Traveling with children can be a lot of fun but if your child is selective about the food they eat or has a restricted diet due to food allergies or sensitivities, it is often stressful and traveling can even be challenging.
The good news? With a little preparation, you can reduce stress and focus on enjoying your time together. Whether you're taking a road trip, boarding a plane, or visiting extended family, these tips can help make traveling with your child easier and more enjoyable.
Before You Travel:
- Research nearby grocery stores to where you are staying so that you can shop or have groceries delivered.
- Check to see if your child’s favorite chain restaurant is close to where you are staying.
- If your child is brand specific due to preferences or allergies, keep in mind that products can vary by region, and ingredients may differ depending on where foods are manufactured. If this is a concern, you may want to ship nonperishable items to your stay within the country.
- Contact airlines, restaurants, theme parks, and/or resorts ahead of time to see if they can assist in accommodating your child's dietary needs.
- If your child is on a supplemental nutrition shake or formula and you are flying, you will need to contact the airline(s) ahead of time to see how they handle this process.
- When possible, stay at a place with a kitchen or kitchenette to allow for some simple meals. Having access to a refrigerator, microwave, or small kitchen area can make it much easier to prepare familiar meals and snacks throughout your trip.
- For international travel with any allergies in your family, consider carrying translated allergy cards that clearly explain dietary restrictions in the local language. These can be helpful when ordering meals or shopping for food abroad.
Tips for travel days (road or air):
- Create a snackle box (tackle-box-style, divided container) and fill it with preferred/safe treats. If adding perishable foods, you may need a cooler or ice pack. And if you have more than one child, you may need to pack personalized snackle boxes for each child.
- When flying, it may be easier to pack only nonperishable items.
- If appropriate, have your child help make the decisions of what foods they would like to bring.
- Maintain meal/snack schedule as best as possible and have a safe snack with you if needed.
- Travel delays happen. Bring extra snacks and enough food for the return trip to avoid unexpected challenges.
While you and your family are enjoying your trip:
- Focus on the experience and the fun, not the food.
- Don’t worry about your child not meeting their nutritional needs while on vacation. It is ok if a child does not eat well for a few days; this will not impact their overall nutrition.
- Keep it simple; this is not a good time to start a new food. But if your child is interested in trying a new food, let them (as long as there is no risk of an allergic reaction).
Follow Your Child's Lead
Vacation may not be the ideal time to actively work on expanding your child's diet. However, if your child shows interest in trying a new food, encourage exploration without pressure—as long as it is safe and appropriate given any allergies or dietary restrictions. Celebrate small successes too like eating in a new restaurant, sitting with family during a meal, or trying a different food.
