this will distract them for ages. dont pack bananas, they dont travel well.Buy liquids/yoghurts after passport control. we fly long haul at least twice a year and mine never touch the main meal, they will eat the cheese and biscuits though.I usually pack sandwiches, in rolls not sliced bread, they seem to stay fresh for longer. Grapes, apples, dried fruit, crisps. I also take a beaker to fill with water, you can get refills on the flight. i also let mine choose a magazine from departures. ipads are invaluable. I also pack small tubs of play doh, dump it at the end of the flight.

DH is always envious of the kids snack packs. I always pack one for us now as i find the food is generally inedible on the flight.

I am taking my 2 year old twins on a 4 hour flight next month (alone, argh!)

On my list is...
Raisins
Yo yo dried fruit
Apples
Blueberries
Grapes
Buttered hot cross buns (which they love)
Bread sticks
Pretzels sticks
chocolate buttons
pom bears

Biddypop - what a fantastic response, thanks so much for taking the time to do it. It sounds like you are very experienced indeed! I love the suggestions.

Dancing witch - I think we will have to sit 3 and 2, so yes we need 2 snack bags and activity bags. Good job I have a couple of weeks to get this sorted!!

Sandwiches, cubes of cheese, boiled eggs, chopped fruit in Tupperware, raisins, cold sausages, veg sticks. Also malt loaf if they like it? Banana bread?

Jam sandwiches, raisins, dried apricots, mini cheddars, baby bell, apples, bread sticks, tracker bars, pretzels, Jaffa cakes

To echo PP, do check customs regs form where you're going. Last time I flew Canada-US with DS, I had to leave all my lovely cut fruit behind. They wouldn't let me take it into the US. Apparently it's ok if it's whole and has a sticker saying it was grown in the US or Canada.

Ooooo hot cross buns are a must, hadn't thought about those that will definitely keep them quiet.

Thanks for being so helpful everyone I really appreciate it. I feel an enormous online order coming on!

Quite often there are bowls of fruit and granola/chocolate bars out in the galley area between meal services. We usually take small sandwiches, small pots of fruit like grapes or blueberries, cheese sticks and fruit pouches, though sometimes we've been asked to taste them. We also pack a sandwich or two for the adults.. we found it easier than having the trays blocking us.

Take some sandwich bags with you for putting part munched snacks into. There is nothing worse than being given a half eaten apple & having to eat it yourself as otherwise you'll have to hold it.
I buy chupa chup lollies for take off & landing as I think that the choke risk is reduced (may be wrong).
Warn your DC that they may feel like a travelling exhibit. Everyone will be cooped up in a small space for hours & get very bored so will have no qualms about speculating/enquiring about your DC even if they may not normally notice. My friend has id triplets & regularly flies long haul & says that her boys get very bored of it very quickly. I must confess to being included in the spectator bit as, on a flight back from Egypt when I'd had terrible D&V & fell asleep in the departure lounge it seemed much more likely that I was hallucinating than that there were triplets (id twins & a very similar single). The mother didn't look to impressed when I said something along the lines of "I think there really are three of them".