The Best Advice for Feeding Kids on Trips, Without Stressing

Top 10 Tips From Four Seasoned Parents

Hello my friends!

Last week I wrote to you from the car en route to the airport, headed to Scotland (where I included a healthy snack poster you’re going to want!).

Today, I’m writing from an airplane to Venice! 

We’ve just spent a week immersed with family travel, setting off from NYC with my twin sister Dimity, her husband, and two boys…

And landing in the home of my aunt, uncle, and two cousins in Greenock, Scotland, along with my father and his partner!

It was an absolutely heart-warming family reunion. We visited castles, coastal parks, the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and spent a good deal of time laughing and singing. 

Yes, SINGING!

My aunt and uncle are professional opera singers and vocal coaches, and growing up, my fondest memories with them were gathering around the piano to sing. I always look forward to this tradition when we’re together. 

While some sing-a-longs carried into the “wee” hours of the night with wine and whiskey, many took place with all fourteen of us around the dinner table. (Look out for videos coming in my Notes).

As I mentioned last week, eating while traveling LIGHTS ME UP. 

But eating on trips takes a different shape when traveling with kids. 

On my own, I’m typically able to make choices that optimize the way I feel, like a fruit-forward breakfast to balance a deep-fried “fish supper” (fish and chips lunch). I’m also accountable to myself if I make choices that leave me feeling less than chipper (hello, one too many glasses of wine). 

With children, however, I also have to help them recognize how their choices affect the way they feel, and eh hem, impact me (hello, four packets of Nutella on toast for breakfast, followed by huge meltdown). 

Luckily, I’m a bit seasoned in this department.

Notice, I didn’t say “perfect.” 

So are my twin sister and our husbands. 

We’ve been privileged to travel extensively with all four of our children since they were babies, and have noticed that our children’s eating patterns and appetites can be affected by a range of things, from nerves to jet lag.

FUN FACT: Did you know that since Dimity and I are identical twins, our kids are half-siblings? Mind blown.

With this in mind, we put together the following guidelines, which we use to help them - and us - stay healthy and sane while having fun!

These tips hold true for any type of travel, from long weekend road trips to multi-week international trips. 

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Top 10 Tips for Feeding Kids While Traveling

1. It’s vacation (aka, temporary). Don’t stress. 

2. If you’re traveling with another family, it’s helpful for the grown-ups to agree on boundaries ahead of time. For example, is dessert an option at every meal?

3. Surrender to the fact that they won’t eat many vegetables (especially when eating in restaurants). 

4. Always carry snacks that you know your children enjoy (we like to bring their favorite energy bars).

5. Always carry refillable water bottles, and offer water throughout the day as the primary source of drink and hydration.

6. Let your children try the local food and drink, even if that means soda. But limit juice and soda to accompany meals.

7. Consider restricting their souvenir allowance to non-edible items, while buying limited amounts of candy for them to sample. Make sure you try some too!

8. Schedule a mid-afternoon treat as a pick-me-up. For us, this usually means a pastry or gelato for the kids, and a beer or cocktail for the grown-ups.

9. Try to plan active days; chances are your children will work up appetites and be open to exploring new foods.

10. Traveling with other children, or eating in family-friendly places, often leads to kids inspiring each other to try new foods. 

11. BONUS TIP: Stock up on picnic foods from local markets, like charcuterie and cheese, fresh bread, fruits and vegetable. Not only does it save money, it gives you a little more control over what you’re eating. Our go-to sandwich is fresh bread with sliced tomato and cheese. Never fails.

I’d LOVE to hear if you have any tips to add to this list! Please share them with us in the comments below.

Next stop: family reunion in Italy with my mamma, siblings and their families, and our Italian cousins. (EEEE!!!) 

Abracci e baci,

♡ Emma

PS. This was in the airplane magazine. Great timing!