Flying Raw

One of the biggest dilemmas of eating raw on the move is what to do when it comes to travelling by air. After all, it’s no secret that airplane food is on the whole pretty hideous, but getting a healthy option and specifically a raw food friendly option is far from easy.

When I fly, my trips are usually from the UK to the USA and I use British Airways. Like a few other airlines, they offer something called a “fruit plate” – it’s not impressive and it comes with a fairly dodgy brown roll, butter and a not-at-all-raw chocolate bar usually (!) but at least the fruit is fresh, pre-prepared and it’s something…

However, “something” is not really a strategy is it? When you’re spending nine or more hours in the air, and especially during the day time, you can get pretty hungry. For this reason in this week’s article I’m sharing with you some of my top tips for flying raw and loving it! 

The first thing you should do when preparing to fly is to be clear on the following:

1)    How long is the trip?

2)    What am I allowed to take on board?

3)    What food is available on board that is suitable?

4)    What can I lawfully bring off the flight at the other end?

These are important questions, because you need to know how much to pack and what you can and can’t take on, also how you can save space in your packing by taking advantage of anything the airline can offer, and finally, whether or not you can bring food off the plane – otherwise you could end up losing a lot of precious cargo, be it from your hand luggage or your suitcase.

This last point is especially important as I can’t leave the plane with ANY food items when I fly to the US – and that includes in my suitcase, so I have to have a strategy in place for obtaining food as soon as I arrive at my destination otherwise it all comes undone! This is something for another article as there’s some clever ways to approach this…

So, today we’re going to be looking at ideas for what you can pack from home, and then ideas for what you can pack when leaving your destination to return home. Below you’ll find a video for each AND a written ideas list as to what to put in your suitcase.

A Delicious Raw Food Flight Bag To Create at Home for Your Outward Journey

One Approach to Packing a Raw Food Flight Bag for Your Return Trip

 

Things You Could Pack for Flying Raw

In Your Hand Luggage

• Apples, pears, oranges, bananas (fruits that won’t damage easily when left loose)
• Pre-prepared fruit salad in an airtight container
• Freshly made salad or the components of one
• Mixed bean salad
• A pre-made dip, “cheese” or pâté
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Dehydrated veggies (just add hot water)
• Jar of nut butter and/or tahini
• Superfoods in packets, pots or jars
• Raw snack bars
• Raw granola
• Flax crackers
• Sprouted bread
• Jar of olives
• Raw cookies or treats (wrapped)
• Raw chocolate bars a Nori sheets
• Trail mix
• Bottle of water (you’ll need to buy this once you’re through security)
• Freshly made juice or smoothie (you’ll need to buy this once you’re through security)

In Your Suitcase

• Seeds or beans for sprouting (for holidays of a week or more)
• Small chopping knife
• Eating knife, fork and spoon
• Small unbreakable plate and/or bowl
• Small plastic chopping board
• Small flask or drinking bottle
• Mini blender/hand blender or other appliance with plug adaptor as applicable
  • Small juicer if required

Do you have any great tips for flying raw? Any stories to share or questions to ask? Please post them below.

© 2011 Karen Knowler WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR ON YOUR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach publishes "Successfully Raw" - a free weekly eZine for raw food lovers everywhere. If you're ready to look good, feel great and create a raw life you love get your FREE tips, tools and recipes now at www.TheRawFoodCoach.com.

Comments

[Michele]

Karen, We are with Ms. Riki B. A friend and I would love to know where you got the salad pot. I have not seen anything like it here in US. Please let us know where you purchased it from, and if it is available for US purchase. Thanks!

[Lisa]

Hi Karen, Sorry, not sure if this is for comments only as I can't find any contact details for you??

I attended one of your 2 day courses a good few years back and have toyed with raw food on and off since.

My son is 2 and has major food allergies and atopic eczema, which initially was a nightmare but we have had it well under control for ages. Since moving to New Zealand it has returned with renewed vigour and we are back to steroids and piriton daily.

Could I ask a couple of questions? Hopefully you can help. Oscar is allergic to wheat, milk, eggs, nuts, sesame seeds, soya, detergents. I never use anything but organic but was forced to move away from raw due to his nut allergy as almost all the recipes are nut based. Is there any substitute you think would be suitable as a replacement? I am tempted to try him on almonds but I think under the circumstances it would be a stupid move. I am looking to have him tested for specific nut allergies soon but have had to wait until he is 2 and a half or somewhere around there.

The other thing is, I used to make Oscar your choc mousse with avo, but can't seem to find the recipe since our move to NZ. Is there any chance you could either direct me to it on your site or would you be kind enough to email it to me please and I will print it off.

Many thanks for you help. I am looking forward to getting my dehydrator out and experimenting for Oscar.

How is your young man getting on? Is he still raw?

Big huds (as Oscar would say)

Lisa, Max and Oscar

[Clint Rowley]

Really helpful, thanks for the post! I know airports are trying to help ensure our safety, but some of the stuff they ban is pretty ridiculous.

[Anne]

Thanks, Karen!
Great suggestions:-)
And Charity, yes, they won't allow
dips, pâtés, nut butter or anything that is not completely solid unless it's in a container of 100 ml or less.
I usually bring my dressing/nut butter in tiny containers and that works out well.
I once ended up finishing my delishious, raw chocolate mousse at the security gate. Allthough it was like a fluffy mousse, not runny, they wouldn't let me take it inside... I was hungry and I knew there wouldn't be much for me after security, so I got out of the line and ate it all! Since then, I've only brought stuff they won't question.
My favourite raw travel foods to bring along would be bananas, avocados, crackers/granola and raw chocolate... Oh, and kale chips!

[Ms. Ricki Burleigh]

Dear Karen:
I love ALL your postings on this Web site. Please, are you going to have a store from which to buy things? A friend of mine and I would like to find the "salad pot" you demonstrate with the lid containing your vegan cheese! We have both searched the Internet and cannot locate one. Please, can you help us??? We are in Chandler, Arizona. Really love your recipes and suggestions. The list for travel foods was OUTSTANDING!! Thanks, in advance, for your reply!

[Ana Poirier]

Fantastic tips Karen!
Many of these things I have intuitively done, but some new tips on containers were especially helpful.
You have a knack for organizing this kind of information in a very thorough and usable way.
Thank you!
Ana

[cherie]

I am not strictly raw, but I always travel with my Magic Bullet and Mini L'equip Juicer. Not like have my Norwalk and Vitamix, but it puts my hosts at ease and if I am in a hotel, I'm good to go.

[Charity]

This is really helpful! Great suggestions.

Not sure if anyone else has had this problem though -- going through security in the US, I have had to throw away anything that is not solid, so anything creamy like nut butter or dips might not get through.