I stock prior to each trip with food purchased from the grocery store. Carrots, celery, raisins, tuna, fajita bread, cliff bars, almonds, and cheese sticks. Usually lasts me a full 4 day trip easy. Biggest problem is the same as detpilot, keeping it cold. Filling ice in ziplock bags is messy and again doesn't last all day. A real pain to constantly monitor and change throughout the day.

 

I usually keep a bunch of stuff on hand that doesn't require refrigeration. I'll make 4 PB&J for a 4 day, makes a good breakfast if the hotel doesn't have it, or an easy and quick lunch. Also those premade tuna packets don't need to be kept cold. Beef jerky, almonds, sunflower nuts, granola bars, cliff bars, a couple of apples or pears. I usually just pack food to get me through the day, breakfast and lunch, and then I'll buy dinner on an overnight. It's a good way to save some money, avoid buying overpriced airport food, but not be completely anti social and feel like you're living on food from a wrapper for 4 days.

Also, unrelated somewhat, but those cold brew iced tea bags are great if you enjoy such things. Squeeze two in the top of a water bottle from the galley, hang the string out and close the lid, and by the time you're through 10,000 you've got a bottle of tea.

 

Instant meals

 

I always make some jamaicain jerk pork, great for The road reheats really well. Brown a pack of pork chops seasoned with mcormicks carribean jerk. Then dump in a can of crushed pineapple, more seasoning and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of honey depending on size of everything. Cook up some white rice and put in tupperware. Great stuff probably not the healthiest but its cheap and really good!

As far as keeping cold I just shove my bag full of icepacks and make sure im overnighting where there is a refrigerator in the room, otherwise its using the ice machines.

 

Starkist makes Yellowfin tuna in a poptop can with flavors like (my favorite) roasted garlic in extra virgin olive oil and lemon dill. You can get it at walmart for $1.46 a can and you don't need to refrigerate it. Might need to air out the cabin afterwards but it's a great meal!

 

I use a Nalgene flexible cantene bottle(32 oz). At home I fill and freeze it the night before. It freezes fairly long and flat and will keep my cooler cold all day. For in the hotels it also has a wide mouth so I can easily fill it with ice. This doesnt last quite as long, but will last most of the day. About $10 online or at stores.

 

Since you're talking jerk pork - use Walkerswood if you can find it, marinate for 3 days, broil with more, applied directly - awesome! thanks ex from JA!

 

Actually, it's amazing to me that airline pilots are actually carrying lunch boxes, or talking about coolers. Why is this necessary? I have never felt the need to carry food with me. Just one more thing to haul around with the flight case and suitcase....always thought that that was what per diem was for. Get a decent meal at a restaurant on the road, or go to a grocery or deli. Do they really run you so ragged that one can't get a decent, healthy meal? I've never seen an airline pilot carrying food unless it was too much to eat at the restaurant, so had retained leftovers for reheating....
Sorry, I've only worked 121 supplemental and flag.....

 

I rarely carry more than a few snacks to tide me over on six leg days with no real breaks. Mostly rice crispy treats YUM! The only time I pack food for several days is when the trip is really bad (short overnights, no food at the hotels, etc.).

For me, per diem is not pay, not something I include when I talk about pay, it is meant to keep my blood sugar levels at a level that allows me to do my job.

 

Get an ice bag. They hold lots of ice and have a screw on lid so as the ice mets the water stays in the bag and your cooler stays dry. You can recharge it with ice through out the day as needed. Works great.