Plane travel and meal… (diet controlled type 2)

[Amyfaith]

Hi all, long time no see. I’m gearing up to fly back home for the holidays and I’m wondering: what do those of you with type 2 that are diet controlled do with meals on planes? Have you ever been able to request a low carb type meal? Or do you just take something with you through security? It’s the first time I’m flying home since diagnosis and just not sure what to do.

For reference, flying out of Heathrow to the US, so 8-ish hours. Virgin Atlantic, if it matters. Probably cattle class. Will need *something* and while it’s technically a holiday I’d rather keep things on as even a keel as I can given my carb tolerances (35g/meal).

 

[Robin]

Hi all, long time no see. I’m gearing up to fly back home for the holidays and I’m wondering: what do those of you with type 2 that are diet controlled do with meals on planes? Have you ever been able to request a low carb type meal? Or do you just take something with you through security? It’s the first time I’m flying home since diagnosis and just not sure what to do.

For reference, flying out of Heathrow to the US, so 8-ish hours. Virgin Atlantic, if it matters. Probably cattle class. Will need *something* and while it’s technically a holiday I’d rather keep things on as even a keel as I can given my carb tolerances (35g/meal).

I don’t think you’ll find anything low carb, our experience of virgin was that they kept chucking carby snacks at us, after the main meal had been served, to soak up the alcohol that a lot of the stag and hen parties were drinking, (though this may have been skewed because we were flying to Las Vegas) a cornish pasty appeared at one point, and an ice lolly a couple of hours after that. . Having said that, have a look at their meals, you may be able to eat the protein-y bits and leave the potato/roll/crackers etc, and supplement with a choice of snacks you take on with you.

Food And Drink In Economy | Economy Meals | Virgin Atlantic

Find out more about the food and drink we serve in our Economy cabin. Simple, fresh ingredients cooked with care to create inflight meals for everyone to enjoy.

flywith.virginatlantic.com

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope the flight goes well @Amyfaith

My suggestion would be to avoid registering for the ‘diabetic meal’ (sic). Not quite sure how a meal can have diabetes… but on my only long-haul flight I mistakenly booked that, and what arrived was grimly beige carbs, focussed on low fat.

Everyone else was eating stuff that would have been much easier to be honest!

 

[Amyfaith]

I don’t think you’ll find anything low carb, our experience of virgin was that they kept chucking carby snacks at us, after the main meal had been served, to soak up the alcohol that a lot of the stag and hen parties were drinking, (though this may have been skewed because we were flying to Las Vegas) a cornish pasty appeared at one point, and an ice lolly a couple of hours after that. . Having said that, have a look at their meals, you may be able to eat the protein-y bits and leave the potato/roll/crackers etc, and supplement with a choice of snacks you take on with you.

Food And Drink In Economy | Economy Meals | Virgin Atlantic

Find out more about the food and drink we serve in our Economy cabin. Simple, fresh ingredients cooked with care to create inflight meals for everyone to enjoy.

flywith.virginatlantic.com

Yeah, my memory of pre-diagnosis flights is not great in terms of food (especially on the way back to the UK). I’m not flying till mid-December so potentially I could have a chat with their meal people and see if anything bespoke could be done… I mean, I can handle a bit, but between not being a good flyer (flying anxiety!) and extra carbs, my BS will be wild. Trying to minimise!

 

[Amyfaith]

Hope the flight goes well @Amyfaith

My suggestion would be to avoid registering for the ‘diabetic meal’ (sic). Not quite sure how a meal can have diabetes… but on my only long-haul flight I mistakenly booked that, and what arrived was grimly beige carbs, focussed on low fat.

Everyone else was eating stuff that would have been much easier to be honest!

Ha - I looked at the listing for diabetic and went… yes, bread… that’s not good.

I did check to see what restaurants were available these days in Heathrow 3 (my memory is Pret and Wagamama) and looks like there’s a few I can cobble together a decent meal from, plus snacks for the flight. Am trying to remember if Heathrow lets you take proper food through security or not. BWI and IAD did last time I flew but Heathrow security is rather different to the TSA…

 

[AndBreathe]

@Amyfaith - I have done lots of travel in my time since T2 diagnosis. Only once have I requested a diabetic meal. It was plain dire. Yes, it was carb heavy, but it was just so poor (and that was in fact Virgin Atlantic).

Whilst the menus look carby, portion sizes are generally fairly modest, so I just go with the flow. Now I am gluten0free, I have to choose that option, but before then I just had an "ordinary" meal and picked the best bits - leaving the cake, or trading it with my OH, for his cheese, if he liked the look of the cake/dessert.

These days our trips are generally a bit further afield, but I quite often just fast - especially if the flight is a red-eye, but fasting isn't for everyone.

One thing I would ask you to bear in mind is if you choose a special meal, you will be served it before the rest of the cabin, so you either end up with everyone being curious about your food, or eating an overly cool meal if you wait for your travelling companions' food to arrive.

 

[Amyfaith]

I’m travelling alone so no issue there - but yes, good shout about the GF meal. Wheat seems to be my glucose kryptonite so should probably avoid that. Wonder if the cabin crew would let me do jumping jacks somewhere over Iceland to burn off the extra energy/nerves, though… 🙂

 

[harbottle]

Ha - I looked at the listing for diabetic and went… yes, bread… that’s not good.

I did check to see what restaurants were available these days in Heathrow 3 (my memory is Pret and Wagamama) and looks like there’s a few I can cobble together a decent meal from, plus snacks for the flight. Am trying to remember if Heathrow lets you take proper food through security or not. BWI and IAD did last time I flew but Heathrow security is rather different to the TSA…

Wagamma do some delicious low carb salads (Salmon, That steak, which is a bit higher) and a few starters are low carb. (I do break my rules and have a bang bang cauliflower occasionally!)

 

[helli]

I do not eat meat so used to book the vegetarian meal (VGML). However, I got bored with the stodgy pasta. One day, I decided to look for other vegetarian options and came across the Asian Vegetarian. This is always a curry. While it always comes with rice and often a piece of chapati, you don't have to eat these to get a reasonably filling lowish carb meal with far more taste than the pasta.
You don't have to be vegetarian or Asian (I am not) to book it, although when flying on a majority Asian flight, I did experience "racial profiling" as my meal with my seat number on it was offered to everyone around me and then taken away. Thankfully, it returned with an apology.

 

[helli]

Wagamma do some delicious low carb salads (Salmon, That steak, which is a bit higher) and a few starters are low carb. (I do break my rules and have a bang bang cauliflower occasionally!)

Itsu also do some good low carb salads - they are not all sushi.

 

[Leadinglights]

It is one flight and the portions are usually fairly small and you don't have to ear the bits you don't want. Keep to low carb before your flight and if there is a choice for snacks opt for nuts or take your own like high protein Nature Valley, KIND or similar bars. If it is sandwiches just leave the crusts.

 

[JITR]

Have a nutritious filling meal before you fly?

 

[AndBreathe]

I’m travelling alone so no issue there - but yes, good shout about the GF meal. Wheat seems to be my glucose kryptonite so should probably avoid that. Wonder if the cabin crew would let me do jumping jacks somewhere over Iceland to burn off the extra energy/nerves, though… 🙂

Just choose an aisle seat and do plenty strolling.

 

[PattiEvans]

Pret a Manger have a presence in most terminals of Heathrow and they do a variety of salads packed in plastic containers to take away.

 

[Amyfaith]

Hi everyone - flew over on Monday, and I feel like it went pretty well? My flight was midday so I juuust managed to snag the Thai steak salad at Wagamama (Pret was well stocked… but entirely with fish-containing salads, and I’m allergic). I ended up plumping for premier on the flight (it was only marginally more expensive when I booked and for an 8 hr flight it was frankly worth it not to have someone’s head in my lap!), and ordered the gluten free meal since wheat seems to torch my BS. I ate bits of everything (very nice dessert actually!) but left the majority of the carbiest stuff - though I had to have *some* of the warm scone shortly before landing (had the cream, left the jam). BS was a 6 when I got to my parents’ place about 4 hrs later, but suspect that was the result of very little sleep the night before, general anxiety from flying (I hate it), and it being about 1:30am GMT when I got ‘home’.

Since arriving, BS has been mildly elevated but nothing super concerning. I was measuring a very consistent 4.8 every morning before leaving, and it’s more like a 5.2/3 now, which I’m guessing is my liver taking longer to get over jet lag than the rest of me. I’ve ended up buying a meter here just for ease of strip replacement (so the difference could just be the meter), and I’m constantly having to translate US units to UK units. But again, pretty similar to what things were at home - higher, but only barely. My big issue is getting enough activity in - it’s not really a walkable area, and we got dumped with snow last night so even a walk around the neighbourhood might be a challenge for a few days (it’s also -5C out there at the moment). Jumping jacks in the basement it is, I think…

Thanks everyone - you made a really stressful first flight while diabetic so much easier. ❤️