While you can't bring liquids through security checkpoints, you can pack cheese, fruit, sandwiches and even salad if your dressing is in a container of 3.4 ounces or less and fits in your toiletry-liquids baggie.

WSJ: Coffee, Tea, or Tapas? Critiquing Airline Fare

These days my pack is filled with a small container of olive oil, dried herbs, salt and pepper and fresh fruit rather than packets of dehydrated beans and rice or bags of quick-cooking oatmeal flavored with desiccated strawberries.

NPR: Forget The Granola: Camp Cooking Goes Gourmet