Taking care of a baby is challenging. Travelling with a baby is even more challenging. These challenges increase manifold when you don’t have any idea about what to pack so that your baby is happy and full and not even the slightest bit cranky on the trip.
Another concern arises when your baby is over 6 months old and hence has started to take in solid food. Moreover, you would not want to feed your baby food from outside sources. This might leave you in a fit, so take a deep breath because we’ve got you covered.
We bring to you a list of some GREAT travelling foods and recipes that will help you be the super-mom that you are. With these recipes in your hand, you can rest assured that you’re ready to conquer the world or wherever it is that you’re visiting. So let’s get started-
- Cerelac
- Fruit Purees
- Formula Milk/Breastmilk
- Porridge
- Oatmeal
- Khichdi
Now let’s have a detailed look at these food items in the article below. After that, we’ll discuss the Do’s and Don’ts of things you should keep in mind while travelling with the baby.
Here’s the list of Food items which you should carry while travelling with your baby –
1. CERELAC
This may be packaged or Homemade Cerelac. Cerelac of any kind is healthy, yummy and nutritious and very easy to prepare on the go.
Nestle claims, “Cerelac instant cereals include a range of nutritious, easily-digested instant cereals. Suitable as a complementary food for infants from six months onwards, when breast milk alone no longer meets the baby’s growing nutritional requirements”.
For making this, mix about 2-3 tablespoons of Cerelac powder in the required amount of warm milk that can be easily carried in a thermos flask and that’s just about it.
Cerelac, homemade or packaged, is not only a great source of nutrients but will keep the baby full for longer, thus eliminating the need of in-between snacking.
2. Fruit Purees
Fruit purees are the most loved substitute among mothers to start as first foods. These are highly nutritious, simple to prepare and easily digestible. Loaded with crucial vitamins and minerals, they make for excellent takeaway foods.
The most common are apple puree, mango puree and banana puree. To make a puree of any kind, all you need is a fruit and a fork. Simply mash the fruit in a clean bowl using a fork. You can add a little warm milk to make the consistency a little runny so that your baby is able to gulp it down with ease. There’s an old article on BabyGogo which describes Fruit Puree Recipes.
Purees make sure that your baby gets his/her share of nutrients. Also, they can be prepared on the go and hence are great for travel.
3. Formula Milk/Breastmilk
Milk is seen as a health drink for babies and adults alike. It serves as the “complete food” because it is rich in a range of nutrients. Therefore, it becomes but obvious to carry milk while away from home.
While travelling, breastfeeding is the first alternative that comes to mind. It is the most convenient and can be done anywhere. However, some might not feel comfortable doing it in a public place. In such cases, you can make use of a breast pump. It allows you to store your milk beforehand and use it as and when required.
If breastfeeding is not possible, another option is to carry formula milk. Formula milk can be prepared by mixing powdered formula with the desired amount of water.
One important thing to note is that Formula milk contains a protein called “Casein” which takes time to digest, hence formula-fed babies go longer between servings.
Ultimately it all comes down to you i.e. whether you want to choose formula or breastmilk. Regardless of what you choose, Milk needs to be an essential part of your baby’s diet and hence carrying milk with you while travelling with a baby is of utmost significance.
4. Porridge
Porridge is another wholesome option that comes in handy while on the go. Feeding porridge to your baby on a regular basis offers numerous benefits. Rich in fibre content, porridge also contains protein, magnesium, iron, zinc, antioxidants and vitamins B and E. These many benefits rolled into one can help boost the immune system and fight infection against diseases.
The most common of all porridges are rice porridge, oats porridge, wheat porridge, etc.
To make porridge-
- Boil some rice in a sufficient amount of water.
- Add freshly cut fruits like apples or bananas and let it cook for about 15 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and mash the mixture thoroughly. Make sure that there are no lumps.
- Your porridge is ready to eat.
- Once it gets cooled, store it in a container.
This porridge can be taken anywhere. Apart from being filling and highly nutritious, porridges are easily preparable and comforting to the taste buds. They make wonderful lunch and dinner meals for the little ones.
5. Oatmeal
Oats can be introduced your baby’s diet after he/she turns 6 months old. They are rich in fibre, protein and calcium and are soothing to your baby. It has been found that babies enjoy the taste of oatmeal cereal more than that of rice cereal. Now, if you want to make sure that your baby eats the food, be sure to pack their favourite oatmeal for the trip.
You can prepare their favourite oatmeal by-
- Boil water or breast milk in a pan.
- Add in oatmeal powder and stir continuously.
- Mashed fruits can be added if desired.
- Your oatmeal is ready. Let it cool and then pack.Also, oats can be mixed with other dishes like Cerelac or porridge for that extra goodness.
Oats are not only an extremely healthy option but keep the baby satiated for longer. These are super easy to make and can be prepared in a jiffy, thus making them as one of the best food choices for your baby for travelling.
6. Khichdi
What better way to feed your child something healthy, apart from the traditional Indian Khichdi. It is one of the best meals for your child, nutritious as well as yummy. This simple dish contains the nourishment of veggies, so you may not worry.
Khichdi can be prepared in advance and then packed for your trip. To make this yummy khichdi, follow the below steps:
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker and add some cumin seeds and cook till they turn brown.
- Add veggies of your choice and cook again for 4-5 minutes till the veggies become soft.
- Now, add in soaked rice and dal and repeat sauteing.
- Pour in water and salt as needed.
- Close the pressure cooker and let it whistle at least twice.
- Your khichdi is ready.
The above recipe makes for a great travel food as it is hassle-free and fill your baby’s tummies for sure.
DOs and DON’Ts:
Moms tend to be a little concerned about their tiny tots, especially when it comes to travelling. With a little help, you can certainly pull this through. To help you out, we have compiled a list of baby-feeding DOs and DON’Ts that can make your first travel with your baby a lot hassle-free-
- Always carry your own utensils like plates, spoons and cups. You should never risk using others’ utensils as you might not know if they’re clean or not.
- Ensure that your hands are always clean while feeding your baby. You certainly don’t want your baby catching any infection from you.
- Make sure you carry a bottle cooler/warmer. Using this, you can cool your baby’s bottles and heat them later when you need them.
- Do remember to carry placemats with you. This way you can be sure that you’re baby is eating off a clean surface.
- It is probably best if you carry homemade food for your baby. Your baby’s digestive system is delicate and may not get used to outside food.
- And lastly, enjoy. You’ve conquered this.
New mums find it very difficult as to what food items to be taken for their baby on a trip. We understand that this still might be challenging enough for you. This post is an attempt to guide you in the right direction.
Remember, we are here with you every step of the way. With the appropriate guidance, you will surely become a SUPERMOM for your baby.
All the best on this beautiful journey!
Article originally published on Babygogo