Keeping Food Cool

Keeping food cool on the go can be a challenge, especially with TSA's restrictions on liquids and gels.  The good news is that frozen gel ice packs are allowed on planes.  However, in their thawed state, they are considered a gel and can only be taken on board if they are less than 3 ounces.  Have you ever seen a 3 ounce ice pack?  If your hotel has a fridge, you can refreeze the pack.  But what if there is no freezer available?

A flight attendant recently gave me a great solution for this problem.  Old fashioned ice packs. You remember the old blue, floppy, plastic things your grandmother used.  Fill them with ice to keep your lunch cool.  When the ice melts, just empty it and refill when needed.  You can always count on an ice machine at your hotel, even if there isn't a freezer in your room.  You can also refill your ice bag at airport restaurants on longer trips.

You can pick up a basic blue ice bag at most department stores for less than $10.  For a little more, you can find a bag with a more contemporary design.

Kids Free through December 25th at Sea World Orlando

Now through December 25th, you can get one free child's admission (age 3-9) with each adult admission purchased for Sea World Orlando.  What's more, these tickets are also eligible for Sea World's 2nd Visit Free promotion, which means both of you can return within 7 days for free!

Adult tickets are $81.99.  For more info go to: http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Book-Online/Tickets/Tourists/Single-Park

Snacks on a Plane

Feeding five people at an airport can get pretty expensive, especially when you you travel as much as we do. We generally pack our own snacks when we head off on a trip.  Here are some of my tried and true favorites.

Go-gurt: Freeze them overnight and they will stay cold until you eat them. Plus, the thicker texture of frozen yogurt means less spilling.

Pringles: The canister keeps these chips intact and takes up very little space in your carry-on.  I also like that Pringles has multi-grain and lower-fat options.

Grapes: Pack these in a plastic container with a lid to prevent squishing.  I love grapes because waste is minimal and a lot less slimy than waste from other fruits (think apple cores and orange peels). Just store the leftover grapevines in the plastic container until you have access to a trash can.  Easy and mess-free!

Nabisco Go-Packs: Packed in convenient ready-to-go plastic containers, these packs come in several varieties including Cheese Nips, Teddy Grahams, Ritz Bits, and Honey Maid Cinnamon Sticks.  The snacks are all bite-sized, so crumbs are minimized.

Pizza: Yes, pizza.  A great alternative to sandwiches, pizza travels well.  I individually wrap slices of cheese or pepperoni pizza the night before a trip and stick them in the freezer.  They don't get soggy like sandwiches with condiments do.  It also eliminates the picky eater problem of determining "is this the ham, no-cheese with mayonnaise or is this the ham with cheese and mustard sandwich" while you are squished in an airplane seat.

Bagels with Cream Cheese: These have saved me many times when we have had to make a 6 am flight. Pre-assemble the night before a trip and grab them on your way out the door.  Eat on the plane or on the way to the airport!

Airplane Food Do's and Don'ts

Fish Crackers: Always messy, never a good idea.

Pull Top Foods: Remember that an airplane is pressurized but the food sealed inside your container is not.  So foods with a pull top, such as pudding or yogurt can often "explode" when opened.

 

Waste: If you have something messy, like paper towels from a spill or an apple core, to throw out, wait until the flight attendant comes around with a trash bag.  Place the waste directly in the bag yourself.  Do not expect the flight attendant to handle it.  Also, do not throw food waste in the lavatory trash receptacles. 

 

Know your Limit: TSA limits liquids to 3.4 ounces or 100 ml.  All liquids and gels, including food items, need to be placed in a quart-sized bag and screened separately.  For more info, see http://www.tsa.gov/311

TSA Relaxes Screening for Kids

I was pleasantly surprised on a recent trip to discover that TSA has implemented new screening procedures for children age 12 and under. Here's a summary of the changes from a CNN article posted September 13th.

Responding to the uproar over physical searches of children, the Transportation Security Administration is rolling out new procedures that should reduce, although not eliminate, the number of times children are patted down at airport checkpoints.

Under the new procedures, children age 12 and younger will be allowed to keep their shoes on, the TSA said. If a metal detector or full-body image detects a suspicious object, the children will be allowed multiple passes through the machines in an effort to identify the anomaly.

Not all airports have implemented the changes yet.  In SLC we still had to pull off our shoes, but in San Diego we were told to "tighten those laces." Expect the changes to be in effect at all US airports by the end of the year.

For more info, read the full CNN article here: http://articles.cnn.com/2011-09-13/travel/tsa.kids.screening_1_tsa-chief-john-pistole-pat-downs-airport-screeners?_s=PM:TRAVEL

Lug It or Leave It? Car Seats

Almost every day I am in an airport, I see a parent overloaded with diaper bags, kids activities, snacks, electronics, strollers, and car seats.  I want to run up them and say "You don't really need all that stuff!"
So here is a short series to help parents determine what is worth hauling through the airport and what should be checked or left at home.  I call it Lug It or Leave It (check it) and today's subject is car seats.

Case #1 You are on a direct flight

Leave It.  Airlines are really very good at getting luggage where it needs to be these days.  On a direct flight, there is very little opportunity for a car seat to get lost or misdirected.  For stress free boarding, just check the car seat.

Case #2 Your child is less than 6 months old

Leave It. At this age, a baby carrier, such as a Snugli, works much better and is a lot less bulky.  Plus, it is safer than just holding a baby on your lap if you encounter turbulence.

Case #3 Your child is between the ages of 1 and 3

Lug It. Once your child is mobile, they want to be, well, mobile.  It's too much to expect a two year old to stay in their seat.  Their car seat provides a familiar environment and they know that car seat time is sitting still time.  It makes Mom and Dad's job of keeping them in place much easier.

Case #4 Your child only needs a booster seat

Lug It. Or I should say, let them lug it.  If they can carry it themselves, bring it along.

Case #5 You are renting a car in large city

Leave It. In this case, even if your car seat gets lost, you have lots of options.  Car rental companies have a supply of car seats available for rent.  If the airline loses your car seat, they have to cover this rental cost for you.  Although rental companies in small towns may have only a limited number of car seats available, larger cities rarely run out.

4 Things Every Family Should Know About Car Seats and Airplanes:

1. Most airlines do not charge to check strollers and car seats.

2. Airlines now charge up to $25 for a car seat cover to protect your car seat.  You can purchase a reusable cover for as little as $13 at stores like Walmart or Toys R Us.  Or just use a thick drawstring garbage bag.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/JL-Childress-Airport-Gate-Check-Car-Seat-Bag/5652240

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3091046

3. If you are going to use your car seat on board, it must be approved for airplanes.  Look for the white label on the back or bottom and read carefully.

4. If your car seat does get lost, many airlines have "loaner" car seats available at larger airports. Inquire at the baggage claim office.

Kids Free in October at the San Diego Zoo

This October, kids ages 3-11 can visit the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for free!  That's a savings of $30 per child.  The promotion runs every day of the month.  A great opportunity to take the whole family to this world famous experience.  For more info: www.sandiegozoo.org/kidsfree

Zoo hours are 9-6 pm until October 3rd, when the park closing time changes to 5 pm.

Don't forget, the San Diego Zoo always offers a free one-day pass to active military personnel.  Just show your valid, active military ID card at the gate.