10 tips on how to eat well while traveling with toddlers

1. Overpack snacks

This one might be obvious but it’s worth mentioning anyway—pack more snacks than you think you will need because you just never know. I always buy a few low-mess snacks that we don’t often have at home to make things feel more special and fun. We like:

• Cheese crackers
• Fruit leather
• Freeze-dried fruit
• Raisins
• Mini Larabars or granola bars

All of these are easy to stick into a diaper bag to pull out whenever you need them—for snack time or to help quell tantrums and redirect less than ideal behavior when in public. (Sometimes you have to pull out all the stops, right?). And Cheerios remain an all-star travel snack in our house… and lollipops for emergencies!

2. Plan lunch breaks on travel days

This sometimes isn’t possible, but when it is, I try to plan ahead for an interesting lunch break. If on a road trip, this is usually a park with a playground so we can eat outside (weather permitting) and run around for a bit. It could also be a stop at a grocery store with a good prepared foods section or a classic diner. Or, if in an airport , I like to let the little one choose something special to eat with her lunch. (Jamba Juice usually has a good selection of healthy kids’ snacks!)

3. Pack breakfast

When a hotel doesn’t include breakfast in the fee, I try to pack us something yummy rather than spending $12 per person on a restaurant meal that may or may not get eaten. Some favorite foods to pack include:

• A batch of muffins or bars
• Shelf-stable milk from Horizon or Organic Valley,
• Packets of nut butter from Justin’s
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Fresh fruit.

All of these also make good snacks or lunch options so they get eaten in my family no matter what. Keep them in the mini fridge overnight as needed—or in the regular fridge if you rent a house.

4. Make the most of free food

If you are staying at a hotel with an included breakfast buffet (like you get at a Hampton Inn), graze the buffet for the best offerings. To me this means grabbing fresh fruit, yogurt, milk, peanut butter packets, and maybe oatmeal—and not being afraid to take any leftovers with you, especially if your kiddo tends to be distracted at breakfast and super hungry come morning snack! And that bowl of apples and bananas sitting in the lobby? Those are for you, my friend. (Just be sure to give them a thorough wash before handing them over to the wee one.)

5. Always order an appetizer

When eating in a restaurant, entrees can vary widely in how long they take to arrive at your table. Appetizers—hummus and pita, edamame, chicken satay, sweet potato fries—can help keep the little one occupied and happy. Playing with straws, in addition to drinking from them, can also help pass the time, as well as books and crayons.

6. Order an entire entree with multiple components

When the kid’s menu looks lackluster or there are things on the regular menu that I think my girl would prefer, I often order something for us to share. Some of the most successful meals that we’ve shared include jambalaya, stir-fry, seafood pasta, and burgers with sweet potato fries.

These dishes include many different ingredients for the little ones to choose from, which helps ensure that there is something they like on the plate—it’s okay if that winds up being half of a roll and some cheese! Restaurant portions are often big enough that we can comfortably share an entree, though I do usually order an extra side of veggies or an appetizer to make sure we both get enough to eat.

7. Consider the kid’s menu

I know, I know, everyone is always saying that kids meals are the worst. But in my experience, the quality of the kid’s menu totally depends on the restaurant and it’s unfair to say that they are all terrible because, in fact, there are some good ones. So I evaluate each one on its own. Also, you know what? A really good grilled cheese is completely delicious. So if that would make your kiddo really happy, I say do it. See also: Pancakes in fun shapes with whipped cream for breakfast!

8. Eat dinner early

Since you never know how long a restaurant meal can take (this goes for a meal at a friend’s house, too), start early to allow for plenty of time to eat and get back to the hotel for bedtime. We usually go around 5 pm or 5:30 pm. This also means that the restaurant is usually less busy, making for a better experience all around—especially if your toddler needs to get up and walk around a bit at some point in the meal. (This is a reason that we often go to brewpubs—they tend to be spacious and have ample room for little legs to roam!)

9. Stay in sometimes

Being in a new place and being out and about all day can be exhausting, especially for toddlers who thrive on routine. And while we love to eat out when we’re away, we also aren’t afraid to admit it when we’re all a little tired. I often find the local natural foods co-op, local grocery store or farmer’s market so we can get takeout to bring back to our room. The prepared food section and salad bars make it easy to stock up on small amounts of finger foods you know your kiddo likes, without breaking the budget. We LOVE staying in Air BnBs with this in mind since it’s 100% easier to put the kiddo to bed early when you’re not all in the same hotel room.

10. Have fun!

Traveling is often so invigorating and the perfect opportunity to indulge and loosen up around meals. So try foods you don’t normally have (dessert included!) and show the kids that there’s more to life than the food you always eat at home. Have ice cream in the morning or try a dish you never have before to model your own eating adventure to the kids.