Food for Toddler on flight

[bekkiz]

I'm trying to get a number of snacks together for our cross country flight next week for 17 month olds. On our last flight (only 2 hours) we brought granola bars, fruit bars and fruit snacks (gummy kind). But, that's a lot of sugar and not a lot of protein (which my kids need, or they get crabby). Any thoughts on what I can bring on the plane that isn't so sugary, but also doesn't need to be kept cold?

We do have an hour long layover, so we may be able to pick up a sandwich or something too.

 

[MommaB]

We love the "Just Tomatoes" products in our house. They are delish, crunchy and fruit and only fruit. Right now my DD likes Fruit Mash ups- like a fruit or veggie smoothie in astronaut packaging. I buy them near the babyfood in my local HEB/grocery store.
I know this is mostly fruit but they pack really well, can be purchased in organics and aren't messy.

 

[happymommy]

Although my son is allergic to some foods, including dairy, I would like to add that those cheese sticks that are individually wrapped are usually okay for several hours without refrigeration. That would provide some protein, plus they aren't too messy!

I think you could also bring a little soft lunch box type cooler, then after you go through security, put some ice into a double baggie from a restaurant to keep items cool.

Peanut butter sandwiches are another option. Or cheese sandwiches. I wouldn't do lunchmeat.

Good luck!

 

[birdie757]

When dd and I fly cross country...which is about 3-4 times a year...I like to take the following:

Peanut butter sandwiches - I make halves with one slice of bread and take a few for both of us. They don't need refrigeration and are ok if they get squished...lol.

whole grain crackers - I will use the snack size bags and separate them into 1 serving size portions.

Bananas, apples, grapes

applesauce cups

carrots and celery (not sure if your kiddos are big enough for those yet)

I have found that by separating them out into 1 serving size or half sandwiches she won't just eat out of boredom but yet I can still have some for later if we have delays or something. Our grocery store also has these pouches you can buy of fruit and veggies already in 1 serving size...like what you would pack in school lunches. They have an apple and grape combo that dd really likes. I also always bring a gallon size baggie just to put the trash in on the plane...nothing is worse then having to hold on to a banana peel for an hour until the attendant comes buy again.

I don't bring all of this...just some depending on when we will be in the air. Lately I have been leaving later in the afternoon and just packing a dinner so she can sleep most of the way on the plane.

 

[teacher100]

Crustables and cereal. I would be careful on how much you feed them. I found out that my DS had motion sickness when we were landing in Chicago one time. This was not the first time I had flown with him either and he had been fine before. Benedryl became our friend after that!

 

[Hannathy]

PB&J sandwiches, string cheese, bagels and cheese, peanut butter on crackers, dry cereal like honeycombs, or honey nut cheerios (not much protein but some and easy to carry)

I'd just concentrate on keeping them happy and busy and make sure whatever they ate before getting on the plane was protein.

 

[princess pooh]

Î usually bring cheese strings, cheerios, muffins, and dehydrated apples. I buy a few cartons of yogurt once we get through security.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Add to the ideas above:

mini PB crackers
milk (in a sippy it will stay cold, buy it after security, plenty of protein in it!)

 

[ancestry]

I would just like to add that there are MANY people with life threatening nut allergies. Even though no one in my family is allergic I would NEVER take peanut butter to eat in an airplane. My kids are not permitted to take or eat peanut butter in school (school rule) and I follow that through by not taking peanut butter to eat in a public area. I would feel horrible if my child's PB&J sandwich sent another person into anaphylactic shock while on a flight.

 

[brergnat]

We just flew from CA to Orlando last week. We had a stop, but couldn't exit the plane (too short), so I packed the following:

1. Uncrustables, the whole wheat kind (more protein)..
2. Goldfish and Pretzels
3. Clif Z Bars (clif bars for kids...have a good amount of protein each).
4. Grapes and Apple slices
5. Bananas
6. Homemade chocolate chip cookies (lots of fat/calories...kept them full)

You can usually get milk on the plane as a beverage. Check on your airline's website to see what drinks are offered. That way, you don't have to worry about keeping it cold.

We were good with that. Our kids are 4 and 5, but all those options would work with 17 month olds as well.

And, don't worry about taking peanut butter on the flight. You need to worry about YOUR kid's needs too. The chances of a life threatening peanut allergic person being on your flight is very small. IF that happens, they will make an announcement in time for you to get alternate food at the gate.

 

[Hannathy]

And, don't worry about taking peanut butter on the flight. You need to worry about YOUR kid's needs too. The chances of a life threatening peanut allergic person being on your flight is very small. IF that happens, they will make an announcement in time for you to get alternate food at the gate.

I agree 100% and peanut butter will not bother someone who is allergic unless they come in contact with it, no particles in the air. So unless you plan on smearing it onto someone with an allergy or force feeding them it, I wouldn't worry about it. And if a tiny amount of residue on a seat back or something from your child will do it for the allergic person they better be wearing gloves in public because you can't control the whole public.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

100 caorie packs and dried fruit saved our life last spring! We took the party mix packs (with pretzels and cheese-its) and chips ahoy cookies. They've got nutter butters now too.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree 100% and peanut butter will not bother someone who is allergic unless they come in contact with it, no particles in the air. So unless you plan on smearing it onto someone with an allergy or force feeding them it, I wouldn't worry about it. And if a tiny amount of residue on a seat back or something from your child will do it for the allergic person they better be wearing gloves in public because you can't control the whole public.

But some people are allergic to the point that being on the same flight with someone eating PB CAN cause a reaction.
And little kids DO smear peanut butter everywhere. That is just part of being a kid. Peanut Butter on the bathroom door touched by a Peanut allergy person may very well cause a reaction.
DGS (3) has an allergy and while we know we can not protect him from everywhere peanuts are and we always carry a epi-pen, flights are a special concern for no other reason than you are can not easily get to medical help. If we use the pen, we HAVE to get DGS to the ER. On a fight this can cause all sorts of problems for EVERYONE.

I understand that PB is a very good choice for most parents but I really wish it was not allowed on ANY flight. I know dairly allergy parents have the same wish so not sure what the answer is. If you do take PB please be very careful to wash hands and faces well and to discard leftovers, paper etc in air tight bags.

If the fight has to be redirect to the nearest airport to get a child to the ER, everyone's vacation will be delayed!

 

[Hannathy]

I don't understand how a child eating peanut butter can cause a reaction to a child 10 rows away? there is no airborne particles, and to be a threat the child would have to get it into their eyes, nose or mouth.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

We love the "Just Tomatoes" products in our house. They are delish, crunchy and fruit and only fruit. Right now my DD likes Fruit Mash ups- like a fruit or veggie smoothie in astronaut packaging. I buy them near the babyfood in my local HEB/grocery store.
I know this is mostly fruit but they pack really well, can be purchased in organics and aren't messy.

I could have written this one The freeze dried peas and mixed veggies are always a hit in my house too...And Kiddo loves the Ellie Organics 'Broccoli, Peas & Pears'

One thing to do is to make sure the sugar in your snacks is pretty limited anyway. It will help keep the ups and downs more minimized. For the protein, I'll suggest a few things that work with my little guy--wax wrapped BabyBel Cheeses (stay @ room temp better than string cheese imho), soy nuts, sunflower nut butter sandwiches or on crackers or used in a no-bake cookie recipe (www.fixmeasnack.com), high protein granola bars, freeze dried yogurt drops, high protein cereal, gerber shelf stable yogurt

Those are just a few. I'll think about it and see if I come up with others...

 

[Spoonful of Sugar]

Do your kids like beans? I find them a nice easy finger food. I just get canned black beans or kidney beans, and DD loves them. Also, if they're not on peanut butter yet (I know some doctors say don't give it to them till they're 3) Blue Diamond makes an almond butter that doesn't need refrigeration. Pieces of tofu could be good too, and probably fine out of the fridge for a while.

 

[disfan07]

Ok...so this whole peanut butter thing....

First off, I will say that I wish peanuts weren't allowed on any flight...but that's JMO ( and I am biased with this situation)

I am severely allergic to peanuts. In my everyday life, we just take the usual percautions and always carry my epi-pens with me and I am actually pretty laid back about it. The reason it comes up as an arguement when flying is the peanut residue can cause a cross contamination reaction if there is any peanut residue around that person. I know that I carry 6-8 epi-pens on the plane with me because my allergist told me that if I have a reaction in flight, I need to use an epi-pen every 15 mins until we can land (so we carry enough epi-pens for 1 1/2 to 2 hours)

I don't care if you bring peanuts/peanut butter on board but if you do sit next to someone who is allergic to it they might ask you not to open it (i have done this before and no one has seemed to have a problem with it)

My one big request is....if you let your kids eat peanut products PLEASE do not let them run up and down the aisles touching everything along the way. PLEASE brign wipes to wipe their hands and face when they are done. It's really just common courtesy and common sense that needs to be used in these situations.

But...I will say...I am extremely sick of the argument of peanut butter being the only thing that a child will eat. I worked in a peanut free classroom at a preschool adn we had one parent who complained about it and wanted their child moved.Too bad, no room to move the child. Amazingly, she sent him in with peanut butter the first day. We confiscated it adn gave him one of the hot lunches of pasta and meatballs and he ate it all. So it was a cop out by the mother. That excuse just irks me.

So basically...if you bring peanut butter. PLEASE just wipe hands and faces after eating it and PLEASE dont leave the wrappers around form what ever it was. Basically, just be courteous and use manners...that's all that is necessary

 

[happymommy]

The post about bringing the gallon size baggies for trash is a great idea! I like to tidy up around us, which is hard when you have an empty wrapper.

Also, I would bring empty sippy cups or cups with lids. I am always so nervous when the flight attendant gives my kids cups of juice or something - then the flight gets bumpy! You can get juice and milk or water, but I'd bring a cup that won't spill.

And I discovered a while ago that benedryl works as well as dramamine - it's basically the same stuff. But makes me tired! Oh my gosh!