In this day and age, many of us are on-the-go more often than we’re not, and with all the fast food options out there, it doesn’t always have the best effect on people’s health. Before your and Baby‘s next busy day out of the house, consider packing bite-sized, balanced snacks that both of you can enjoy. This will guarantee that both of you are happy and fed, no matter where your travels take you.
Veggies
At home, finding fresh vegetables often involves nothing more than a walk to the kitchen. But finding fresh vegetables when you’re away from home can be a challenge, so veggies are a must when packing travel snacks. Here are some ideas.
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Sliced and bagged baby carrots, cucumbers, snap peas, or peppers
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Peanut butter spread on celery and topped with raisins
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Homemade vegetable chips. This takes a little more preparation but is a super tasty, travel-friendly snack for you and baby. Plus, homemade veggie chips are a better alternative to convenience store chips
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Broccoli florets with a simple yogurt dip
Fruits
Fruit is an easy travel snack – it just takes a little preparation to make even the mushiest, stickiest fruits a little more travel-friendly. Here are some options to consider.
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Peeled and sliced kiwi, mango, pear, peach, banana, and strawberries cut up into small pieces. You can put these in tupperware, along with a fork for you and a spoon to help feed Baby
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All kinds of berries – no prep required!
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Thinly sliced apple, peach, cantaloupe, or melon
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Pureed fruits stored in tupperware, to serve with a spoon
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Applesauce in travel containers (whether store-bought or homemade). And don’t forget a spoon!
Protein
You need protein to help you and Baby stay energized throughout the day, so the kinds that you pack matter. The best on-the-go protein snacks aren’t too messy, salty, or processed. Here are some examples of snacks you might want to bring along.
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Cut up pieces of cheese – this works well with crackers
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String mozzarella cheese
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Egg muffins with chopped vegetables
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Salami with cheese and tomatoes
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Travel containers with bite-size pieces of cooked salmon or tuna
Grains
These are a little easier. Since grains are usually dry, they can be crumbly, but they don’t get too sticky or mushy. Try packing crackers, pretzels, or cooked rotini or other non-choking hazard noodles, into baggies or tupperware. You could also bake banana bread or zucchini bread and cut it into bite-size pieces. For an easy travel container, rinse and dry a recyclable bottle – like a plastic coffee creamer bottle – and fill it with smaller grains, like cereal.
Safety rules for travel
Eating safely on-the-go means never letting Baby eat while you’re driving, cutting all of their food into small pieces, removing any seeds and pits from the food, and only feeding your child one kind of food at a time, because when different shapes of food are combined, they’re harder to swallow. While nut butters can be a great snack when you’re away from home, they do pose a choking risk, so you may want to ask your child’s healthcare provider about whether or not they’ll be a safe food to bring along when you’re in transit.
It’s also best to avoid introducing allergenic foods for the first time when you and Baby are out and about, as the last thing you want is an allergic reaction on the road.
Packing snacks that you and Baby will enjoy is completely doable, and it’s worth the time and effort. You’ll each get the nutrition you need for the day, which lets you focus on other things – most importantly each other, and the time you share together.
Sources
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“Choking Prevention for Children.” health.ny.gov. New York State Department of Health, Mar 2015. Web.
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Sally Kuzemchak. “4 Strategies for Smarter Toddler Snacks.” Eatright.org. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2016. Web.
