Easy Ways to Travel with Homemade Baby and Toddler Food

Traveling with Homemade Baby Food is easier than you may think

Traveling with Homemade Baby Food is easier than you may think. At the same time, it does take some pre-planning and calculation. Depending on where you are going, how long you are staying and what types of “creature comforts” will be available, you may not have to rely on a single ounce of commercial baby food. Our tips below address camping, air travel, day trips and restaurant outings. Most required:)

A good hint that will help ease traveling with baby – with or without homemade baby food, is to try to serve some meals at room temperature. Serving meals at room temperature will allow your baby to become accustomed to food that is not “hot”. You never have to worry about a meal being rejected because it is not heated.

“Homemade” Baby Food to Go – The Traveling Trio

Many parents feel that if they make homemade baby food, then they will be restricted to staying home because it would be difficult to travel with homemade food. We become so accustomed to cooking, pureeing and storing that we often think of toting along containers of cubes. I find that the many parents don’t even think of the easiest method of taking homemade baby food to go – the banana, the container and the fork. Think of it as the traveling trio!
If you are going on a day trip, or on a plane, the traveling trio is probably all that you will need for your little one. So grab your small food tote and toss in a banana, a fork and a container with a lid. When it comes time to feed baby, peel the banana, mash it in the container with a fork and VIOLA, fresh baby food to go! You could also take along an avocado or even a prebaked sweet potato, overnight oats (with fruit purees), mango, kiwi & papaya chunks  to mash up for baby’s meal.

Travel with Other Types of Foods for Feeding Baby – Storage and Packing

Cereals will also travel well and you may either take your ground grains and cook as needed or take cereal that has been powdered in small air tight containers and prepare just with water or milk.

Fruits are a bit tricky when taking along on a vacation. Unless they are already pureed and frozen into cubes, be sure to purchase fruits that are “almost” ripe. If you take along fully ripened fruits, you may find they will rot or go bad before you are able to use them. Dried cranberries, apricots, and plums, dried mangos, raisins, prunes, banana chips can be a good idea too.

Vegetables will travel well and if you will be preparing them during your stay, we recommend peeling, and if possible, cutting/dicing prior to leaving your home. Store them in an airtight freezer bag and if possible, fill the bag with some water to help maintain freshness. This method works will if you will be going on a camping trip. Another option is to purchase fresh vegetables wherever you will be staying and prepare them as needed. Pureed vegetables can be carried in small boxes and be served at Airports. Similar way veggie roti/tortillas rolls can be a hit with toddlers.

For  a road trip  friendly veggies include cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, celery sticks, and broccoli florets as well as snap peas. All vegetables have to be stored in an insulated cooler to remain fresh throughout  the trip. To keep hunger away and energy levels high, you can take hummus as a dip. It is also a good source of protein and fats.

Dairy should be of the dry powdered kind, especially if you will be camping and won’t have access to refrigeration. If you will have full refrigeration where you are going to be staying, purchase your needed dairy and eggs at your destination and point of stay. You can always get these fresh from a local store anywhere,  cheese cubes or strings, Greek yogurts, cottage cheese cubes, tofu cubes.

These combination makes an excellent snack that provides whole grain, protein and carbohydrates. All these nutrients work to keep your toddler feeling full for longer. Yogurts are  a great treat for adults and toddlers alike. It is a good source of vitamin D and calcium which supports the health of bones and teeth while supporting other body functions. Most yogurt brands contain probiotics, which are friendly bacteria that keep the digestive system in a stable working condition.

Travel with Homemade Baby Food – Most Recommended Tools You May Need

Manual Food Grinder will allow you to grind as you go. Extra Storage Containers/Freezer Bags for when you leave your quarters to go day-tripping. It is also good to have extras if you need to divide servings and save them for another feeding.
Whisk or Potato Masher in case you need to further mash or mix up foods to the right consistency.
There are babies that will refuse to eat commercial baby foods, especially if they have been brought-up thus far on only homemade baby food. You do not have to use only commercial during this time, simply offer either a fruit or veggie or cereal for one meal along with your homemade baby food.

Making fresh, homemade baby food is easier than you think actually, and you will feel good about giving your baby the very best food possible. It does take a little bit of preparation, but once you get the hang of it, you won’t even think twice about it. Your travel Food Plan may also include:

• Dry nuts Powder
• Brown rice powder for babies
• Homemade baby cereal(Sathamavu)
• Banana and yogurt smoothie in a Sippy cup (Find the recipe here) Banana 1 large, yogurt, milk, turmeric, vanilla extract, nutmeg, add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Put it in a sippy cup and enjoy on your way to airport or railways.
• Ragi Malt Powder(Find the recipe here) 1 cup Almonds, Cashews, Pistachios, Cardamom, Saffron, dry ginger, ½ cup brown sugar. Dry roast the ragi flour and keep aside. Roast almonds and cashews and pistachios until its  hot to touch. Add dry ginger , saffron to a blender to a blender. Add brown sugar and grind. Sieve the nuts powder and mix to the ragi powder and keep it air tight container.
• Toddler Cookies (Find the recipe here) Graham crackers crumbled, creamy peanut butter,1 ripe banana, raisins, dash of cinnamon. In a food processor, crumble all the crackers to a fine crumb. In a large bowl stir together crackers crumble, peanut butter, mashed banana with a wooden spoon until completely combined. Make a ball and line it on parchment sheet. Place it in a freezer and chill for 20 mins, keep it in a air tight container.
• Cream Cheese and Jelly Pinwheels Spread a wrap with layers of cream cheese and your favorite jelly, roll up, and cut into one-inch pieces that look like pinwheels from the side. Pack inside an airtight container.
• Pack hummus inside a small airtight container along with some pita chips, baby carrots, red pepper slices, and celery sticks for dipping.