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Here’s a list of healthy road trip snacks that are simple, easy to store, and great for the whole family, including babies and toddlers. These travel snacks will save you time and money while ensuring everyone gets good nutrition!
![Easy travel snacks all laid out on a white background.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Healthy-travel-food.jpg)
Table of Contents
Great Travel Food
Whether you are hitting the road or traveling by plane, going anywhere takes on a whole new meaning when you throw little ones into the mix.
I’m not the type to overpack, quite the opposite actually, but now that I’m a mom, even weekend trips look like we’re flying to the other side of the world. I see you nodding.
With everything you need to pack and get done prior to leaving, I hope this list of easy, nutritious, and less messy foods will help ease your load!
With some planning ahead of time, you can rest easy knowing that your children will stay nourished and happy during the trip! You will be well prepared for when the hunger strikes.
Not to mention you’ll save a ton of time and money by not having to purchase foods from the gas station, fast food restaurants, or airport.
And all these ideas are great not just for traveling, but also for playdates, picnics, and school snacks!
Food Storage Essentials
- Reusable containers – These bento boxes are great because they are already divided into compartments so there’s no need for extra sandwich bags or multiple containers. They are also lightweight and very sturdy. I recommend packing one for each of your family members.
- Reusable bags – cute and inexpensive for travel.
- Snack Catcher – I like to pack a big bag of dry cereal or puffs and I can easily fill into these cups. Can really help minimize mess, too.
- Refillable water bottle – You will save so much money and it’s good for the environment. You can fill them up at gas stations, hotels, restaurants, airports, etc. This water bottle is our favorite for toddlers and kids.
Tips for Packing Road Trip Snacks
- This is not the time to try new foods! Stick with what you know your toddler likes and be sure to include their favorite foods. If you discover some foods that you think will travel well, try them several times prior to the trip.
- Be sure to pack food in a cooler, especially during the summer months so everything stays nice and fresh!
- Place ice or freezer packs on TOP of the food rather than at the bottom.
- Eat the most perishable foods first. For instance, eat berries before longer lasting foods, like unripe banana and apples.
- Pack extra ice packs, and if you are traveling by car, purchase ice from a gas station as necessary.
- Don’t forget to pack: anti-bacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, trash bags, ziplock bags, napkins, paper towels.
- Limit the number of times you need to open the cooler. l highly encourage you to label the meals and snacks so you can easily locate them, adding ones that need to be eaten first at the top.
- Pack nonperishable food items separately in a basket or a large container. These include, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, granola bars, crackers, trail mix, energy bites, pretzels, etc.
The Ultimate Road Trip Snack Ideas
![veggie nuggets with cantaloupe in bento box and cooked pasta with cheese in a small container.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/travel-snacks-for-toddlers.jpg)
(Pictured: veggie nuggets, cantaloupe, cooked pasta, cheese)
Here’s a list of best foods to pack! They are my less messy and easy-to-pick-up options. Be sure to modify the food size according to your child’s age and chewing ability.
Fruits
- Apples
- Banana (pack both ripe and unripe ones)
- Cantaloupe
- Blueberries (be sure to flatten into discs for babies)
- Grapes (cut lengthwise)
- Mandarin oranges
- Peaches
- Pears
- Raspberries (see tips section below)
- Strawberries
- Fruit and Root Veggie Yogurt Smoothie Melts – use the code MIN5 for $5 off your order
- Dehydrated or freeze-dried fruits (a great option for the plane, especially!)
- Squeezable or individual cups of applesauce
- Babyfood pouches
- Homemade smoothies – transfer to reusable pouches
Vegetables
![Muffin with vegetables and frozen edamame.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Road-trip-snacks-for-toddlers.jpg)
(Pictured: banana carrot muffin, raw zucchini and bell pepper, frozen edamame)
Raw
- Bell peppers
- Carrots
- Cherry or grape tomatoes (quartered)
- Cucumber
Tip: IF you have time, try cutting them into fun shapes using cookie cutters. My toddler is much more prone to eat them this way vs. chopped or sliced. Perhaps yours may too!
Cooked
These are really great for babies, especially since the texture has to be soft. Root vegetables and winter squash are best for packing.
- Acorn squash
- Butternut squash
- Carrots
- Kabocha
- Parsnips
- Sweet potatoes
- Zucchini
Protein Car Trip Snacks
![a lunchbox with omelette strips, freeze dried strawberries, roasted orange and purple sweet potatoes.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/vegetable-omelette-lunchbox-for-toddlers.jpg)
Pictured: vegetable omelette, roasted sweet potatoes, freeze dried strawberries
- Peanut butter – individual packets are super convenient as it allows you to simply squeeze some right on top of raw veggies, bread, etc.
- Nut butter
- Nuts and seeds (trail mix is great)
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Tofu
- Cheese
- Squeezable yogurt tubes (tip: freeze them!)
- Edamame (also add frozen!)
- Milk Carton (yup. Freeze)
- Individual portions of hummus
- Beans
- Cream cheese wedges
- Canned seafood: I almost always take a can or two just in case. Mash and spread on top of toast or mix into pasta (definitely not for the plane!)
- Shredded or diced chicken (here’s how to cook chicken perfectly every time!)
Carbohydrate Snacks on the Go
![Cereal, crackers, pouch, cheese, and chestnuts.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/travel-food.jpg)
I recommend whole grains whenever possible!
- Bread
- Cereal bars
- Cooked pasta – If your child likes legume-based pasta, like chickpea and lentil, it’d be an easy way to boost protein and iron.
- Granola bars
- Fruit and Nut Bars (e.g. Larabars)
- Dry Cereals
- Store-bought crackers or homemade cheese crackers, sweet potato crackers, graham crackers
- Rice cakes
- Sandwiches
Homemade Road Trip Snacks (Easy to Freeze)
![PBJ sandwich roll ups with sweet potatoes and vanilla wafers.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sandwich-roll-ups-lunchbox-for-toddlers.jpg)
Pictured: sunflower butter and jelly sandwich roll ups, carrots, parsnips, vanilla wafers
All of these are easy to make and travel well! Combine these with any of the finger foods above for a healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
![A close up shot of sliced yogurt muffin.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Whole-wheat-yogurt-muffins-276x276.jpg)
Healthy Yogurt Muffins
![A toddler's hand dipping one of the nuggets in beet hummus.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/veggie-nuggets-with-dip-276x276.jpg)
Baked Veggie Nuggets
![An overhead shot of sliced banana oat bars with sliced banana.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Banana-oat-bars-276x276.jpg)
Banana Oatmeal Bars
![A close up shot sliced muffin on toddler's hand.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/banana-carrot-muffin-276x276.jpg)
Healthy Carrot Banana Muffins
![A close up shot of the apricot balls with a bite taken out.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/No-bake-apricot-balls-276x276.jpg)
Apricot Bliss Balls
![A close up shot of bliss balls with a bite taken out of one on top.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Peanut-butter-energy-balls-276x276.jpg)
Peanut Butter Bliss Balls (High Protein)
![Four oatmeal balls with different add-ins.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/No-bake-oatmal-balls-276x276.jpg)
No-Bake Oatmeal Balls
![Close-up of chocolate balls.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Easy-chocolate-balls-276x276.jpg)
Chocolate Balls (with Dates)
![Overhead shot of stacked balls on a plate.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Carrot-cake-balls-276x276.jpg)
Carrot Balls
![Broccoli bites piled on high on a white plate with a toddler's hand.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Easy-broccoli-bites-276x276.jpg)
Broccoli Bites
![tots plated on a white plate with toddler's hand dipping one into green hummus.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sweet-potato-tots-276x276.jpg)
Baked Sweet Potato Tots
![a toddler's hand dunking the chickpea patty in pizza hummus](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/chickpea-patties-276x276.jpg)
Chickpea Patties (gluten free)
![a lunchbox with omelette strips, freeze dried strawberries, roasted orange and purple sweet potatoes.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/vegetable-omelette-lunchbox-for-toddlers-276x276.jpg)
Vegetable Omelette
![Three stacked cookies.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/zucchini-oatmeal-cookies-276x276.jpg)
Healthy Zucchini Oatmeal Cookies
![A close-up of muffins on a wire rack](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_5044-34-2-1-276x276.jpg)
Healthy Blueberry Muffins for Babies
![Stacked spinach pancakes on a white plate.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Spinach-pancakes-276x276.jpg)
Spinach Pancakes
![baby friendly banana protein pancakes spread out on a blue plate with berries and peanut butter](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_0092-43-2-276x276.jpg)
3 Ingredient Banana Oat Pancakes
![A close up shot of baby French toast strips as well as bite-sized pieces on a parchment paper](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1962-2-2-276x276.jpg)
Savory French toast
![five cooked beet pancakes with yogurt and peanut butter spread on top of two and a baby reaching for one pancake](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_2900-4-2-276x276.jpg)
Beet Pancakes
![Three stacked bars.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pumpkin-oatmeal-bars-276x276.jpg)
Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars
![three sliced baked oatmeal stacked on top of each other](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_0452-29-2-1-276x276.jpg)
Savory Baked Oatmeal with Vegetables
![Spinach muffin with a bite taken out.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Spinach-muffins-for-baby-276x276.jpg)
Moist Spinach Muffins
![four carrot oatmeal cookies stacked](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/featured-image-3-276x276.jpg)
3 Ingredient Baby Cookies
![three sweet potato cookies for babies stacked on a wooden board](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/for-instagram-2-1-276x276.jpg)
Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies
![three slices of banana date bread stacked on a wooden board](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/featured-image-1-276x276.jpg)
Banana Date Bread
![A close up shot of sliced bread.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Moist-pumpkin-banana-bread-276x276.jpg)
Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread
![Stacked pancakes with slices cut out to show the inside.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Fluffy-Strawberry-banana-pancakes-276x276.jpg)
Strawberry banana pancakes
Baby Led Weaning Travel Food Ideas
![Waffles, tofu, and sweet potatoes, and raspberries.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/travel-snacks-for-babies-and-toddlers.jpg)
Pictured: vegetable waffles, tofu, sweet potatoes, raspberries
All of the above recipes are suitable for babies 6 months and up. And here’s a list of best finger foods and how to prepare them according to their age.
You may also be interested in this list of best first foods for baby.
Safety Tips for Snacking in the Car
![Two toddlers eating in the car trunk.](https://www.mjandhungryman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/road-trip-snacking-with-toddlers.jpg)
- If you are on the road, be sure to make a short snack stop. It is dangerous for babies to eat in their carseats as they are not seated in the fully upright position. And eating in a moving car poses an even greater choking risk. Seat them on someone’s lap or a portable chair, like this one! It’s compact you can store the tray under the seat.
- Be sure to cook and cut the foods appropriately so they are safe for babies.
- This goes without saying, but avoid anything that could pose a choking risk.
Hope this was helpful! And I’d love to know what your family’s favorite road trip snacks are!
I love this blog post! Super helpful, thank you!
I’m so glad!