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Hey mummies (& daddies)! I’m Elissa, a first-time IVF mummy to a lovely 18-month-old toddler girl. Going on a trip with your little one and on the lookout for easy toddler meals & snacks for travel? If you’re anything like me, I’ve learned that winging it while on the go just doesn’t cut it. Whether it’s a short staycation or a family trip, I like to know exactly what my toddler will eat to ensure she gets the nutrition she needs. But let’s be honest, no one wants to spend their vacation cooking.
That’s why pre-packed meals and snacks have become my go-to solution! Like these below!
In this article, I’ll share my tried-and-tested picks for toddler-friendly travel meals and snacks, from fruit pouches to UHT milk. These options are quick, nutritious (or nutritious-ish), and stress-free—perfect for making the most of your family adventures.
Why I Choose Pre-packed Meals & Snacks For Toddler Travel?
When it comes to traveling with toddlers, convenience is key. Here’s why pre-packed meals and snacks work so well (at least for me!):
- Saves Time & Effort: No more hunting for baby-friendly restaurants or cooking during vacation.
- Convenient & Safe: Travel-friendly packaging keeps food fresh and hygienic.
- Healthy Eating On The Go: You control the menu, ensuring your toddler gets the right balance of nutrients.
- Peace of Mind: No surprises (no unexpected ingredients at a local restaurant, or worrying if there’s allergens that your little one has not tried before etc.)—just wholesome meals you trust.
These pre-packed options let me focus on the fun parts of travel without compromising on nutrition for my little one!
My Go-To Easy Toddler Meals & Snacks for Travel
After a few family trips (2 overseas, 4 overland, and 1 staycation), here’s what works best for us:
Fruit Pouches (Perfect for Breakfast or Snacks)
Perfect for breakfast or snacks, these are easy to carry, don’t need refrigeration (before opening), and come in various tasty combinations.
Pro Tip: I prefer pouches that allow me to screw the cap back on. This way, I can easily feed my toddler without worrying about wasting food if she’s not hungry at that moment.
Brands I’ve Tried:
Only Organics Fruit/Fruit & Oats/Fruit & Yoghurt Pouches: Clean ingredients, no added sugar, and no artificial flavours.
Meal Pouches or Instant Meals (For Lunch & Dinner On-the-Go)
These offer a good mix of proteins, veggies, and carbs in convenient packaging. While not a full meal, they’re a great base to which you can add extras like hard-boiled eggs or rehydrated veggies (see next section).
Brands I’ve Tried:
SGHomemade Instant Porridge: Quick (3 mins), convenient, and perfect for younger toddlers (due to it’s softer texture and smaller portion size of 100ml). Bonus: It only needs hot water to prepare. I got their taster pack to try a variety of flavours – great to check for allergies
Wunderbaby Ready-to-Cook Porridge: More textured so suitable for babies who like to feel their rice bits and vegetables. Can be cooked over the stove, or prepares in 90 minutes in a thermal jar with hot water.
Nong Chun Xiang Baby Porridge: Great for bigger appetites with portion sizes of 150ml and even 200ml upsized ones. The texture is smooth but still porridgey, and it’s available in a wide variety of flavours, including proteins like chicken, beef, pork, and different types of fish and shellfish. I chose to try this new brand out this latest trip (to Phuket) because I wanted to avoid the use of water in her meals – and this allowed me to heat up within the thermal pouch.
( Shopee )
BUT the best thing of all the brands above are that when I checked in with the brands, they can confidently tell me they are free from added salt, preservatives, artificial flavours, and most importantly to me, tested and cleared for heavy metals and arsenic! Check it out on their websites:
- Nong Chun Xiang Products Certifications and Lab Results
- Wunderfood.co’s (Wunderbaby) Instagram Post on Their Regular Lab Testing
- SGHomemade shared with us their lab test result when enquired directly – feel free to check in directly with them too!
Vegetable Sachets (For Extra Fibre and Nutrients)
For an extra nutrient boost, these sachets contain freeze-dried veggies like pumpkin, lotus root, broccoli, carrot, and mushrooms.
Brands I’ve Tried:
Witheat Organic Vegetable Ball Powder: Easy to rehydrate (or just pour directly) and mix into meals – an easy way to add extra veggies on the go! Pesticide-free and tested for heavy metals. While it’s a little pricier, I find it worth the investment, particularly for travel.
Healthish Snacks (For In-Between Meals and Long Car Rides)
Let’s be clear, we are not a snacking household – at least not processed snacks. So it’s really a rare occasion that my little girl gets to try out pre-packaged snacks at all!
Which is why while I do my best to look out for healthier snacks, I’m not too fussed up – as long as there are no added sugars, I typically close one eye. Bonus for rice puff/sticks are that they are tested and cleared from heavy metals and arsenic.
Brands I’ve Tried:
- Kiddylicious veggie straws ( Shopee | Lazada )
- Ivenet yoghurt melts ( Lazada )
- Little blossom rice puffs ( Shopee | Lazada )
- Little blossom veggie sticks ( Shopee | Lazada )
- Little blossom fruity sticks (new for this trip) ( Shopee | Lazada )
- Bob snail Fruit strips (new for this trip) ( Shopee | Lazada )
We’ve taste tested all the above before (including the new ones in our rotation), all are perfect for my toddler to munch on without any fuss. Additionally, they are all travel-friendly and come in resealable pouches for convenience.
Some things to note though: The veggie/fruit sticks and straws are slightly more powdery and hence sticks to the fingers a wee bit more than the puffs. The fruit strips are extremely sticky on the teeth (so make sure to pack your toothbrush too).
UHT Milk (For Hydration and Nutrition)
Since transitioning from formula, UHT milk is our travel staple for hydration and nutrition.
Brands I’ve Tried:
These are easy to find in most supermarkets and are available in small, travel-sized packs. The only downside? It’s VERY heavy to lug them along compared to formula. Honestly, I’m still brainstorming what I can do for an upcoming longer 1 week + trip. Share with me any wise advice if you have any in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Traveling with Toddler Food
What are the best snacks to bring for a 1-year-old toddler on a flight?
Rice puffs are my go-to choices for flights. Simply because it’s the least dirty, least likely to spill and make a mess, and super lightweight.
How do I keep toddler food fresh during travel?
I personally use small resealable bags or airtight containers to keep any opened packets of food fresh. Otherwise, most fruit and meal pouches are sealed and do not need to be refrigerated.
Can I bring toddler meal pouches on a flight?
My understanding is yes! I fly SQ and Scoot most frequently and haven’t had any issues. But always check your airline’s food policies.
What’s the best food for toddlers during long road trips?
If you can’t already tell from reading this article, instant meal pouches, fruit pouches, and vegetable sachets are my go to.
Easy Toddler Meals & Snacks for Travel For A Stress Free Trip
Traveling with a toddler doesn’t have to be stressful, especially when you plan ahead and pack the right food. With these pre-packed meal options, you can ensure your little one is well-fed without compromising on convenience or nutrition.
Have a favourite toddler travel food? Share with us in the comments or tag us on Instagram with #MummyList!
Find this article on Easy Toddler Meals & Snacks for Travel useful? Do help share this article with your fellow mummy and daddy friends and spread the love! It’s not easy putting all this information together and I do hope for more to benefit from it! For more baby essentials and helpful tips, check out our other articles here:
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