Essential Food Recipes for Traveling with Your Baby

Travelling with a baby is exhilarating, like going on a wild quest where your trusty companion needs to be fed every two hours. When you are away from home, no matter if it is a short road trip or a long haul flight, having baby friendly snacks and meals at hand will be the difference between screaming that never ends. But never fear; I am here to guide you through the wonderful world of baby travel food (which some times can be a bit confusing).

Warning: It is not as terrifying as it might sound.

In this web story, we round up some easy-to-make travel food recipes that are healthy and yummy. Here are the one’s your little eater will never say no to. From simple snacks to full-on meals, these recipes can all be prepped and packed for the road. Of course, I also included a little humor, because traveling with a baby is just that!

Banana Oat Pancakes

First up, a solid and healthy standby—banana oat pancakes. The great thing about these little beauties is that they are the perfect snack for when you are on your travels, easy to make, easy to store in an airtight container, and most importantly, eat as a ‘grab & go’. They are also three ingredients, so you probably have most of them on hand already.

Ingredients

1 ripe banana
1/2 cup of instant oatmeal
1/4 cup of milk (or water)

Instructions

In a large bowl, mash the banana so it is smooth as possible. This is the place where your baby may get a “What are you doing, parent? look.
Add oats and milk and mix until well incorporated. The mixure should be dense and able to stay in the shape.
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spoon small measures of the batter onto the pan in little pancakes.
Fry each piece on both sides in a separate frying pan for 2-3 min until golden brown.
Let the cookies cool and place them in a container or zip-lock bag

Tip: Eat these cold for a nice lunch when you have to pack food with you and have no opportunity to reheat it. Plus, they are great for little hands to hold and munch on, but do expect some banana-y mess.

Veggie and Cheese Muffins

Muffins are the baby food of travel superheroes. They are portable, convenient, and easily contain just about anything you want to put in them. Veggie and Cheese Muffins are a delicious, savory choice that your little one will eat right up.

Ingredients

1 cup grated zucchini
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup Shredded Cheese (cheddar is good)
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup milk
A pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a muffin tin.

2. Combine zucchini, carrot, and cheese in a bowl.

3. Stir in eggs, flour, baking powder, and milk. The batter should be thick but not too dry.

4. Spoon batter into muffin tin, ⅔ full.

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Cool in the tin before turning out.

Travel Notes: These muffins freeze well, so feel free to make a batch in advance and take as many as you need each time. Not to mention, they are a sneaky way to get your baby to eat their veggies without any complaint.

Fruit and Yogurt Pouches

We all know that buying pouches can be convenient as well as costly. Not only is it more economical to make your own fruit and yogurt pouches, but you also get to control every ingredient going into each one.

Ingredients

1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup mixed berries, fresh or frozen
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup of applesauce (if you like a bit sweeter)

Instructions

In a blender, mix the berries with a banana and applesauce. If your baby tolerates a bit of texture, you can leave it slightly chunky.
Mix them well and add the yogurt.
Add mixture to reusable squeeze pouches.

Travel Tip: Seriously, it makes long trips so much more bearable. They are mess-free, and your baby can feed themselves while you drive or navigate the airport. Oh, and be sure you bring a bib because, well, babies.

Sweet Potato Bites

I highly recommend this winner for baby superfood sweet potatoes,

and these tiny bites are ideal for on-the-go. Quick to cook and rich in nutrients (think vitamin A to help your baby’s eyes grow strong)

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato
1 teaspoon olive oil
Probably just a pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
Remove the skin from the sweet potato and chop it into small, bite-sized pieces.
Sauté cubes in olive oil until they lose their crunch, seasoning with sprinkle of cinnamon if using.
Place on a baking sheet and roast for 20–25 minutes until soft and golden.
Set them aside on paper towels to cool. Pack up your pops once they have gotten cold.

Travel hack: Sweet potato bites are easily gripped and consumed even on the go for your baby. They are good cold, so do not even bother zapping them. Credit…Getty Images — The New York Times/Chang W. However, if you need to nibble a few while making them, then by all means do so!

Mini Sandwiches

Sandwiches are a travel must, but they have to be laid down for babies. These little sandwiches are the perfect size for a toddler or baby’s hand and can be filled with many different baby-friendly fillings.

Ingredients

2 slices of whole wheat bread
1-2 Tb cream cheese or avocado puree
1 slice of mild cheese
Soft fruit slices (banana, pear)

Instructions

Cut the slices of bread into cubes or use a shaped cookie cutter for fun shapes.
Place some cream cheese or avocado on one side of the bread.
Add a cheese slice and some fruit slices then top with another piece of bread.
Lightly squeeze the sandwich closed.

Tip: Wrap up these mini sammies for a road trip or take on a picnic. You can change the fillings depending on what your baby enjoys (or what you have in your fridge). Oh, and let me get something straight—you will likely make extra of these for YOU (they are that good).

Homemade Applesauce

Applesauce—Applesauce is a baby food top choice, and it’s so basic to make and pack for travel, with the added perk that you can play with spices to make it differently every time.

Ingredients

4 apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup water
Cinnamon or nutmeg (optional: a pinch of ground)

Instructions

In a pot, bring apples and water to a simmer over medium/low heat.
Simmer for 15 minutes, until apples are tender/mashable.
Mash the Apples or Blend for a Smooth Texture
Add cinnamon or nutmeg if using and give it a stir.

Packing the applesauce in little reusable containers like these is a great travel tip. It is a light and healthy snack for small babies who need a little boost. And let’s be real, who doesnt like applesauce?

Rice Cakes with Nut Butter

Rice cakes are a fun, convenient snack, but they can be kind of tasteless on their own. This is due to the nut butter (or nut-free) spread on them to bulk them up and make them tastier.

Ingredients

Plain rice cakes small size (for babies)
Nuts or Seeds (Almond Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter)

Instructions

Spread a little bit of nut butter on each rice cake, not too much.
Cut the rice cakes into bite-sized pieces, if necessary.

Rice cake This is the perfect snack that you can just keep in your pocket and eat when you are hungry. They are so simple to carry as well as will certainly not get wrecked in your bag. Kinda like that staple of state fair food, the funnel cake — although you want to watch out for the sticky fingers after.

Lentil and Veggie Patties

Lentil and Veggie Patties, an option a bit more substantial Rich in protein and fiber, they are quite filling for your baby.

Ingredients

1 cup cooked lentils
1/2 cup grated carrot

1/2 cup grated zucchini
1 egg
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
A pinch of cumin (optional)

Instructions

Combine the lentils with the grated vegetables, egg, breadcrumbs, and cumin in a bowl.
Dust your hands in flour and knead small patties into a cylindrical shape.
Place a non-stick pan over medium heat and cook the patties for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
Let them cool before packing.

Pro Traveler Tip: These would be an excellent thing to grab for lunch or dinner and take on the road. Little fingers can easily grasp them, + they can be served cold or at room temperature. You just might want to remember extra napkins as it falls apart a bit!

Quinoa Salad

Apparently, quinoa is a wonder grain (or seed) and also ideal for what I’m referring to as ‘nothing fancy salads’. This is a travel-friendly recipe; just put it in any container and fit it in your bag.

Ingredients

1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup diced cucumber
1/2 cup diced tomato
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
A squeeze of lemon juice

Instructions

Mix all ingredients cooked quinoa, sliced cucumber, tomatoes, and chopped parsley in a bowl.
Squeeze lemon juice over top, and toss everything together.

A useful travel tip: It can be cold or at room temperature, making this great for picnics. It is also versatile; you can throw in other vegetables or some shredded chicken if you want more protein.

Mashed Avocado and Crackers

Baby food should be creamy and easy to mash, which is why the avocado is perfect for babies. This makes a great snack, especially since all you need are some whole grain crackers to go along with it.

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado
Whole-grain crackers

Instructions

Place the avocado in a bowl and cuff until creamy.
Serve with some whole-grain crackers to dip in!

Insider Travel Tip: This is one of the easiest snacks to make and shove into your face while on the road, so indulge with guiltless pleasure. Be sure to add a few more napkins in the bag for any avocado smears.

Whole Wheat Biscuits

High in fiber—whole wheat biscuits can easily mix up the snacking habits of your little ones.

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup baking powder
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup milk

Instructions

Heat the oven at 200°C (400°F).
Combine the flour and baking powder in a bowl.
Cut in butter until it forms coarse crumbs.
Add milk and stir until just combined.
Drop teaspoonfuls of dough onto cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.

Travel Tip: Dust your hands off, pack these biscuits, and enjoy them during your travels at any time you feel like snacking. They are also fantastic for using to sop up a soup or stew on a longer trip.

Mini Vegetable Idling

Idlis: Idlis are indeed a perfect dish for babies, which we prepare in Indian tradition. These minis are delicious little bites that pack in your daily dose of vegetables.

Ingredients

1 cup idli batter
1/2 cup shredded or finely chopped veggies (carrot, peas and spinach)

Instructions

Now add the chopped veggies to the idli batter and stir well.
Add the batter to idli molds or silicone muffin cups.
Steamed for 10-15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Travel Tip: Enjoy Idli warm or at room temperature; pack well. They are simple to put in a smaller container.

Banana Bread Fingers

Mum’s Gone to Iceland Banana bread is ideal use for your overripe bananas and a nice little treat for your baby. Which makes it easy to have it in finger-size spears for snacking.

Ingredients

2 ripe bananas
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup melted butter

Instructions

1. Line an 8×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

2. Mash the bananas in a bowl.

3. Stir in the flour, honey, and melted butter until thoroughly combined.

4. Add batter to loaf pan

5. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Allow to cool and then slice into fingers roughly the size of your finger.

Pro Tip: Banana bread is great for travel snacking. Not to replace legislation with a bit of nut butter or yogurt uploaded by Maryrose at.

Whole Wheat Carrot Cake

Egg uses carrot cake to push more veggies, but it is still CAKE. This healthy version is made of whole wheat flour, which makes it nutritious too, and can be offered as a tasty treat to toddlers.

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp baking powder

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and lightly grease a small cake pan.
Combine the flour, grated carrot, and baking powder, and add honey and melted butter.
Pour the batter into the pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool before serving.

Travel Tip: This is the perfect carrot cake for a sweet treat or snack Travel food very well means this is the business—easy to pack, travel-friendly, and stores great!

Well-Cooked Eggs

Eggs can be made in many ways. An all-stage food travel: hard-boiled eggs (well-cooked)!

Ingredients

2 eggs

Instructions

Place eggs in the bottom of a saucepan and cover with cold water. Boil for 8-10 minutes to make hard-boiled eggs.
Let them cool before peeling.

Think this is a good travel tip: Hard-boiled eggs are quick to pack and full of protein! These greens are delicious eaten as is or chopped and used in other dishes.

Stuffed Paratha's

Paranthas are fried Indian flatbreads that could be stuffed or not. These can be made ahead of time for travel and kept cold or at room temp.

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
A 1/2 cup Boiled Potato Mashed
¼ Cup finely chopped spinach
Spices to taste (optional)

Instructions

Spacey dough flour mixed with water.
Take small balls of dough and fill them with mashed potatoes and spinach.
Fold the dough, cover with the filling, and roll out.
Fry in a hot griddle until golden brown, flip sides, and press down.

Must Try: Stuffed Paranthas is a great food for traveling because it is filling and can be easily eaten by hand. They are also freezable, so you can prepare it in advance and freeze a batch ready.

Cooked Pasta Shapes

Pasta shapes can be the perfect finger food for babies as they are so easy to grip and chew. Top with a little sauce or cheese if you desire

Ingredients

1 cup small pasta shapes
Cheese or sauce. Just a touch, if any

Instructions

Prepare pasta according to package directions.
Drain and let cool.

Pasta Shapes—They are awesome for traveling (i.e., snacking on the go). They are easy to transport and can be eaten alone or with a dab of cheese and sauce.

Bon Appétit: Packing Food for the Road Speaking of packing food, that post is one of my most popular—because if you thought bottling or breastfeeding was a full-time job, wait until you’re sitting in the back seat feeding a baby solid foods! But with a little bit of preparation and some easy recipes, you can ensure your baby has tasty food wherever the road takes you. And who knows? In fact, you may even like these travel foods as much as your little one!

So, no matter if your plans are for a quick trip away or a drive across the country, grab these travel baby food recipes and brave all you need. A happy baby is a much easier one to travel with, and when your baby goes down to their typical bedtime at night, you can put them in their safe Sleeping Beauty Baby Travel bassinet.