Debbie Hatch | Family & F.I.T.
Do you Timehop? I love the program and its little daily memory joggers of times gone past. Like this one:
I travel – a LOT. As I stated in the original post, I have had very few issues with TSA: domestically or internationally. When I posted this original status, I was deep in the middle of prepping for an NPC figure competition.
Air travel + competition prep = some pretty ridiculous stories.
In all seriousness, though, if you are flying for the holidays, knowing how to pack your carry on for a quick and easy trip through the TSA security line, can limit stress and aggravation.
Firearms, knives (even small jackknives), box cutters, swords, scissors, baseball bats, screwdrivers, hockey sticks, hammers, axes, cattle prods and the like are forbidden in carry on luggage.
I don’t think anyone will find this list surprising.
What makes me raise my eyebrows is knowing there is a factual reason why each item was specifically written onto the list. I mean, seriously, I’m not even allowed to bring my ice pick on the plane! What to heck? Doesn’t everybody travel with an ice pick?
You can, though, carry food through security, if you would like to.
Let me stop here for one moment. Why would you bring food with you, anyway?
NOT because you can’t eat food purchased at the airport but because…
– Sometimes flights are delayed (especially during busy holiday seasons, and/or when there is a chance of foul weather),
– Sometimes you don’t actually have enough time between one flight and the next, to grab something.
– Airport food can be expensive, and choices limited,
– Airline cookies, crackers, or pretzels aren’t the best way to fuel your body,
– You want to have more control over what you eat vs being at the airline/airport’s mercy,
– You have dietary restrictions, or
– Maybe because you have a competition coming up in the very near future and you are limiting what you eat.
The only thing, other than weapons listed above, that are limited, are liquids, gels, aerosols,
creams, or pastes. Each traveler is authorized only one quart-sized bag of these times. Each item inside the bag is limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).
That means, food is fine (I routinely carry protein bars, protein powder – along with an empty shaker which I can fill with water inside the airport, tuna packets, fresh fruit, and nuts) but no yogurt, peanut butter, pre-made protein shakes, jelly, hummus, or items of like consistency.
Here is the official TSA food list.
As deep as my peanut butter addiction runs, there’s absolutely nothing on this list I can’t live without for a period of time (PS it’s easy enough to have nuts, instead of nut butter). That said, if I simply must have these items, I do have options.
I can bring individual serving sizes. In fact, a number of companies (like Minimus) sell nothing but travel-sized items.
I can buy items, at the airport once I have cleared security. 
If you’re planning a trip, during the holidays or after, domestic or international, and you want some suggestions for what you can and cannot carry on the plane, shoot me an e-mail. I’d be happy to help.
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