3 Tips for Packing Healthy Travel Food for Toddlers

Heading out for a trip? Whether it’s down the street to the grocery store, a major road trip, plane ride, or anything else in between, you know by now that having snacks at the ready is an absolute must. The challenge? Finding which snacks travel best, bringing the best options, and how to carry it all. Keep reading for our top 3 tips for packing healthy travel food for toddlers!

Tip 1: Find the snacks that travel best

Chances are, you have a trusty bag of who-know-how-old Cheerios or Pirate’s Booty at the bottom of your diaper bag that will no doubt keep until (seemingly) the end of time. However, finding healthier options that also travel easily while staying fresh on the go can be a little bit more of a challenge.

Here’s a quick and handy list of healthy snacks that travel well, even without an ice pack:

• Apples
• Baby carrots 
• Bananas 
• Cheese sticks 
• Clementines 
• Dried fruit 
• Dry cereal Fruit, veggie, yogurt, or applesauce pouches 
• Fruit leather 
• Grapes 
• Mini snack bars 
• Oatmeal balls 
• Oranges 
• Peanut butter sandwich slices 
• Whole-grain crackers

Tip 2: Bring plenty of options

You are already well aware of Packing Healthy Travel Food for Toddlers Tip #2: bring plenty of options! Finding snacks for a picky eater can be particularly challenging (especially when they love something one day and not the next—sigh), but making sure you have plenty of options can help keep them satisfied and happy on the go.

It is also good to know how much food you can bring with you on your travels so that you know exactly how many options you can bring. If you’re flying, make sure to check the latest TSA regulations. for bringing snacks and food onboard. As of the publication of this blog, the rules are as follows:

• Baby food: Baby food is allowed in reasonable quantities in carry-on bags. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. 
• Baby formula: Formula, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities in carry-on bags. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. You do not need to travel with your child to bring breast milk. 
• Solid food items: Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible. 
• Liquids or gels: There are some items that are not on the prohibited items list, but because of how they appear on the X-ray, security concerns, or impact of the 3-1-1 rules for liquids, gels, and aerosols, they could require additional screening that might result in the item not being allowed through the checkpoint. We suggest that you pack this item in your checked bag, ship it to your destination or leave it at home.

Examples of solid food items allowed for travel in your carry-on include:

• Baby food 
• Bread Candy 
• Cereal Cheese (solid) 
• Chocolate 
• Coffee grounds 
• Cooked meats and seafood 
• Cookies 
• Crackers 
• Dried fruits 
• Fresh eggs 
• Frozen foods 
• Gravy 
• Gum 
• Honey 
• Hummus 
• Nuts 
• Pizza 
• Salt 
• Vegetables

Tip 3: Innobaby Packin' SMART Stackables 

Now the real challenge begins: How do you pack plenty of options for healthy travel food for toddlers without them getting crushed, smushed, or mashed? There’s nothing worse than reaching for your toddler’s sure fave to save the day, only to find it flat as a pancake. Our best-for-last tip for packing healthy travel food for toddlers is the Innobaby Packin' SMART Stackables!

These stackable containers are an all-in-one storage solution for all parents on the go! A diaper bag, car seat, carry-on must-have, these little containers store, dispense and organize all of your kiddo's favorite snacks. Store measured powdered formula, cereal, puffs, sweet treats, or even pacifiers, bandaids, cotton balls, hair ties, or other little things you may need that you don’t want to search for at the bottom of your bag endlessly.

They work with a patented click system to ensure they’re all together. If you need one, take one. If you need five, take five! You get to customize exactly what you need for the day in whatever fun color or design you’d like. They’ve even won the National Parenting Media Award and the iParenting Media Award!

Made in South Korea, these Zoo Animal stackables are available in 2, 3, or 5 tier purchase options. Each stackable holds ⅓ cup of snacks or up to 8 ounces of powdered formula. They’re top-rack dishwasher safe and are BPA-, phthalate-, PVC-, lead-free.

For more tips on living life with babies and toddlers, as well as more handy food solutions for your littles, head on over to innobaby.com.