60 Travel Friendly (and TSA Friendly) Healthy Toddler Foods
I am frequently being asked about healthy food options that one can get through security with for toddlers and children. It’s no secret that airport and airplane food is not only overpriced, but usually unhealthy. Last time we are in JFK I bought three orders of chicken nuggets that were supposed to be 5 piece for about $4.50 each and they stiffed us a nugget in each tray! Needless to say I was a little upset.
It’s also best to avoid anything too sugary to feed your kids while stuck in a tight place for an extended period of time. Although I am an advocate of the emergency sucker for out of control meltdowns, I try to avoid super sugary foods and offer foods high in protein and fiber instead.
If you want to keep things cold for a bit consider packing a frozen gogurt or something similar in a cooler type lunch sack. These have worked great for us in the past and really helped us serve up some healthy options on the plane.
If you are running low on ideas here are some to jump start you (some have links to recipes):
coconut oil and flaxseed no bake cookies
string cheese
crackers and cut up cheese
grapes
apple slices
peanut butter sandwiches
Lunchables
whole grain crackers
Gogurt- frozen (can be a little messy but a favorite)
powdered milk- add to water when ready
carrots
whole grain Goldfish crackers
graham crackers
Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (thaw by the time on the plane)
less sugar fruit snacks
banana
banana chips
raisins
crasins
pretzels and peanut butter dip
crackers and peanut butter
applesauce pouches (some come with sweet potato and squash in them)
dried apricots
dried mangos
Teddy Grahams
mini rice cakes
orange slices
small yogurt cups (under 3 oz)
freeze dried strawberries
blueberries (in container so they don’t get smashed)
raspberries (in container so they don’t get smashed)
whole wheat oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
sliced strawberries
carrots and ranch dip
salsa and tortilla chips
quesadilla (kids won’t care that it’s cold)
pizza slices (again kids won’t care that it’s cold)
turkey sandwich
ham sandwich
dry cereal
oatmeal packet and ask for hot water from either starbucks at the airport or on the airplane for coffee
bagel, peanut butter and raisins
english muffin, ham and cheese
pepperoni slices
popcorn
pecans
Nutrigrain bars
Tags: airplane food, toddler food
May 29th, 2012 at 6:50 am
Thanks for this list! This is perfect timing for me. We are flying 10 hours on Thursday and there will be no food service. I need to bring all of our meals with us, and now I have some great ideas!
May 30th, 2012 at 8:55 am
Thank you!!!! I always am clueless when it comes to packing food for the airplane!
May 30th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
pasta pizza…
[...]airplane food ideas for toddlers and preschoolers | Dotting the Map[...]…
May 31st, 2012 at 8:12 am
Awesome! We are taking the kids on a three hour plane ride and were wondering what we could bring for them!
June 6th, 2012 at 10:08 am
This is a great list. We just went snack shopping for our 24 hrs of flying this weekend. Now, I think I need to go back and get some of these suggestions.
June 6th, 2012 at 11:55 am
Wonderful list! You’ve got a lot of things here that I’d never have thought of.
How has your experience been taking “liquidy” things like yogurt tubes, pouches of applesauce, etc through security? I had a friend that recently refused to open her baby’s food jars/pouches at security. They made her get patted down and tested her hands, but let her through with it unopened. I don’t know if this is common or not…
June 6th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Hi Andi! They should never ask to open the baby food jars or pouches. But they will likely test the outside of jars and bottles and possibly hands for explosive residue. As long as they see a baby or a toddler they are usually pretty understanding. I’ve never had anything confiscated but tested yes. I’m proud of your friend for refusing to open the food, there is no reason for them to ask of that.
June 7th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Great list! I’ve had TSA take yogurt away, but only in China did they insist on opening one pouch of baby food. I wasn’t exactly fluent and I had a ton with me so I didn’t put up much of a fuss. If it had been in the states I would have been looking to speak to a manager.
Thanks for linking up to #travtipstues today!
June 7th, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Was it a cup of yogurt they took away? I know gogurt is 2 ounces but I don’t know what the cup is. I’m impressed you took the kids to China- We may take them to Japan with us next Spring but are still trying to decide.