HELP: What can I feed my fussy kids on a flight to the States?

[ManzisMum]

Taking 15mth old DS & 3yo DD on long flight to the US (daytime). Need to take stuff to feed them on the plan, but worried about the "no liquids" policy meaning I can't take jars and pouches. They hate rice cakes and cereal bars but I don't want to stuff them with junk (and can't take a knife on board to cut apples and pears). Any ideas?

When we flew earlier in the year we took a couple of Ellas kitchen pouches as well as some expressed breast milk that we already had in a bottle in a cool bag as we wanted dd to be able to have something to suck during take off as I always suffer from popping ears.

We were not asked to open the pouches although they did give them the once over to check for any tampering i presume.

but they asked us to try the milk in the bottle dh left that to me! To be fair the security guys were not to know it wasn't formula or regular cows milk.

benjoy snacks are fab, excellent especially for toddlers wanting to do things for themselves! I notice that other mums have said where they buy them, our local Morrisons have them :) hope this helps :)

We flew longhaul a lot over the past 3 years. One trip was 32 hours with a 3yo and a 12 month old. Joy.

I would say be prepared that they might not want to eat anything you take for them. My dd aged 3 decided that she didnt want all the raisins, crackers, fruit, sanwiches etc that I had taken for her. Instead she ate the (awful) chicken curry the plane served, then had a pain au chocolate at the airport, lots of bread rolls stuffed with rubber airplane cheese on the next plane and to top it all another curry at what was about 9am for us. For me it's all about getting through the flight happy and relatively quietly and it's only one day.

Evening all, I'm scanning longhaul for all sort of advice since we're off to Vancouver next week for a friends wedding! I'm dreading the long flight and time difference with a two year old! I'm planning on taking some breadsticks, dried fruit, and my DS favourite munchcup by benjoy. Am lucky because my DS will eat anything but I'd much rather he had some yummy healthy snacks rather than overpriced junk at the airport!

Benjoy pots are brilliant for travelling - no spill - very healthy - kids love them!

I do wish marketing departments could be a bit more subtle. Am I the only person who is a bit about all the new posters extolling the virtues of a particular brand of snack?

Does seem a little suss, exexpat

the benjoy pots are alright. it's just dried fruit/veg, not exactly a food revolution. the pots are tiny, and expensive.

I always have to cater fully for my 2 on any flights (multiple allergies). I have taken everythign from fishpie to cornflakes with me.

take whatever your children eat. it won't be that hard to get thorugh security - there are rules, sure, but most things you can get through (or buy airside).

bananas?
oranges?
raisins?
cereal (not bars, but actual cereal - cornflakes etc)
sandwiches
any other dried fruit (there is huge range available)
cold sausages (take them hot if you want - decent thermos will do the job for a few hours) or nuggets.

where are you flying from? if thereis decent branch of Boots airside you'll be fine - just buy it all after security.

Love the idea of having some of the good stuff from the posh classes on a flight exexpat. Any tips on how to persuade the crew to share those with stressed out parents in economy?

We grab a couple of Benjoy munchcups when we are trying to leave the house in a rush. DS has breakfast at nursery, but screams all the way there if he is hungry. The strawberry and grape snacks work really well as a pre-breakfast.
Have taken them on flights too - would be good if you could actually buy them at the airport. Tasting at security is a pain with mine as they always want to eat everything there and then. Take twice as much as think I could possibly need now after long delays last year, ran out of food in my bag and no suitable food left on the flight!

Fab idea to take sausages in a thermos silverfrog. I'd never thought of that. My 2 Dcs have allergies too and it's a bit of a worry when travelling.

Some countries have strict rules about taking fresh fruit in. I used to travel to Oz a lot and you had to dispose of fresh fruit at the airport.

oh believe me, i've taken everything on a flight, from curry to fishpie to shepherds pie, and sausages etc.

lakeland do a really good wide necked thermos, which holds a good sized adult portion, or 2 children's portions (at a push) and is easy to fill/wash out etc.

dd1 uses one currently for her school lunches.

I saw someone on another thread mention they put jacket potatoes in one too, which would work (if you have a child who eats potatoes ) - could do a topping too, and would be a lovely meal, and filling too.

We were lucky enough to get an upgrade last time (friends dad worked in dispatch at BA) our food was amazing. Sadly don't think we'll be lucky enough this time! LOL

Why does it have to be healthy? I'm am totally up my own bum normally about healthy snacks, but it is only twelve hours or so probably and if they ate crap for the whole time it wouldn't really matter. Sometimes it does no harm to just give a few treats for an easy life and for them to feel like they are really on holiday.

Ellas pouches are great on flights - no spoon needed and my DC loves their smoothies. She spilt the OJ served on the plane though. The little bags of fresh fruit slices you can get in supermarkets stay fresh for ages too and are all cut up for you so handy for flights (although I did once try cutting some apple for DS with the plastic knives on the plane - broke 3 of them)

oh yes, M&S picnic/sandwich section a godsend (allergies permitting) for travel food. loads of little bits all packaged up nicely in bite size portions.

Took some pots of fruit puree on flight to Mallorca, but had trouble at security coz they wanted us to taste them and if we peeled off the lids we couldn't put them back in our bag to take them on board without them spilling everywhere. Ended up leaving them behind.
Pouches are great coz you can reseal them.
My DS insists on at least one Ellas smoothie pouch a day and I wouldn't travel anywhere without them.

Don't they provide food on transatlantic flights? It seems bizarre to me that you would want to take special food for DCs - no wonder they are fussy - you assume they won't like something, ergo they won't like it. Pandering to fussy eaters is the worst thing anyone can do. You can't force children to eat, but you can make them want to eat.

Bananas? Grapes? Pretzel type snacks, biscuits, babybel( to be eaten soonish), peanut butter sandwiches, breadsticks.

Sorry if I've repeated anything, not read whole thread

Silverfrog - that is a brilliant idea. We are managing multiple allergies too. Will definitely try the thermos next time.

Airline food never arrives when they are hungry - it's usually just as they have gone to sleep, and certainly not at a normal mealtime. Not to mention that it is usually vile. I always request asian vegetarian meals as they are the only reliably OK ones, but my DD doesn't like anything spicy.

And I don't think a long flight is the place to make a stand about fussy eating... the rest of the passengers wouldn't thank a parent who did that.

Fair do's exex, I'm being a bit extreme about it I guess. Taking snacks is a good idea. I've just had a hard day with a pair of fussy eaters (not mine).

fussy eaters can be born, not created, necessarily.

warning re: thermos use - do check food regulaitons. eg soup is a no due to liquids. I have got away with food with sauces before now, but I also have aletter from GP stating why I have to take food with me (airlines cannot cater - they can manage meals without one allergen, but not all of them at the same time). you do get funny looks at security, and they can get twitchy about the flasks, but fine if you taste etc (always has been for me)

I think you can buy them as long as its from the shop in departures. Last year i bought dd milk in a carton from boots to take on

Bit harsh to suggest taking food on flights for DCs is pandering and "no wonder they are fussy". There's a huge difference between "pandering" and wanting to find things your children will genuinely enjoy that are also good for them. Many children are fussy eaters and it's not the fault of the parents. It can be a very distressing problem.
One of the problems with long flights with DCs is that they do not necessarily serve meals when your kids are hungry - and we all know how cranky kids can be when they are hungry (admit I get a bit kranky too). It's also challenging to keep them still and entertained on planes (my DD does not understand the fasten seatbelt sign!).
Agree with previous post from aaaarghhhh that the key is to just get through the flight as painlessly as possible.
Ellas Pouches are great for smoothies on the plane and benjoy munchcups are handy and healthy snacks and the anti-spill feature is useful.

Good point re doesn't have to be healthy yousankmybattleship. Chances are when you get where you're going your kids will be eating different stuff and they will be on holiday after all so start the holiday on the plane and give them whatever keeps them quiet and happy.