101 Best Travel-Friendly Snack Ideas for Toddlers & Kids
Planning a trip with a toddler? Snacks are non-negotiable! Packing the right travel snacks for toddlers can make your journey way smoother whether you’re going on a road trip, hopping on an airplane, or going to the beach. In this post, I’m sharing 101 best travel snacks for toddlers —perfect for short car trips, longer road trips, planes, hotels, beach days, picnics, playground, and more!
Between delays and long stretches in the car – toddlers can work up a serious appetite. It definitely helps to be ready with smart, satisfying options.
In this post, you’ll find shelf-stable favorites, protein-packed picks, mini meals, hydrating options, and more. Many of these snacks work great without a cooler, while others are easy to pack with an ice pack or insulated bag.
All of these ideas are easy, healthy, and cheap and I’ve included both store-bought options and homemade ideas. Whether you’re feeding a picky eater, a hungry 1-year-old, or a toddler who snacks like a teenager – there’s something here to keep your little one happy while you’re on the go!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your child’s pediatrician before making any changes to their diet or feeding approach, especially if you have concerns about nutrition, growth, or feeding difficulties. Read the full disclaimer here.
Tips for Picking Travel Snacks
When choosing the best travel snacks for toddlers, aim for options that are:
- Easy to prepare
- Nutritious
- Mess-free
- Easy for little hands to eat independently
- Sturdy enough to handle a diaper bag, backpack, or cooler
- Non-perishable if you’re traveling without a cooler
There are some foods that are just naturally better for travel in the car or airplane, like nut butters or crackers. Keep in mind the importance of protein and fiber—they help toddlers feel full and satisfied, especially during long car rides or flights. Avoid snacks that are too sticky, crumbly, or that need utensils.
Also, consider choking hazards, especially for kids under 3. Opt for soft textures or foods cut into small, toddler-safe pieces. The best travel snacks for toddlers should be easy, healthy, and homemade when possible—because you know exactly what’s inside!
Tips for Packing Toddler Snacks for the Airplane
Since airplane travel can be unpredictable, it’s helpful to bring a variety of options. Aim for snacks that are TSA-friendly, not too messy, and easy to access from your carry-on.
I love snacks like dry cereal, crackers, or nut butter pouches (under 3.4 oz) for airplane travel because they fit all of those requirements! Soft fruits like bananas or cut veggies can also work for shorter flights. Bring a small reusable snack container or silicone pouch for serving and avoid hard-to-open packaging.
For longer flights, consider packing a small sandwich, wrap, or one of the mini meals on the list below. Make sure to take plenty of water, milk or other beverages to keep kids hydrated. Milk or formula is allowed through security if you’re traveling with a young toddler or baby, but it’s always good to double check the most up-to-date TSA requirements before you head out.
One of the things I recommend to parents is having little ones chew on something during takeoff and landing to prevent ear discomfort during travel. Chewy snacks like homemade fruit leather or soft granola bars are perfect for this! Drinking something in a sippy cup or straw cup can also help.
Tips for Packing Toddler Snacks for Road Trips
The best road trip snacks for toddlers are those that are filling, non-messy, and easy to serve in a moving car. Bringing a cooler will help maximize the options of what you can bring with you
Focus on snacks that can double as mini meals, like sandwich pinwheels, string cheese with crackers, or homemade muffins. Use snack trays or silicone muffin liners to organize and separate items in a bento-style container. For extra convenience, pre-portion snacks into small reusable containers so they’re easy to grab and hand off.
It’s also a good idea to time snacks with rest stops. Use that time to serve anything that needs to be cut (like fruits) or may be a little more messy (like smoothies or PBJ sandwiches). Don’t forget to pack wipes, bibs, chip clips, and trash bags to manage cleanup!
Snack Tips for 1-Year-Olds
Traveling with a 1-year-old? Their snack needs are a little different. At this age, choking is still a big concern, so your travel snacks should be very soft, simple, and safe. Avoid anything hard, crunchy, or sticky.
Think mashed or soft fruits, like banana slices, steamed carrot sticks, or soft-cooked pasta. Dry cereal like O-shaped oat cereal is a great choice too. Homemade mini muffins or pouches of unsweetened applesauce can be other great options.
Avoid common choking hazards like whole grapes, large chunks of meat or cheese, and raw vegetables. Always supervise your little one while eating.
The 1-year milestone also marks the time where many babies transition from formula to cow milk. I highly recommend waiting until after you return from your trip to start new milk or foods to prevent any kind of adverse reaction while you’re traveling.
Non-Refrigerated Travel Snacks for Toddlers
Shelf-Stable Fruits
Fruits make easy and healthy travel snacks for toddlers! However, if you’re going without a cooler I recommend packing the whole fruit plus a knife and cutting the fruit just before eating for maximum freshness. Always slice into toddler-safe pieces to avoid choking hazards, especially for 1 year olds and younger toddlers.
- Bananas
- Apple
- Mandarin orange
- Grapes – do not give whole grapes since they can be a choking hazard
- Dried apricots – best for toddlers over 2 years old
- Raisins – best for toddlers over 2 years old
- Pear
- Freeze-dried strawberries – make sure to get a kid-friendly brand!
- Cherries (pitted) – do not give whole since it can be a choking hazard
Veggies
Yum, veggies make healthy and delicious travel snacks for toddlers! The veggies on this list can be taken on a road trip or plane without a cooler, but I would recommend eating them within a few hours while they’re still fresh.
Be mindful that you’re cutting the vegetables into sizes that your toddler can handle. Remember, kids should not eat raw vegetables until at least 18-24 months of age to prevent choking and large chunks of raw vegetables should be avoided until your child is a pro at chewing food.
As a side note, if you need help with adding raw vegetables into your toddler’s diet, check out this excellent post from MJ & Hungryman! Start with shredded veggies, then move on to super thin matchsticks, then thicker matchsticks.
10. Cucumber sticks
11. Carrot matchsticks
12. Snap peas
13. Grape tomatoes (halved or quartered)
14. Sweet bell pepper strips
Shelf Stable Sandwiches
Sandwiches and wraps are a great option if you’re looking for a more filling toddler snack for the plane or car. These sandwiches tend to do well without a cooler, but I would still recommend eating them within a few hours of preparation – especially the ones with veggies. Deli sandwiches must be refrigerated so avoid taking those without a cooler!
15. PB&J pinwheels or sandwich
16. Almond butter & honey sandwich – for over 1 year olds!
17. Nut butter sandwich with strawberries
18. Hummus & roasted red pepper sandwich
19. Jam sandwiches
20. Cucumber & hummus sandwiches
21. Graham cracker sandwich with peanut butter
Crackers & Baked Goods
You can buy many of these in the store, but if you have time you can make them at home for a healthy & fresh snack to bring along with you!
22. Ritz crackers or soft crackers for younger toddlers
23. Mini muffins – homemade or store-bought
24. Animal crackers
25. Graham crackers
26. Mini cookies
27. Mini rice cakes
28. Oatmeal cookies
29. Zucchini bread
30. Banana bread
31. Baked oatmeal bars
32. Seaweed snacks – make sure they’re not too crunchy for little ones!
33. Veggie straws
Protein & Energy Bites
34. Nut butter pouches
35. Mini toddler snack bars
36. Nut-free trail mix – homemade toddler-friendly recipes are the best!
37. Dry cereal – Cheerios are a great choice!
38. Puffed snacks – I love the Hippeas snacks!
39. Yogurt melts
40. Roasted chickpeas – for older toddlers only!
Treats & Fun Extras (in moderation!)
41. Mini marshmallows
42. Freeze-dried yogurt bites
43. Fruit puree pouches – just watch the added sugars!
44. Dried fruit chips
45. Goldfish crackers
Refrigerated Travel Snacks for Toddlers
The travel snacks on this list do best in a cooler or an insulated bag. For longer trips, I recommend a reliable hard-shell cooler like this one from Coleman because it’s high quality at an affordable price that can still store a lot of things. For shorter outings or plane travel, opt for an insulated soft bag like this one from Amazon that’s under $30!
Fresh Fruits
Make sure you’re cutting fruits and veggies to a toddler-appropriate size before serving!
- Watermelon cubes
- Cantaloupe cubes
- Honeydew melon cubes
- Blueberries – smash a little before giving to avoid choking
- Strawberries (hulled and halved)
- Kiwi slices
- Mango chunks
- Pineapple tidbits
- Peach slices
- Papaya cubes
Veggies & Dips
Most of the veggies mentioned in the non-refrigerated veggie section above will do great in a cooler as well! Here are some refrigerated dips that you can bring with you to dip those veggies in. Kids love dipping things!
- Celery sticks
- Zucchini sticks
- Edamame
- Hummus
- Yogurt-based ranch dip
- Cream cheese spread
- Cottage cheese cups with fruit
- Tzatziki dip
Cheese & Dairy
If your kid loves dairy, make sure to pack some of their favorite dairy items to bring as a travel snack! It’s important to make sure these products remain cold to prevent any food-borne illnesses. I recommend stuffing a lot of ice packs in your cooler if you’re going to take dairy products, especially yogurts or smoothies.
64. String cheese
65. Laughing Cow cheese wedges
66. Babybel cheese rounds
67. Cheese cubes
68. Yogurt tubes
69. Yogurt cups – makes a great snack with fresh fruit!
70. Drinkable yogurt bottles
71. Cottage cheese with fruit
72. Homemade smoothies
Protein Snacks
73. Hard-boiled eggs (peeled)
74. Strips of grilled chicken
75. Rotisserie chicken bites
76. Mini meatballs
77. Tuna salad with crackers
78. Chicken and cheese skewers – take them off the stick before serving!
79. Tofu cubes
80. Mini lentil patties
81. Beans and rice balls
Sandwiches & Wraps That Need a Cooler
82. Turkey and cheese roll-ups or sandwich
83. Ham and cheese roll-ups or sandwich
84. Chicken salad sliders or pinwheels
85. Tuna salad sliders or pinwheels
86. Mini pita pockets with hummus
87. Veggie + cream cheese sandwiches – cucumber & cream cheese is my fave!
88. Avocado & turkey wraps
89. Cheese sandwich
Mini Meals for Toddlers
90. Pasta salad
91. Tortellini salad
92. Rice or orzo salad
93. Pancakes
94. Waffles
95. Mini quesadillas
96. Bento box meals
Toddler-Approved Drinks
97. Water bottles – lots of them to stay hydrated!
98. Coconut water
99. Pedialyte – you can even make them into popsicles for a treat!
100. Shelf-stable milk boxes – love the ones from Horizon
101. Fruit-infused water
I hope you enjoyed this post on the best travel snacks for toddlers! Whether you’re heading to the beach, taking a road trip, or going on a plane with your little one, these easy and healthy toddler snacks are sure to make your journey a lot easier. Don’t forget to save or pin this post for later! And if you’re looking for more kid-friendly food ideas and toddler meal inspiration, subscribe to The Tiny Spork for weekly tips straight to your inbox!
