On our way to New Zealand.
We’re a humble bunch, we don’t want a great deal. Nothing really… except world travel.
Well, that and popcorn. (Priorities, man.)
Although our eldest is only two and a half, we have not been afraid to get started on our world-domination plans. So far we have been to Japan, New Zealand, Melbourne, Sydney, The Whitsundays, and a bunch of little journeys around where we live. We’re learning as we go what are the best ways to take small children on long trips, and what tops the list is to never have empty tummies. (I once was stuck on a bus with no food on our way to Las Vegas from LA. There was a traffic jam on the freeway and it added unforeseen hours to our trip. I was pregnant and STARVING and the tantrum I felt like throwing would rival a two-year-old’s. Hangry ain’t pretty!). With that in mind, I’ve collated a list of snack items that we’ve found works really well for our kids. The dry packaged stuff can have a second serving stashed in the checked luggage for the trip home, to be supplemented with fresh fruit and goodies bought before you leave (particularly good if overseas and you’re not sure what’s available), although it’s usually pretty easy to find at least baked chips or crackers at your destination.
Feel free to add your favourites in the comments!
Sandwiches
plain rice or corn cakes
flavoured rice crackers (we’re pretty keen on the brown rice seaweed ones)
home-baked cookies – either apple and oatmeal, or healthy Anzac biscuits
Containers of dry cereal (we have used Cheerios, Nutri-Grain, and Freedom Foods Maple Crunch)
Containers of puffed rice or puffed corn
Sultanas/figs/dried apple rings or apricots
mini breadsticks
homemade muesli bars
fresh fruit (grapes worked well for us, as has apples and small bananas)
graham crackers (both homemade and shop-bought)
Baked potato chips or Veggie Chips
Muffins (dairy-free date and coconut, or lemon and raspberry)
homemade wholemeal cheddar crackers
And for those times when you are venturing into bribe territory because you NEED them to sit still and quiet (like when the plane is landing, etc), we have used individual packets of Tiny Teddies, a Hershey’s Kiss or two, the date and coconut balls, the cookies, fruit puree sachets and Five AM organic yogurt pouches.
Bec says
July 23, 2013 at 8:56 amThis is awesome, thankyou! I’ve been stuck in a sultana, rice cracker, home made muffin and banana bread snack rut.
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:32 amHa I find myself slipping into those too. So good to rack my brain for what i used to do!
Katie Rainbird says
July 23, 2013 at 9:05 amI slice muesli bars (Carman’s brand) across the width so I get 5 small pieces & I wrap them in a square of waxed paper, then twist at the ends like a lolly wrapper!
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:33 amOh I buy Carman’s too now that you do! I like your lolly wrapper idea, I’m totally borrowing that.
Money Mummy says
July 23, 2013 at 9:22 amGreat ideas! I will be using these on the next trip to see the relos in NZ! One thing I have used in the past is lolly pops – chuppa chups in particular as they take longer to eat! I carry them in my pocket and I only bring them out in moments of complete emergency (read screaming) and but they definitely do the trick 🙂
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:42 amHaha yep, you need those little insurance policies! Now that my kids are getting older, I think I’m going to put this trick on my list 🙂
Miriam says
July 23, 2013 at 11:03 amLittle boxes of craisens or sultana’s for my fruit fussy 3yo. And vegemite sandwiches. We can never have enough of those!
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:33 amOh man, I think I could live on Vegemite sandwiches. They’re my favourite! Rye bread, crusts cut off… sometimes a little slice of cheese…
Denym ONeill says
July 23, 2013 at 12:02 pmI love a good batch of baked cauliflower fries for our 10 month old just as good room temp as hot 😀 and a pack of home baked beetroot and sweet potato chips mess free this clean freak mum isn’t a fan of anything squishy crumbly or smudgy and yep I choose the messiest veggie of all… Ha!
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:34 amOh I love cauliflower fries (we call it cauliflower popcorn) but I find when I take the lid off they are VERY aromatic! Someone would punch me for sure if I tried to open that on a plane! homebaked chips are such a win. Wish you were my mum 😉
Lisa Oliver says
July 23, 2013 at 1:24 pmOoh I love this post!!! We are aiming at a long car trip later this year and I needed some food ideas-fab as always lovely:) xx
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:36 amCar trips are so much better because you have much more room than you do on a plane. We drove around the south island of New Zealand for six days and we would duck into the supermarket and just have a bag of goodies on the floor for snacking. Also didn’t have to worry about taking fruit internationally/interstate. Possibilities are endless!
Lisa Mckenzie says
July 23, 2013 at 2:07 pmCan you be my Mum,I am lucky I don’t have to do this but there is so many healthy easy options now,which is great for Mama’s of little hungry children .
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:36 amYes I’m interested to see how I cope when they’re older. Will they still get excited by a yogurt pouch?!
MotherDownUnder says
July 23, 2013 at 2:40 pmYup, yup, yup…I agree that all of the above are great.
Popcorn is fun.
Animal crackers are great as they are food and entertainment.
And for long haul plane flights make sure you remember to pack a sippy cup! I also packed a bowl and a spoon and some Sultana Bran…I figured if Toddler C wouldn’t eat any airplane food I could at least get some milk and he could have cereal.
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:38 amOh Animal crackers! Brilliant idea! I love popcorn but I find it’s so bulky for such little return that I gorge myself at home instead of on the plane. I’m so impressed you kept him happy and sane that whole trip. Our longest flight was only 9 hours and Abby was 9 months old, so probably much easier. I’ll be asking you for tips next time!
Ames Starr says
July 23, 2013 at 3:56 pmOur faves: my goodie balls, dried fruit & nuts, bananas, kale chips, coconut water 🙂
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:42 amI literally wish I could pay you to stock our lunchboxes before every trip. Do kale chips smell much? I’ve never packed them then opened them again in confined places! I eat all the nuts too, my brats are a bit little. Soon, my pretties!
Ames Starr says
July 24, 2013 at 1:11 pmI’d gladly pack everyone in the worlds travel lunch boxes! The kale chips don’t smell – would depend what you put on them I guess. Think my recipe is on my website somewhere, from years back – it’s a good one! Most raw food doesn’t smell much. I wouldn’t care anyway, most other cooked/meaty lunches on the plane smell vile!
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 1:12 pmGod, you’re so right. They are vomit-inducing!
Maryandlil says
July 23, 2013 at 8:13 pmgreat snacks!!
Veggie Mama says
July 24, 2013 at 9:42 amThanks!
Yao says
October 27, 2013 at 2:11 pm2 ingredients cookie http://www.bakeitmakeitwithbeth.com/2013/02/banana-oatmeal-cookies-no-flour-butter.html?m=1
Veggie Mama says
October 28, 2013 at 1:46 pmThanks so much for these!
Stacey
editor | veggie mama
w: http://www.theveggiemama.com
Yao says
October 28, 2013 at 2:49 pmThank you for inspiring us to travel more and not compromise too quickly in the food department!
Yao says
October 27, 2013 at 2:12 pmNut muffins http://www.tessadomesticdiva.com/2012/03/5-minute-muffins-high-protien.html
Yao says
October 27, 2013 at 2:16 pmAnd baked chickpeas http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2011/07/sweet-and-salty-roasted-chickpeas-cheap.html
Soak overnight, bake at 450 F for 30 minutes. I don’t add any oil/seasoning for the kids
Joss Comber says
June 16, 2017 at 6:43 pmAh, this is a great post! thank you for sharing these ideas.
Me and my 2 girls are going on a camping trip to Devon in 2 weeks.
We are driving down from London so a hefty journey to say the least!
I really like the date and coconut balls idea and the banana pikelets, a very interesting choice,
I will certainly be giving these a go and will try to send you a photo so you can see my efforts 🙂
I found this article… this https://carhireexcess.insure/mood-boosting-car-snacks-kids/ which has some really useful ideas for car snacks which I thought may be of interest to you?
my youngest girl suffers from car sickness pretty badly and that post has a few car snack ideas which help with car sickness.
I thought it was relevant because it mentions coconut balls which you talk about, but instead of using dates, they talk about using ginger as apparently it is really good for treating nausea.
Thanks again for sharing the post,
Joss.