Travel with MC

Hazelbird · Post by **Hazelbird** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 10:50 am

With the holiday season fast approaching, could we discuss travelling with MC please?

We travel in our RV so I'm lucky to have my own foods with me all the time. Being frugal we've always packed coffee/tea, snacks, water, and lunches for any day's outing. But what about longer trips, overnighters, flights, several day visits, and so on. (Not to mention travel to other countries, but that's a whole other question!

)

Brandy just posted about her trip, and I learned that a water bottle and safe snacks are crucial. But how much food and what kind can you take on flights? I need to eat frequently. We're visiting family in Canada for Christmas, and will have to do a whole grocery shop just for my meals, I guess, and then just garbage/compost what I don't eat when we leave.....?!

I suppose it's a blessing that I just had a relapse because of sloppy eating/lifestyle. I certainly won't be tempted by all the sugary treats!

What kinds of food do you bring when travelling? Thanks in advance.

Post by **tex** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 11:28 am

Have you seen this?

Tips on Traveling With MC or Another Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Tex

Hazelbird · Post by **Hazelbird** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 2:56 pm

No! Thank you!!!

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 7:44 pm

Hazel, When I fly I have in my carry on bag: Epic bison bar, pouch of salmon (salt & salmon only), Oskri coconut bar, Gerber organic baby food (squash & pumpkin in a squeeze pouch), no sugar added applesauce in a pouch, and sweet potato chips. I won't eat it all, but I like to carry it along in case we would be delayed. If you're traveling in a car it's easy to take the things that you eat in a cooler. What I find to be the most challenging is when you're staying in a hotel and there aren't any grocery stores close by. I try to eat out only for dinner when we're traveling because it lessens the chances of getting sick.

Hazelbird · Post by **Hazelbird** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 4:13 pm

Thanks, Marcia. All suggestions help and give me ideas for my own 'survival' kit.

I wonder if airlines will allow liquidy things like baby food, applesauce, almond butter, and such. I'm out of the country right now and can't get an official letter from my doctor listing my tolerated/untolerated foods. It IS a good idea though and I'll do that next spring when I return home.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 4:19 pm

you can take small amounts of liquids/soft food like applesauce in your carry on luggage so long as they are in containers of less than 3oz
and they are stored in the 1 quart resealable bag to go through security

you can take larger size containers of liquids (ie apple juice) etc.

Hazelbird · Post by **Hazelbird** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 8:03 am

Thanks, Gabes. My travel food containers are a little larger than that but have 50ml, 75ml, and 1/4 cup markings on them. Hopefully if I just fill to the 75ml line, they'll pass.

My coconut oil has to come too! I'll have to make sure it's refrigerated and good and solid before the flight!

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 8:37 am

Hazel, If you google the airline that you are using they will have the restrictions on their website. You can't go through the security checkpoint with more than 3 oz. of liquid (in each container) but once beyond security you can purchase larger items that you can carry on the plane. You can pack larger items in your luggage that you aren't carrying on the plane with you.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 9:41 am

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-scr ... quids-rule

This is the law for flying within the United States or traveling into the United States. This applies for United States flights.

We're visiting family in Canada for Christmas, and will have to do a whole grocery shop just for my meals, I guess, and then just garbage/compost what I don't eat when we leave.....?!

Yes to this. No one likes to do this but sometimes you just have to ditch food.

Hazel it depends where your flight originates. If flight originates in Canada and flies within Canada then Canadian law would apply and you will need to check with the airlines or Canadian authorities.

TSA in the USA is a hassle particularly if you fly out of a large airport.

My carry on travel food is generally consists of some or all of the following:

WHAT TSA CONSIDERS AS SOLIDS: cooked chicken, cooked meatloaf (I freeze and let it thaw en route), tuna sleeves, salmon sleeves, banana, avocado (you can pick up plastic knife in airports), almond flour muffins (see Dee's recipe on our forum), and dark chocolate. These foods do not have to go into ziplock.

WHAT TSA CONSIDERS AS LIQUID/GEL/PASTE: coconut oil (I PUT THE COCONUT OIL IN 3 OUNCE CONTAINER IN ZIP LOCK PER TSA PROCEDURES.

About 80% of the time I do not check luggage. About 20% of the time I check luggage. If I check luggage I put the coconut oil in the checked luggage otherwide I put it in the ziplock for tsa review.

I bring enough carryon food in case my flight gets delayed/diverted, i.e. overnight somewhere.

Jari has a recent thread on what she took to Las Vegas (I think) which is good.

There is a very large trash can next to the TSA inspector. If what you bring is over the 3.4 ounce/100 mm rule the inspectors put the item in the trash. Usually the trash can is overflowing with large bottles of shampoo, conditioner, water bottles, gatorade etc that do not follow the law and must be thrown out in order for the passenger to fly. TSA inspectors do not allow any exceptions.

Other than coconut oil which I also use as makeup remover, moisturizer etc. I bring travel foods that are "solids" so that I have no hassles at TSA.

Hopefully this helps and does not confuse.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:30 am

I wonder if airlines will allow liquidy things like baby food, applesauce, almond butter, and such

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Hi Hazel,

I just re-read this thread. Yes, to the above but each thing must be less than 3.4 ounce and fit in your ziplock.
Recommend see if you can get mfg packages in small size. The applesauce comes in the little packages (small tubs) at grocery. The almond butter can be bought in small travel sleeves from specialty grocery or health food stores.
The almond butter sleeves are less than 3.4 ounces and I've flown with them. I'm not sure how many ounces the little applesauce tubs but it is worth checking. They are made for the childrens lunch boxes. You can buy baby food in tubes (like tooth paste but I'm not sure of ounces.

It is more costly but if you can get the little packages you will be able to fit more into your ziplock if that makes sense

you can take larger size containers of liquids (ie apple juice) etc.

I think the above quote is a typo. Any liquid, gel or paste more than 3.4 ounce or 100 ml will be thrown in the trash by TSA agents.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:33 am

Hazel,

Marcia's suggestions are great!

When I fly I have in my carry on bag: Epic bison bar, pouch of salmon (salt & salmon only), Oskri coconut bar, Gerber organic baby food (squash & pumpkin in a squeeze pouch), no sugar added applesauce in a pouch, and sweet potato chips. I won't eat it all, but I like to carry it along in case we would be delayed.

Post by **Rosie** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:31 am

Hazel said:

My travel food containers are a little larger than that but have 50ml, 75ml, and 1/4 cup markings on them. Hopefully if I just fill to the 75ml line, they'll pass.

That probably won't work. The containers themselves need to be 3 oz or less. I tried your idea once and it didn't work, at least in the security line I went through in Seattle.

Rosie

Hazelbird · Post by **Hazelbird** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 10:17 am

Oh my goodness! Thank you for all that info, gals!

Shoot, I had hoped that my little Rubbermaid containers would work. On to Plan B.

Silly question: What are 'sleeves'? I just don't know that term.

Yikes! I never thought about long flight delays or overnight delays!!! And Christmas time/winter is exactly when something like that may happen. I sure need to think this out in more detail.

Thanks again.

Oh.......by the way, I always carry a 'spork' with me, a sturdy, 2 ended combined fork and spoon. Very handy.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 10:23 am

tuna or salmon or almond butter that comes in foil packets (not jars or cans) kind of like ketchup and mustard packets but larger. Sleeves are good because you can open them with your hand and don't need a can opener.

I think in Europe the English term would be "sachets" in lieu of the term sleeves. I've seen the term "sachet" used on the board by our European members.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 10:27 am

Spork is good! I've had no problem taking plastic sporks through security.