When we planned our vacation after my baby arrived, I was thrilled beyond words. But beyond all the excitement and happiness, there was this fear that was eating me up too. I had seen so many moms carry rice cookers and pressure cookers, pots and pans while on a short holiday so they could cook for their little ones. That honestly, is not a holiday! Yes, every mom worries about what their kids will eat while on holiday. Strange food, stranger locales, how their child will adjust. But all you need to enjoy your holiday and make sure your child eats right – is to pack the right food. One piece of advice: leave the pressure cooker back at home. So in addition to breastmilk or formula, we have a complete list of what you can pack and how you can pack for your trip so you can rest assured your baby won’t go hungry.
Fruit Purees
Fruits come handy during long hauls. They are light on the stomach, hygienic and can be given anytime. Apples are babies’ best friends! So make use of them. Make an apple puree and feed your baby, a meal rich in Vitamin C and fibre. Other purees you can carry along include avocado, plum, blueberry, strawberry, papaya, and pear. However, purees have a very short shelf life. If you wish to feed your baby bananas, always carry a ripe one in hand and mash it using a fork or knife to prevent them from getting oxidised or turning brown.
How To Pack: Purees tend to spill during travel. So pack them in an airtight container.
Image source: Pinterest
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Yoghurt
Yoghurt can be healthy and filling, so consider carrying them along. You could also opt for flavoured ones. However, make sure you double check the expiry date and also store it in a cool place. Or freeze yoghurt and then it also doubles as an ice pack to carry other foods!
How To Pack: Most of the ones sold in the market come well-packed for travel purpose. But if you are carrying homemade yoghurt, make sure you carry it in an airtight container, so that it does not spill or turn sour.
Image source: Pinterest
Rice Porridge Powder
Rice is one of the first grains babies are introduced to and it can be your saviour while travelling. While it might be impossible to go hunting for a cooker while you are holidaying, carrying along a powder can solve your problem. Soak rice in water. After draining and drying it, roast it well and grind it. Add a handful of roasted, bengal gram to this and store the mixture in a dry container. Simply mix this powder with hot water, or add water and let it cook in a microwave and an instant wholesome meal is absolutely ready for your baby!
How To Pack: You can pack the powder in a small ziplock so you can pack individual portions or an airtight container.
Image source: Pinterest
Elaichi Wheat Dalia Porridge
Dry roast elaichi, dalia and roasted fried gram. Grind all the ingredients into a fine powder and store in an airtight box. Take a heap full of the powder and mix with warm water. You could also top it with bananas or apples to increase the nutritional quotient and make the meal a wholesome one.
How To Pack:Â Pack individual portions in tiny zip lock pouches.
Image source: Pinterest
Moong Dal Ragi Porridge
Dry roast moong dal, ragi and some ground nuts. Store the powder in an airtight container. Now, mix this powder with some warm water or milk, while stirring constantly. You could also add some elaichi powder to make it sweet or some salt and pepper if your baby likes it salty. Ragi is the first grain most babies are introduced to. So they are perfectly safe for the tummy and delicious too!
How To Pack: Pack individual portions in tiny zip lock pouches.
Image source: Pinterest
Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are easy on the stomach and nutritious too. Just steam them, fry them or toss them in some oil and there’s nothing better than this travel-friendly snack. You could also cut them out into cubes so that it is easy for your baby to hold.
How To Pack: If you are baking it, then consider packing each in a separate foil like a chocolate wrapped in paper. This way you can pull out one at a time. Ziplocks, airtight boxes and finger food boxes also make your job easy.
Image source: Pinterest
Blanched Veggies
Vegetables like peas, beans, broccoli, carrots, and beetroots taste great when blanched. Blanching also makes it easier for babies to eat and also brings out their vibrant colours, taking away the raw flavour and texture. Do not add salt before packing, as it can spoil the food. You could also mix up all the veggies and make a colourful salad.
How To Pack: Airtight containers are the best way to carry blanched veggies. Make sure you consume them in a short while, though.
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Ragi Laddoo
Ragi is so versatile! If your baby already likes porridge, try this simple and delicious recipe. Ragi tastes great when made as laddoos. Rich in fibre and iron, these laddoos are sure to keep the little tummy happy for longer. Check the full recipe here.
How To Pack: Zip lock covers, airtight containers
Image source: vegrecipesofindia.com
Frozen Food
No, we don’t mean the ones you get in supermarkets. Did you know that you can freeze your baby’s usual food and carry them along? Yes, you heard us right! Foods like berries, veggies, sweet potatoes, lentil stew, and mashed cauliflower can be frozen and used while travelling. Simply blanch the veggies, dry them completely and freeze in zip lock pouches. The same can be done for fruits too. However, fruits need not be blanched.
How To Pack: Plastic freezer bags
Image source: hauteapplepie.files.wordpress.com
Oatmeal
Baby oatmeal cereal can be handy while travelling. Simply mix with warm water and milk for a quick breakfast or you can use it for thickening their morning fruit-and-yogurt or any frozen purees that defrost a bit on the watery side. Baby finger snacks like fruit puffs and rice puffs are also good to go.
How To Pack: These dry ingredients can easily be stored and carried in convenient spill-proof boxes.
Image source: becomeabetter.files.wordpress.com
Food Tips While Travelling
-Never introduce new foods while travelling. Remember, babies take a long time to get used to a certain food and can also react to foods.
-Taste before you feed. Even if you have packed homemade snacks, always taste before you feed your kid. This way you are double sure it is not spoilt.
-Baby food jars come can handy while travelling. Tinned foods can be go-to while travelling. So always have a backup.
-Don’t forget the liquids. While solid foods always stay on our minds, liquids are important too as babies are bound to get dehydrated during long hauls. Carry plenty of juices and water.
-If your baby is used to formula, make sure you pack it.
Image Source:Â Oh She Glows
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KSP Team
Parul Gupta
Rati Ramadas Girish
Mansi Zaveri
