A friend and I were talking the other day about the fact that more and more people are bringing food on flights now that the airlines have cut back on food service.

I remember a lot of that happening years ago on People's Express - everyone carried stuff on. I was on a particularly memorable flight from New York to Florida with a large, extended family (four adults, about twelve kids) who, once the seat belt sign went off, proceeded to open up and pass around a feast among themselves. They weren't seated together so there was a lot of commotion as they got everything sorted and served. At first it looked like a lot of fun, but the food they were eating was really pungent, and the plane stunk for the rest of the flight.

What do you think are good options for self catered flight food?

My DH and I enjoy sushi--fairly compact, tasty, varieties possible, good with a drink if we are so inclined.

A small soft-sided carry-on cooler with yoghurt, a good chunk of pre-sliced havarti or German butter cheese and a few juice boxes. Then, a ziploc bag of my own trail mix (dried cranberries, raisisns, pecans, macadamia nuts, almonds...) and a few gluten-free and totally scrumptious orange/cranberry/coconut muffins. Oh, yes...also a couple of 2 litre bottles of water, a couple of herb teabags for a quick cuppa and some Altoid Sours!

This sounds like a lot of food, but really, it packs pretty neatly into an easily-carried little cooler as well as the outside pocket of my carry-on. No smell to nauseate my seatmates, no mess for either the flight attendants or me to clean up and nothing at all to upset my tummy! Hassle-free travel, guaranteed!

"Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside." ~ Mark Twain
Brenda

I order vegetarian meals, and never know whether I will get a lovely assortment of grains or, well, peas and carrots. So I try to pack something, typically a well-wrapped tuna sandwich from my favorite local shop, and a bottle or two of water.

Yes, it smells while I am eating it, but the leftover parts get disposed of quickly. Oh, and if I can I will take some strawberries. And maybe a cookie (the airlines seem to think that vegetarians like to eat cellulose for dessert.)
If I were a true vegetarian, I would probably pack some cheese and trail mix, as BGE does.

M

Marian, I find I have better luck ordering veg meals than the regular one (like you, though I eat little meat, I'm not a true vegetarian). Usually take some cheese, and a wee bottle of wine (you know, those 1/4 litre ones with the screwtop - there is a good Côtes-du-Rhône in that format), and a 500ml at least bottle of water, though fortunately I haven't yet encountered a plane that charged for water.

I have friends, not necessarily kosher, who also have good luck ordering the kosher meal.

Some good fruit is always a good idea, but it has to be a kind that is easily eaten ... without your little fruit knife.

I am flying Eurofly for the first time and have no idea of what their food service is like.

I plan to bring some cheese and crackers as a back up for potentially horrible food but nothing smelly.

Food on the plane is not that important to me but it's nice to have a few munchies along.

Colleen

i've noticed a lot more people bringing food on planes now, too. even my husband and i have started - especially for those cross-country trips (5+ hours and no food service?). we usually go w/ a simple pre-packed salad or sandwich from TJs or Whole Foods, a savory snack (SnapPea Crisps are my fav) and a sweet snack (dried or fresh fruit typically). we each also carry a large Nalgeen full of water.

the family sharing the feast is kind of obnoxious, even if it wasn't pungent.

Sushi for me too. I try to avoid smelly stuff so no eel, smoked salmon, or natto, which is too bad since I don't eat raw fish, those are my favorite toppings. And of course, a bottle of green tea.

For the past few years I only eat the food I bring on the plane. For the 10+ hour flight to Europe I bring a tomato, mozzarella sandwich (to get me in the Italy mode) and a cookie for dinner. Then a muffin for breakfast. Nuts and granola for snack (no sleep tends to make me hungrier than usual). I also bring 2 bottles of water.