Ideas for taking food on a five-hour flight with a child

[Dollymixup1]

We are traveling on a five hour flight with our 6 YO grand daughter at half term. We depart UK at 4.00pm and will arrive at our resort at 9.30 pm at the earliest and no food will be available at the resort that late. The airline food for kids is junk/rubbish and I know that GD will be tired and starving- baring in mind EU regs about importing foods has anyone any suggestions for take on food that won’t spoil or easily transported? Thanks x

Sandwiches. Pastries. Cold pasta or even pasta in a flask (although they might want to check that at security).

It's one meal, so I wouldn't be too concerned about it being the highest quality or most balanced.

In that situation I would have a proper meal at the airport, and then have a meal deal or home made sandwiches for the plane. Thats a usual amount of food for the day so with snacks like some crisps and sweets on the plane it should be fine.

I usually take warm food in a cannister ( you can buy food flasks on amazon) and take spaghetti bolognese or something filling. Alternatively can buy food at the airport such as wagamama etc all noodles and eat on the plane

I’d just get an early dinner/late lunch at the airport before your flight and bring snacks for the plane. It’s a travel day, not a regular occasion - a bit of ‘rubbish’ isn’t going to hurt her!

Meal at airport then pick up sandwiches, fruit pot, crisps etc in wh smith or starbucks to take on the plane.

You could eat at the airport before you fly, take some sandwiches for the plane and then a few snacky items for when you get there. I think you are ok taking prepacked items such as crackers, biscuits, crisps etc into EU.

I used to pack a snack box for my kids - it’s an activity as much as something to eat. Mine enjoyed Marmite finger sandwiches, cucumber and carrot sticks, a few Party Rings, Babybels, cereal bars, breadsticks, fruit - berries or orange slices, etc. (not all on the same flight). Package it all up nicely and either buy a drink or bring water bottles to fill at the airport.

Rules for importing food relate to taking food off the plane - not on - so pack a dinner you know they'll eat and bin leftovers on the plane.

Have the junk/rubbish. Consider it part of the holiday and an in flight activity. Apart from anything else, they’ll see other kids getting it and want it too. If you’re staying in an apartment, pack some microwave macaroni cheese for when you get there. And fruit and crackers and cheese for snacks on the plane. And to placate them if you have to wait for your bags. (I’ve done this a lot!)

She can have the adult meal on board. Can you book your meal in advance?

If she's had lunch, she'll probably only need one meal. Would she enjoy picking a meal deal if there's a Boots at the airport (choice is better and it's cheaper than WH Smith). You can get things like innocent smoothies and yogurts as well as sandwiches/pasta salads etc so it feels like a bit of a treat as well as being reasonably substantial.

I wouldn‘t take any hot food with me, that‘s a mess and also quite a logistic task to organise before you set off.

I would either take some food from home, you can take sandwiches, as long as you eat all of it, there is no issue with taking meat into the EU. Check what is available at the airport, a McD doesn‘t hurt and you can also take some fruit like grapes or berries with you. Plenty of places sell yoghurts, milk shakes or fruit pots as well.

Dry pastries like brioche and cereal bars are good if she is really hungry when you arrive.

This is what we do for similarly timed flights

We always bring baguette sandwiches. The thicker bread keeps it sturdy but nothing wet inside like salad. Ham and cheese. Not egg or tuna onions or anything too strong smelling. Keep in cool bag and eat pretty soon after you board.

I do live about an hour from the airport though if that makes a difference.

Then just crisps, sweets, maybe fruit. Not nuts as sometimes they ban it if someone's allergic.

We just buy sandwiches at the airport

Check in, main meal for lunch at the airport, take sandwiches and snacks for dinner on the plane.

Just take sandwiches

I always do a snack pot for my kids.
Cherry tomatoes, baby bel, crackers/crisps, cookies, fruit and other veg plus a sandwich and take their empty water bottle through security to fill up with water once airside.

they also get Pringles and a chocolate bar on the plane as a treat.

never had an issue on arrival in the EU.

I empty and clean them out once at the hotel and then refill before we leave for the flight home

You can take any food on the plane, as long as it’s eaten or binned before you get off (fresh stuff like meat/fruit etc) but as others suggest, I’d have a decent late lunch at the airport and just take snacks.

I would just take a sandwich for the plane and some snacks (but not nuts as they can be confiscated if anyone on the plane has an allergy).

I think it depends on where you are flying but generally fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy are not allowed through customs so it is safest to take pre-packaged snacks if you want them in the resort.

https://www.airhelp.co.uk/blog/can-you-bring-food-through-airport-security/

I take jam sandwiches (so doesn’t matter that they aren’t chilled unlike meat) cheese might be ok if it’s not a hot day.
Also pack snacks, pringles are handy because of the tube, bread sticks,granola bars/breakfast biscuits or flapjacks, tub of dry cornflakes (my daughter loves them) and some sweets.
We try and find somewhere to get an early lunch on the way to the airport for a later flight, even if it’s just KFC, as it’s cheaper than at the airport.
Have a great holiday