✈️🚂Travel Snacks for Babies and Toddlers

Travelling with a toddler sounds exciting… until it’s snack time.
And if you're a toddler mom like me, you know snack time is anytime. 😅

Recently, we went on a little trip, and I prepped a bunch of homemade travel snacks for my 16-month-old. The goal?
👉 Keep it mess-free
👉 Avoid packet food
👉 Balance nutrition + fun

So here's what I packed, how I made them, and some more snack ideas if you're planning your next baby-friendly journey!

🍿 What I Packed for My 16-Month-Old:

1️⃣ Roasted Makhana in Ghee

( 8 months plus)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fox nuts (makhana)

• 1 tsp ghee

• A pinch of salt

• Optional: pinch of jeera powder or ajwain

Steps:

1. Heat ghee in a non-stick pan.

2. Add makhana and roast on low flame for 5–7 minutes, stirring often.

3. Sprinkle salt (and optional jeera powder) once they're crisp.

4. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

🧒 Can be given from 8+ months (crushed), 10+ months (whole, if chewing is strong).

2️⃣ Ragi Murmura (Ragi Puffs) in Ghee (9 months plus)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ragi puffed rice (ragi murmura)

• 1 tsp ghee

• 1 pinch turmeric

• 1 pinch salt

Steps:

1. Heat ghee in a pan.

2. Add ragi murmura and stir well.

3. Sprinkle turmeric and salt. Roast for 2–3 minutes till coated evenly.

4. Cool and store.

🧒 Introduce from 9+ months in small quantities.

3️⃣ Homemade Granola with Peanut Butter & Raisins (12 months plus)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1 tbsp nut powder (almond, cashew, walnut mix)

• 2 tbsp grated dry coconut (optional)

• 2 tbsp chopped raisins

• 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter (unsweetened)

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

Steps:

1. Dry roast oats and nut powder for 5 minutes on low flame.

2. Add grated coconut and stir until lightly golden.

3. Turn off the heat and let it cool for 2 mins.

4. Mix in peanut butter, raisins, and dates/jaggery.

5. Let it cool fully, then break into clusters.

🧒 Best after 12+ months due to peanut butter and raisins.

4️⃣ Poha Premix (Instant Travel Meal) (9 months plus)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup thin poha (flattened rice)

• 1 tsp oil or ghee

• ¼ tsp mustard seeds

• 5–6 curry leaves

• Pinch of turmeric

• Pinch of salt

• Optional: crushed peanuts

Steps:

1. Heat ghee, crackle mustard seeds, and fry curry leaves.

2. Add turmeric and salt.

3. Stir in poha and roast lightly for 3–4 minutes.

4. Add crushed peanuts if using.

5. Cool and store.

To Serve While Traveling:
Just add hot water, cover for 5 minutes, and it’s ready to eat.

🧒 Can be introduced around 9+ months if baby is familiar with poha texture.

5️⃣ Homemade Cheese Sticks (Baked)(12 months plus)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup grated mozzarella cheese

• ¾ cup whole wheat flour

• ¼ tsp baking powder

• A pinch of salt

• ½ tsp oregano (optional)

• 1–2 tbsp water (as needed)

Steps:

1. Mix cheese, flour, baking powder, salt, and oregano in a bowl.

2. Add water little by little to form a soft dough.

3. Roll out the dough and cut into thin strips.

4. Bake at 180°C for 12–15 minutes until golden.

5. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

🧒 Ideal from 12+ months – firm enough to chew, soft enough to bite.

6. Brown Rice Cakes(best from 9 months)

🍘 Other Travel Snack Ideas You Can Try:

• Homemade Nuts & Seeds Laddoos (from 12 months) – Use nuts and seeds powder and soft dates. Avoid whole nuts.

• Suji Rusk (from 12 months) - Crunchy, light and perfect snack with Milk!

• Mini Mathris (from 12 months) – Baked with wheat flour and ajwain. A great munchy option.

• Jowar Puffs (from 10 months) – Light and crunchy, can be seasoned with mild spices.

• Mini Idlis (from 8 months) – One of the easiest finger foods for travel.

• Stuffed Paratha Strips (from 11 months) – Aloo, dal, or paneer rolled and cut into strips.

• Oats & Banana Cookies (from 10 months) – Eggless and sugar-free preferred.

• Steamed Sweet Potato Cubes (from 8 months) – Tossed in ghee and jeera.

• Energy Balls (Dates + Nuts) (from 12 months) – Only with powdered nuts and soft texture.

• Dry Khichdi Mix (from 10 months) – Add hot water and you're done!

• Boiled Egg Slices (from 12 months) – Non-veg families can try yolk earlier.

• Veggie Sticks (Carrot, Cucumber) (from 12 months) – Raw veggies only under supervision.

💼 Pro Packing Tips for Travel Snacks:

• Use small snack boxes, silicon pouches, or tiffins to pack each item.

• Carry a mini thermos/flask to store hot water for poha or khichdi.

• Pack extra wipes, a bib, and a small clean mat for snacking stops.

• Keep water, coconut water or buttermilk in a sipper.

• Offer food when the baby is seated and supervised (even on trains and flights!).

💬 Final Thoughts:

Traveling with toddlers doesn’t have to mean, messy meals or sugar overload.
A little prep goes a long way — and trust me, a well-fed toddler = a peaceful parent (well… mostly 😅).

Try a few of these homemade travel snacks on your next trip — they’re healthy, easy, and baby-approved!

Let me know your favorite travel snacks in the comments or tag me if you try these!
Safe travels and happy snacking, supermoms!

Love,
Swati | Nivu & Vayu