DiningBuzz! - Bringing you own food

First of all, I apologize if there is a thread on this subject already, but I couldn't find any.

I'm a pilot, and I want to start bringing my own food on the road to save on per diem. I'm wondering what are some good foods? I bought a medium sized soft sided cooler, and I have plenty of acess to ice, so foods that need to stay cold are ok.

Thanks.

Subs/sandwiches are usually quick and easy to eat. Granola or trail mix, Nutri-Grain or granola bars, and fruit can also be easy to eat and not very messy.

Besides cereal bars, I'd also bring a bunch of mixed nuts. They're great protein and very filling.

To keep things clean, try your usual sandwich wrapped up in a thick tortilla.

Sushi, salads (veggie based or rice, or quinoa, or pasta), cheese and breads / crackers, bagels filled with meats or cheeses, etc. Pots of noodle / rice based dishes that you add hot water to. MRE type foil pouches with curries etc that you dunk in hot water to heat through.

Do the planes you fly have heating facilities? if you were to fill a metal take out container (the type you seal with a carboard or metal top) could someone reheat it for you? Because really opens up options. Likewise if you stay someone that has microwaves etc.

When I go to China, I tend to bring along a good supply of my own food. Sometimes this means meals for 5-6 days in a row. What I have found works pretty well :

- Bread / bagels / rolls
- Individually packed hard cheese that need little/no refrig like the babybels
- Hotdogs (use coffee maker pot with hot water to reheat/cook them). They keep remarkably well somehow during the journey there.
- Fruit (Fresh / Dried)
- Udon noodles "cup-a-soup". These are much better than the ramen noodle ones as it has a sealed pack of fresh udon noodles you add hot water to. Breakfast usually for me.
- Peanut butter

If you are at the SFO RCC on Mon mornings and see the guy with the giant Costco loaf of bread waiting for SFO-PVG, that's me! :p

Tried it once, gave up, that's where I am, and I suggest you get to "gave up" as quickly as possible. It's a right royal pain.

Do you ever have any issues with TSA/airport security with bringing food through customs/airport checks?

Do you ever have any issues with TSA/airport security with bringing food through customs/airport checks?

No.

The airplane I fly has a very limited galley, and if we are flying for extended periods of time, the company buys us food. I'm thinking of ways to eat for cheap when I'm off duty. I brought a variety of stuff with me this week, some cold cuts, pita bread, yogurt, trail mix, organic hot oatmeal, some low fat cheese sticks, individual servings of almond butter, and some individually wrapped prunes. So far it's worked out well.

Do you ever have any issues with TSA/airport security with bringing food through customs/airport checks?

Nope, never in all my trips. Sometimes I get a chuckle out of the grim TSA folks about why I need a costco-sized loaf of bread but I just tell them I use it as a pillow! :) No seriously, fruit, cheese ... never an issue so far.

Great to know. I always thought that the only food you can bring onboard was from the airport vendor past the security checkpoint. This should be a much healthier and a lot cheaper alternative for the future flights.

Do you ever have any issues with TSA/airport security with bringing food through customs/airport checks?

i bring outside leftovers and also thai noodle soups. brought whole pizza in the box. all have gone through.

I live on Detour bars on the road, and end up losing weight! Costco carries them now so they are weigh more affordable.

I live on Detour bars on the road, and end up losing weight! Costco carries them now so they are weigh more affordable.

Intended?:D

There is always the ramen noodles. Very salty though it should be filling. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches travel well. Avoid things that can spoil or turn bad like mayonnaise.

I really love Cliff bars for snacks when I am on the road. I also have a container of oatmeal blend - oats, quinoa flakes, and cream of rice - that I use for breakfast. I usually mix something in it like jam or fresh fruit that I have picked up on location. Also, think about freezing some entrees - whatever you have cooked up in advance. It will double as a ice block and you can have some variety then. I did it for my husband when he was traveling and it worked slick. It is nice to have homemade lasgagna when you are far from home!