Food for a long flight with allergies

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia always recomends that people with food allergies take their own food on a plane.

Here are some food ideas that you might find helpful (you can change items to suit your food allergies) when taking food on a long flight.

Perishable items (foods that will “go off” quickly)	Non-perishable items (foods that will last longer)
Cold fried rice or noodle salad	2 minute noodle cups (ask for hot water to add to them)
Cous cous, chickpea or lentil salads	Dried fruit
Sandwiches with your favourite fillings	Crispbreads, crackers and avocado or dips
Home-made frittata or quiche (eaten cold)	Muesli bars
Cold chicken legs, lamb chops, ham, turkey, cold rissoles	Home-made pikelets or pancakes
Cheese	Popcorn
Hard boiled eggs	Crisps or chips
Fresh fruit and vegetable sticks (carrot, celery, cucumber)	Dried chickpeas or fava beans
Broadbeans	Single-serve cereal packets
Olives	Peanuts and tree nuts
Pizza (eaten cold)	Home-made muffins or biscuits

Eat perishable food first:

• Eat food that needs to be kept cold on the first part of the flight. You can also try freezing foods (such as frittata, chicken legs, sandwiches and muffins) at home and letting them defrost over the flight. This will help to keep them fresh rather than taking ice and can also be the ice packs for your other foods that need to be kept cold.

Keeping food cool:

• You are not allowed to take fluids greater than 100mls on overseas flights, this includes ice bricks. Try to find small ice bricks which you can use on the flight.
• Some people with food allergies have taken food in special cooler bags which act as coolers themselves. These bags have a substance in the lining and are designed to go into the freezer before use. Although people have been able to use them on flights, please be aware that there is a risk that these bags may be taken by security at the airport.
• If you need to take an ice brick or gel greater than 100ml on the plane, you will need a letter from your doctor saying you need to take ice on board the plane to keep food for the flight cold. This does not guarantee that you will be allowed to take it on board and it may still be taken off you.
• The MedActiv icool Medicube is useful for keeping foods cool on a flight. It keeps food between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius for 36 hours.

Heating food on the plane:

• Most airlines will not heat your food for you. If the airline will heat your food for you, make sure that you have foil containers with lids for heating the food in. Some people take the food in plastic containers with tight fitting lids that won’t leak. Food in these containers can be put in the foil containers with lids for heating on the plane.
• Make sure the food is heated until steaming to avoid food poisoning.

Cutlery:

• Always take your own cutlery in case you don’t get cutlery on the plane. With some airlines you can order a fruit platter which comes with cutlery and use that to eat your food from home.

Only eat labelled food:

• If you do eat food given to you by the airline, remember not to eat food that is not labelled. It is important to note that just because you ordered a certain meal, it does not mean you will be served what you ordered. A&AA strongly advise you to always take your own food if you have food allergy.

Wipe surfaces and clean hands:

• Take disposable wipes to wipe down surfaces such as the tray table, arm rests, screens and remote controls when you board the plane. Use these wipes to clean your hands before you eat too.  If family or friends with you are eating the food you are allergic to on the flight, they can use the wipes to clean their hands after they eat.