I feel like a walking commercial for BLW: my tagline could be “So easy, a baby can do it. Literally. “ But really. The work we put in as a family for a short time around 6 months old has paid off over and over again, especially during high travel times.
When we go out of town for any reason with Sully, the list of items to pack is quite long. Despite the fact that our family is somewhat minimal, traveling with a baby just means a lot of stuff. Fortunately, when it comes to food, there is a simple and concise list thanks to Baby Led Weaning. Here are my tips and tricks for traveling with a baby as it relates to food:
If packing your own food:
1.Pack food choices that can be easily served a variety of ways to keep your baby interested and happy at meal times. Steal cut oats, instant grits, breads-all make a base that can be customized. Mixing in fruit or peanut butter makes oatmeal taste differently; scrambling in an egg to a package of cooked instant grits adds protein; and hummus or almond butter on toast makes a perfect balanced snack.
2. Choose foods that pack a lot of nutritional punch without a lot of effort. We use red lentil noodles or chickpea pasta quite often: it’s full of fiber and protein, so if there isn’t a meat or veggie option nearby, it’s not stressful. Marinara or pesto make a great sauce, and bonus points if you pack a serving of grilled veggies to mix in.
3. For longer trips, it can be tricky figuring out how to incorporate safe snacks into your time. For us, there are a few snacks that I feel comfortable serving Sully while he is buckled into his seat: Purely Os (dissolve easier than regular Cheerios), Happy Baby teethers, and Happy Baby Coconut Creamies. We use these to ward off any major hangry moments until we can stop for an actual snack. Disclaimer: please, please watch over your child snacking in the car. Oftentimes, I will sit next to him while he eats in case the situation arose where I needed to intervene.
If buying groceries at your destination or if planning to eat at a restaurant:
1.“Go Pro:” A popular BLW Instagram account I follow (@feedinglittles) preaches protein and produce. In general, that’s what we stick to if we eat at a restaurant because I know it will fill him up and that he will like it. We’ll bake a couple of chicken breasts, steam a bag of cauliflower, and grab a pack of blueberries. All three are solid favorites, and I know Sully will recognize them, even though our environment is different.
2.Many kids’ menus are made of foods that aren’t always balanced. Sure macaroni, chicken nuggets, and pizza are all tasty, but if traveling, you may want to consider adding in more nutrient rich foods in some of the meals. For us, we’ll order a side of steamed veggies and a grilled protein; most of the time, it ends up being cheaper than the kids’ meal anyway. A lot of times, I’ll order salad ingredients without the lettuce, and that alone makes a great side item.
3.Order ahead. If you have the option to use grocery pick up or delivery at your new location, go for it! You can easily add items to your cart to have ready when you arrive to your destination. Plus, you’ll have a heads up as to which of your favorite ingredients are in stock and which ones you need to substitute.
BLW Travel Essentials: There have been times where I have been tempted to pack the pantry, fridge, high chair, and all just to make sure Sully gets his full food experience when we travel, but that’s just not realistic. Here are a few items we use to help make our time away from home smooth, fun, and tasty:
- Tidy Tykes Extra Sticky Placemats
- Portable High Chair
- Wipeable Picnic Blanket or Highchair Mat
- Bento Box with Freezable Lunchbox
- Take and Toss Cups
- Lap Desk for Picnics
When we first started out with Baby Led Weaning, we were excited and proud of how well our Sully ate. There is an extra layer of excitement now in cases of travel where we are reaping benefits that we did not even expect. Packing is simple, and eating on the road is not stressful!
