[kitcatcopycat]

Ok so I found out that I can take enough protein powder to get me through about three to four days as carry on. I have to check the rest.

We will be gone for three weeks. The first leg of the trip is 10 hours with an 8 hour layover, then 7 hours with a 4 hour layover and another 2 hours to our destination. 32 hours ... not including before and after wait time. So not quite 2 days. This just to get there ...

Most of the flights offer meals. I went with the Diabetic Meal as I thought it was probably the safest. What do you think?

Medical diets
Diabetic meals

Below are the guidelines United follows in preparing diabetic meals. While the diabetic menus we provide may not fit the menu plan of every person with diabetes, the nutritional analysis provided with the meal will allow you to regulate fat, protein, and carbohydrate intake more easily. Our diabetic meals are low-calorie as well.

• Prohibited
  Sugars, syrups, jams, pies, chocolate, fried and fatty food, sweetened cereals, sweetened yogurts
• Allowed
  Fresh vegetables, lean meat (without skin), pasta, low-fat milk, fresh fish, bread/whole grain, potatoes, rice, low fat margarine, fresh fruit or water-packed canned fruit, low-fat cheese, eggs, dietary preserves, dietary salad dressing, sugar free foods.

Low-fat/low-cholesterol meals

Below are the guidelines we follow in preparing low-fat/low-cholesterol meals. On United, these meals meet the guidelines of Heart Smart Restaurants International: 30% or fewer calories from total fat, 10% or fewer calories from saturated fat, 150 mg. or less of cholesterol, and 1100 mg. or less of sodium.

• Prohibited
  Fried and fatty foods, animal fats, butter, egg yolk, full cream dairy products, cream cheese, fatty meat, nuts, sausages/sausage meat, liver
• Allowed
  Lean meat, fish, poultry (without skin), dried beans and peas, sunflower, olive oil and margarine, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat cheese, skim milk, starches, low fat yogurt, rice, sugar, preserves

Low-calorie meals

Below are the guidelines we follow in preparing low-calorie meals. United limits the use of added fats and oils in the preparation of foods for this diet.

• Prohibited
  Fried and fatty foods, sugars and preserves, full-cream dairy products, fatty meat, gravy, biscuits, alcohol, soft drinks (sugared), fruit in syrup, mayonnaise and salad dressings
• Allowed
  Poultry (without skin), eggs, margarine, lean meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, skim milk, rice, low-fat cheese, potatoes, whole grain bread, pasta, dietary preserves, dietary salad dressing, sugar free, fat free foods

Low sodium meals

United follows the guidelines below when preparing low sodium meals. We eliminate foods with high sodium content, and do not add salt or MSG during food preparation. However, these meals are not salt-free.

• Prohibited
  Added salt and garlic salt, monosodium glutamate, baking soda (powder), fish/cured meats, sausages, canned meats, cheese, pickles
• Allowed
  Fresh vegetables, lean meat (without skin), pasta, low fat milk, fresh fish, bread/whole grain, potatoes, rice, low fat margarine, fresh fruit or water-packed canned fruit, low-fat cheese, eggs, dietary preserves, dietary salad dressing

Gluten-free meals

Below are the guidelines United follows in preparing gluten-free meals for customers diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

• Prohibited
  Wheat & wheat flour, barley, oats & rye, sauces, breads, cakes, biscuits, pastry, sausages/sausage meats, pasta, gravy mixes/stock cubes
• Allowed
  Meat/poultry, fresh fish, rice, fresh fruits & vegetables, corn, salt & pepper, herbs & spices, potatoes, eggs, aged cheese, dairy products, sugars & preserves, margarine, tapioca, vegetable oils, yogurt, dried beans and peas, chocolate

[kitcatcopycat]

Maybe I should of gone with the low-calorie meal instead .. I can still call back and chage it I have 4 weeks 2 days before we take off.

[DocSanae]

32 hours? You can go around the world and get back to your starting point plus some in that amount of time. Where are you going? Ultima Thule????? To the moon and back?

Diabetic meals sounds fine. Pick first on the protein, then on the veggies, then the carbs if you have some room left. Diabetic meals actually are very well balance so it should be good for you.

Have fun on your trip

[Perfesser]

Enjoy the seating upgrade! It's amazing what a difference that 100+ pounds will make to your comfort. Might want to take an inflatable seat cushion along - that is a long time to be parked on your can!!

BTW - my students from Nepal tell me it doesn't take that long to get from here to Kathmandu!

CT

[kitcatcopycat]

We are off to visit family in Nigeria. Theres no straight flight .. thats why we have to go into London first. My in-laws live 8 hours from the airport in Lagos. Normally we would driving the 8 hours, but due to security issues we are taking a local flight. I don't mind the local flight as it will mean less time. Though Nigeria airlines are not the most reliable means of transportation. Please keep us in your prayers. This trip has been planned for a couple of years now. We had to save up as it is extremely expensive to travel to Nigeria. Anyways it will be worth it for my DH to see his family! He only has one brother here of 8 siblings (50+ cousins).

[ksummer19]

Wow what an exciting trip you have planned. Take lots pictures for us. Are you taking your 2 little ones also?

[kitcatcopycat]

Oh yes the girls are coming .. we are only the means of transportation. It's all about the 'Grandkids'!

[Perfesser]

Take along some protein bars for the flight, too. And maybe a small Ziploc bag or two of peanuts or something similar. RaCina's sausage & cheese balls should travel well, too. You'll find them in the Recipes forum. Just don't leave yourself at the mercy of the airlines!

CT

[kitcatcopycat]

CT - Excellent suggestions .. I'm taking snacks for the girls why not me. Ha Ha .. never thinking of myself.

[Imlosinit]

Sounds like a great trip. I'm sure you'll have fun. Sounds like you got some great advice on meals and snacks.

DH and I flew to New Zealand for our Honeymoon. A once in a life time trip, to visit my dad who had married a Kiwi. I hadn't seen him in 3 years... then it was another 5 years before I saw him again this past Thanksgiving when they moved back to the states and came to visit. It was their first time meeting their grandchildren. We had a blast.