food/meal situation for pilots?
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food/meal situation for pilots?
Sorry, this questin might seem a bit strange, but its important I feel:
I'm concerned about the food situation in an airline career. I'm rather a picky eater who never liked airline food much. I doubt I would enjoy crew meals from what I've seen. Also, I don't eat all types of food - no chiken,beef,pork. What do you do in these situations, especially if you can't get much time to go into the terminal, etc. with the short turn arounds at the LoCo's? Is bringing your own food along the best deal..are you allowed to eat salads brought from home in a flight deck? Can you utilize fridges on-board? What do you do If you're on a night stop when thats impossible?
Thanks
AD
I'm concerned about the food situation in an airline career. I'm rather a picky eater who never liked airline food much. I doubt I would enjoy crew meals from what I've seen. Also, I don't eat all types of food - no chiken,beef,pork. What do you do in these situations, especially if you can't get much time to go into the terminal, etc. with the short turn arounds at the LoCo's? Is bringing your own food along the best deal..are you allowed to eat salads brought from home in a flight deck? Can you utilize fridges on-board? What do you do If you're on a night stop when thats impossible?
Thanks
AD
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Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
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From: Hampshire, UK
Look, to put this brutaly, if what you will have to eat in an airline career is of such a high priority, do you really think you are cut out for it? What is going to motivate you to get up all those mornings at 3.30am or go to work at midnight body time?
As a matter of interest, many pilots have quirky dietary habits (myself included), and have survived. Airline food is generally total ordure, and crew food worse. Do you eat to live, or live to eat? Whilst on duty, airline crews do the former.
As a matter of interest, many pilots have quirky dietary habits (myself included), and have survived. Airline food is generally total ordure, and crew food worse. Do you eat to live, or live to eat? Whilst on duty, airline crews do the former.
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Australia
I would have to agree with Rainboe that if you're obsessively picky, or if the issue is so important to you, perhaps you should consider another career path.
Having said that, there's no compulsion to eat the airline food, and yes, you usually may avail yourself of the galley refrigerators. There's probably a lot of LCC pilots reading this that would love to have food of any sort available.
I have a feeling that if you do make it to an airline career, that your 'self-provisioning' will become such a bother, that you will be eating the same muck as everyone else in no time at all.
Regards,
Old Smokey
Having said that, there's no compulsion to eat the airline food, and yes, you usually may avail yourself of the galley refrigerators. There's probably a lot of LCC pilots reading this that would love to have food of any sort available.
I have a feeling that if you do make it to an airline career, that your 'self-provisioning' will become such a bother, that you will be eating the same muck as everyone else in no time at all.
Regards,
Old Smokey
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Unfortunatley, to me, good tasty food, sustenance and a healthy intake of nutrition is very important - I value my health first and foremost. Whether I bring my own food, or whatever, I would have to eat reasonably well in order to be able to have enough lasting energy to fly well. I doubt I could stomach airline food all the time -- i'm sure its lacking in taste + nutrition anyway.
Regarding what you were saying, my interest to persue the career would be a motivating factor to get up at 3AM. However, the food thing is vital, as I would require sustenance to fly, and I have always been very sensitive/picky regarding what I eat. This is why I am asking this question, to see whether it would be possible to do this career given my situation.
Therefore, I was just wondering what kind of things pilots do, their eating habbits, etc.
I did not expect such a blunt/insensitive reply.
Thank You
AD
I don\'t understand you smokey, why would bringing my own food be \'such a bother\'. Is this not allowed, is it frowned upon? Are you saying that the only food you guys eat is airline food or airport fast food in general? How do you expect that can nourish you properly for long flights?
Regarding what you were saying, my interest to persue the career would be a motivating factor to get up at 3AM. However, the food thing is vital, as I would require sustenance to fly, and I have always been very sensitive/picky regarding what I eat. This is why I am asking this question, to see whether it would be possible to do this career given my situation.
Therefore, I was just wondering what kind of things pilots do, their eating habbits, etc.
I did not expect such a blunt/insensitive reply.
Thank You
AD
I don\'t understand you smokey, why would bringing my own food be \'such a bother\'. Is this not allowed, is it frowned upon? Are you saying that the only food you guys eat is airline food or airport fast food in general? How do you expect that can nourish you properly for long flights?
Joined: Nov 1999
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Many people bring their own food in to work with them. It is not that difficult. I can't say I have ever found anyone who raves over airline food.These days you are lucky if your company provides any food for you at all. Some companies insist they pay you an allowance to satisfy that need yourself.
It doesn't take much of an application of common sense to provide for your own nutrition. Some countries will not allow you to take some or many foodstuffs in with you on arrival ( aadoyle, yours being one of them !) However it is not usually too difficult to sort yourself out once you arrive.
I have to say I do agree with some of the other contributers in that your ability to sustain yourself, if you reject what is available, is clearly a matter for you and not for anybody else to concern themselves with. The company would not expect your "pickiness" to be a problem for themselves in any way shape or form, and your continued employment might be jeopardized were it to become so.
It doesn't take much of an application of common sense to provide for your own nutrition. Some countries will not allow you to take some or many foodstuffs in with you on arrival ( aadoyle, yours being one of them !) However it is not usually too difficult to sort yourself out once you arrive.
I have to say I do agree with some of the other contributers in that your ability to sustain yourself, if you reject what is available, is clearly a matter for you and not for anybody else to concern themselves with. The company would not expect your "pickiness" to be a problem for themselves in any way shape or form, and your continued employment might be jeopardized were it to become so.
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Australia
aadoyle,
To each his own. One of the "bothers" that I was referring to is that mentioned by Bealzebub, numerous countries prohibit the inward carriage of foodstuffs, that's a bother if you want to take any with you on a stopover. There's also the personal safety issue of your food cooking inside your Nav bag during the 3 hour delay, the 'bother' of hastily preparing your own food for a quick call-out, etc. By all means bring your own food, there's no restriction by the airlines.
Personally, I enjoy to the max the culinary differences available in the many countries that I visit, never, never, looking for my own native (Western) food. Some of the F/Os that I fly with have a lot of 'bother' in eating overseas, for 1 example I fly with a number of Muslim pilots and they always have the bother to find Halal food, not always easy.
Personally, I eat anything EXCEPT American fast food, that's my choice, and you have yours. In 57 years the only health problem that I've suffered despite my omnivorous eating habits is in-grown toenails.
It's not an issue, just a bother.
Regards,
Old Smokey
To each his own. One of the "bothers" that I was referring to is that mentioned by Bealzebub, numerous countries prohibit the inward carriage of foodstuffs, that's a bother if you want to take any with you on a stopover. There's also the personal safety issue of your food cooking inside your Nav bag during the 3 hour delay, the 'bother' of hastily preparing your own food for a quick call-out, etc. By all means bring your own food, there's no restriction by the airlines.
Personally, I enjoy to the max the culinary differences available in the many countries that I visit, never, never, looking for my own native (Western) food. Some of the F/Os that I fly with have a lot of 'bother' in eating overseas, for 1 example I fly with a number of Muslim pilots and they always have the bother to find Halal food, not always easy.
Personally, I eat anything EXCEPT American fast food, that's my choice, and you have yours. In 57 years the only health problem that I've suffered despite my omnivorous eating habits is in-grown toenails.
It's not an issue, just a bother.
Regards,
Old Smokey
Uncle Pete
Joined: Jul 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Frodsham Cheshire
Your anti-bodies soon get used to anything the airline care to throw your way.
Crew food..... C**P
Pax sandwiches..... Great!
MP
Crew food..... C**P
Pax sandwiches..... Great!
MP
Last edited by MaximumPete; 20th September 2005 at 14:47.
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From: UK
Strikes me that you need to do one of two things, either:-
(a) Learn to become less picky, or
(b) Learn to prepare your own packed meals, and buy a couple of insulated flasks and/or lunchboxes. There are many companies who will sell you compact food containers that'll keep things either hot or cold. Whilst many countries object to unapproved food import, I've never heard of one that objects to an empty lunchbox with a few crumbs in it.
(or some combination of the two).
Let's face it, a great many people have this problem for one reason or another, due to food intolerances, diets, religious needs, or simply that they don't like certain common foods. You're not alone.
G
(a) Learn to become less picky, or
(b) Learn to prepare your own packed meals, and buy a couple of insulated flasks and/or lunchboxes. There are many companies who will sell you compact food containers that'll keep things either hot or cold. Whilst many countries object to unapproved food import, I've never heard of one that objects to an empty lunchbox with a few crumbs in it.
(or some combination of the two).
Let's face it, a great many people have this problem for one reason or another, due to food intolerances, diets, religious needs, or simply that they don't like certain common foods. You're not alone.
G
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 36
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From: ITCZ
I would have to agree that eating proper food is important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Having said that I would have to add that it is not the only contributing factor. You would have to add in proper exercise, low stress, sufficient sleep and good genes. In the airline industry, you can probably only look forward to having good genes.
aadoyle, you can prepare your own food for flights, but just be aware that you might not be able to use the aircraft equipment such as fidges and ovens as and when you want. The passengers needs will come first. On short busy hops the cabin crew might not want to entertain your request to heat up your meals or keep them in a specific manner. And if you are doing a multiple sector day, your well kept meal might even be accidently off-loaded by the catering staff during transit.
In short, it is a hassle. By all means try your best but my suggestion is to adapt. You might not be able to eat what you want everyday but I'm sure by studying your roster, you will be able to figure out which days are do-able and which are not.
Regards,
Smoozesailing
p.s. Airline food is like beer. It is an aquired taste. The first few times you take it, just close your nose and chug. After a while you find that it doesn't taste all that bad. And in a few months time, you can't get enough of it. Both will also probably ruin your liver and other body parts.
aadoyle, you can prepare your own food for flights, but just be aware that you might not be able to use the aircraft equipment such as fidges and ovens as and when you want. The passengers needs will come first. On short busy hops the cabin crew might not want to entertain your request to heat up your meals or keep them in a specific manner. And if you are doing a multiple sector day, your well kept meal might even be accidently off-loaded by the catering staff during transit.
In short, it is a hassle. By all means try your best but my suggestion is to adapt. You might not be able to eat what you want everyday but I'm sure by studying your roster, you will be able to figure out which days are do-able and which are not.
Regards,
Smoozesailing
p.s. Airline food is like beer. It is an aquired taste. The first few times you take it, just close your nose and chug. After a while you find that it doesn't taste all that bad. And in a few months time, you can't get enough of it. Both will also probably ruin your liver and other body parts.
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Carcassonne
its okay
Sorry you got your nose bitten off aadoyle but you did come across a bit, er, like Charles Pooter.
Can't you see the funny side? All these guys who write about aviation in the most intense detail and have been rather through it of late if I guess close to home. We are living through tragic events and up you pop about l'estomac. Of course food and drink is important to the belly. But so is a good belly laugh too.
Translate for me the French "Je bis a vore!" Not French? Yes it is! Je bois (sans "o") a votre (sans "t") - or in americain "I drink without water to your health". And as the English rosbifs would say of l'esprit de l'escalier
D'accord
Je porterai mon pardessus
Can't you see the funny side? All these guys who write about aviation in the most intense detail and have been rather through it of late if I guess close to home. We are living through tragic events and up you pop about l'estomac. Of course food and drink is important to the belly. But so is a good belly laugh too.
Translate for me the French "Je bis a vore!" Not French? Yes it is! Je bois (sans "o") a votre (sans "t") - or in americain "I drink without water to your health". And as the English rosbifs would say of l'esprit de l'escalier
D'accord
Je porterai mon pardessus
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Australia
... you really gotta like chicken... really...
What are they REALLY feeding us?
aadoyle, this is obviously an important issue for you, so to respond to your query -
how much of an opportunity is there to get food in the terminal on average
I've had food poisoning twice in my life, very unpleasant experiences, and both acquired from the airport snack shop.
Regards,
Old Smokey
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
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From: Hampshire, UK
Unfortunately the questioner says he doesn't like the tone of some of the replies, but one has to be brutal and say if food is of such a high importance, both in eating periods and type and quality, it really is not practicable or sensible undergoing the investment required in pilot training, in my opinion. From the look of his health profile from other posts, I really have to say, not brutally, but honestly, that he will not fit well into either a shorthaul or longhaul environment, when meals are frequently missed altogether, extensively delayed, or taken to a very low quality and/or quantity.
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: se england
I have a lot admration for pilots and think you have a job that s a lot harder than many realise but does have its interests and challenges too.
Among all workers few are are as closely monitored healthwise as pilots and with such potentially dire consequences-loss of licence etc.
Part of keeping healthy, and an important part, is diet especially in a sedentary occupation like airline flying. So unless you spend your days off at the gym-not all that easy for people away from a home a lot or who work constantly changing hours and patterns- how do you keep fit. Keeping thin is ok -dont eat anything from a galley or airport snack bar but you have to eat to keep alert and functioning /
So in a sentance don't you think its a paradox that your job or employer forces you to face poor quality diet and eating conditions but youare legally obliged to stay fitter than the general population-and shoudlnt you or the medical side of the licencing authorities try and do something about it
PB
Among all workers few are are as closely monitored healthwise as pilots and with such potentially dire consequences-loss of licence etc.
Part of keeping healthy, and an important part, is diet especially in a sedentary occupation like airline flying. So unless you spend your days off at the gym-not all that easy for people away from a home a lot or who work constantly changing hours and patterns- how do you keep fit. Keeping thin is ok -dont eat anything from a galley or airport snack bar but you have to eat to keep alert and functioning /
So in a sentance don't you think its a paradox that your job or employer forces you to face poor quality diet and eating conditions but youare legally obliged to stay fitter than the general population-and shoudlnt you or the medical side of the licencing authorities try and do something about it
PB
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,843
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From: Australia
pax britanica,
Add to poor quality diet and eating conditions, poor quality rest breaks, poor quality days off, poor quality family life, poor quality social life, poor quality job security, and zero quality assurance of observance of holy days and other special holidays.
It's part of the territory, we accept them because the other aspects of the job are bloomin' marvellous!
One of the primary pre-requisites for an aspiring airline pilot is ADAPTABILITY.
Regards,
Old Smokey
your job or employer forces you to face poor quality diet and eating conditions
It's part of the territory, we accept them because the other aspects of the job are bloomin' marvellous!
One of the primary pre-requisites for an aspiring airline pilot is ADAPTABILITY.
Regards,
Old Smokey
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Ask OPS!
Old Smokey,
Can't agree more with the local cuisine! Only problem I had was after eating a dodgy looking chicken curry in Dakar, but then I put that down to being a personal mistake.
As to your list of chicken taste alikes, I have to ask only one question: Do we really know what chicken tastes like?????
I find the food seems to be dependant upon the carrier, some good, some bad, some non-existant. Some LCC's ignore the crew more than they ignore the SLF, when will the day come when we have to pay for the scran in the front office?
Learn to eat it, I've certainly eaten worse but, frighteningly, seem to have the old toenail infliction as well!
Can't agree more with the local cuisine! Only problem I had was after eating a dodgy looking chicken curry in Dakar, but then I put that down to being a personal mistake.
As to your list of chicken taste alikes, I have to ask only one question: Do we really know what chicken tastes like?????
I find the food seems to be dependant upon the carrier, some good, some bad, some non-existant. Some LCC's ignore the crew more than they ignore the SLF, when will the day come when we have to pay for the scran in the front office?
Learn to eat it, I've certainly eaten worse but, frighteningly, seem to have the old toenail infliction as well!