Determine how much food you will need to bring on board depending upon length of flight and the amount of room available in your carry on. You may only need a few snacks for a two- to four-hour flight, one full meal plus snack for a four- to eight-hour flight and two meals plus snacks for an eight hour or longer flight.
Prepare your meals in advance. You won't have access to either a microwave or a refrigerator, so plan to bring food that does not need to stay cold for long periods of time or be reheated. A small, insulated soft-side cooler can be packed with a sandwich, cut fruit and vegetables and dip. Meal replacement bars, granola and fruit bars, trail mix and crackers are options for snacks that don't need to be kept warm or cold.
Wrap your food securely in plastic wrap to prevent spills. Since food must go through the same security x-ray machine as other carry on items, the Transportation Security Administration requires that travelers wrap their food in order to contain potential messes. Whole natural foods such as uneaten fruit may be left unwrapped.
Purchase beverages in the secure boarding area once you've passed through security. The new guidelines concerning liquids as carry-on items disallow bringing bottled water or other drinks through the security checkpoints. Instead, bring money to buy bottled water or juices before you board your flight. You may bring a packet of drink mix crystals to flavor your water, if you desire.
