<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

First of all--thanks to all who responded.  I got so many responses and that is why I am just now getting to the summary (plus I was busy preparing for my daughter's 7th birthday party along with a sleepover with 3 of her friends!)  But I survived that and now can take a little time to do this summary.  

I will answer a couple questions first of all that I guess I should have been clear about in my original post.  I will be flying to Virginia from Iowa on American Airlines.  Also when I talked to the airline about a GF meal they said that there would be a "snack" and I just assumed it would be peanuts since that is what I have usually gotten, but that doesn't mean that policies haven't changed with the peanut allergy.  Sorry for any of the confusion.  

Because of 11 people telling me that they travel with ice packs with no problems I decided to call the airline, but first I needed to get the number from the website and when I looked at it again it didn't say "ICE PACKS"  it said "ICE PICKS" which if I would have read it right to start with I would need to do this Q/S to you because OBVIOUSLY you can't take an ice pick on a plane! :-)

Anyway--sorry for all the confusion, but there were several people that wanted me to summarize anyway because they were going to be traveling and wanted to know what to take and I got several "new" ideas on what to take with me.  

FOOD IDEAS:

Bread slices from Energy Foods have a shelf life of 1 year unrefrigerated, peanut butter/soy butter on crackers or bread, tuna in foil packets don't need to be refrigerated and easy to open, crackers, cheese will last a while without being refrigerated, cookies, cereal (either to munch on or ask for milk and a cup on the plane), hot meal in a thermos, pretzels, muffins, fruit, dried fruit, trail mix, snack packs of pudding/applesauce/fruit, vegies, rice cakes, bagels, yogurt OK not being refrigerated for a while.  

There were also some tips on how to get around using an ice pack, but since I'm a dork and this isn't a problem these are necessary but still GREAT ideas!--frozen bottle of water or small juice boxes that will be ready to drink when you are eating, ziploc bag of ice cubes, dry ice if you have access to some, put your insulated lunch bag in the refrigerator a day or 2 prior to leaving so it is good and cold, freeze your sandwiches before vacation and take out when leaving for the airport--this way they will be thawed by the time you are ready to eat them and you don't have to worry about them being warm.  

A couple people did suggest bring a note from your doctor just in case they ask you about your "special" food.  

Thanks again for all the responses--you guys/girls have been lifesavers to me so many times over the past couple of years--I don't know what I would do without this list! :-)

Amy in Iowa

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