TRAVEL SNACKS FOR TODDLERS
We’ve been traveling full-time with our toddler for nearly two years, and we’ve learned the most important thing to pack for him is snacks. Our 2-year-old is not a pleasant little guy when he’s hungry, so we put together our favorite airplane snacks for toddlers to help other parents.
Disclosure: Kindly be aware that certain links provided below may be affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It’s important to note that I am an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying purchases. For the comprehensive disclosure statement, please click here.
The snacks in this list are the snacks we pack for our toddler when we have a flight or plan on taking a long car ride.
We don’t recommend anything we aren’t willing to allow our son to eat, but depending on your child’s diet, they may or may not work for you.
Our little guy is allergic to peanuts, so we didn’t include anything with peanuts. Although peanuts and peanut butter is a great toddler snacks for plane rides.
Without further ado, here are our favorite airplane snacks for toddlers.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
QUICK LIST OF TODDLERS SNACKS FOR AIRPLANES
These are the types of snacks we bring when we fly with our toddler. Here is a quick list of some of the best travel snacks for toddlers.
- Goldfish Crackers
- Pretzels
- Veggie Straws
- Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies
- Animal Crackers
- Dried Fruit
- Quacker Rice Cakes
- Honey-Nut Cheerios
- Pea Snaps
- Pirate Botty Cheddar Puffs
- Yogurt Pouches
- Almonds
- Apple Sauce Pouches
- Apple Slices
- Grapes (sliced)
- Juice Boxes (sugar-free)
- Fruit Leather
- Gogurt
- Animal Crackers
- Chex Mix
- Wheat Thins
- Sandwiches
- Fruit Snacks
- Graham Crackers
- Mac and Cheese
- Raisins
- Homemade Trail Mix
- Slim Jim Minis (Our son loves these)
- Surprise Eggs (Our secret weapon)
Toddler Snack Containers
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
SOMEWHAT HEALTHY AIRPLANE SNACKS FOR TODDLERS
Honestly, some of the snacks we give our son on travel day aren’t always healthy. It’s difficult to always eat healthy on the go, but we try to limit the junk food he eats during travel days.
When traveling internationally, you can’t bring uncooked produce from other countries. That means fruit and veggies aren’t always a great snack option when flying with toddlers.
Note: If you are traveling internationally with uncooked fresh fruit, remember it has to be eaten before going through customs, or you have to throw it away.
Goldfish Crackers
- THE SNACK THAT SMILES BACK: A family favorite for generations, Goldfish Cheddar Cheese Crackers are fun, fish-shaped snack crackers with a smile
- INGREDIENTS YOU CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT: These baked cheese snacks are made with 100% real cheese and no artificial flavors or preservatives
- FOR KIDS AND KIDS AT HEART: The great taste and fun, bite-sized shape of Goldfish crackers make them the perfect at-home or on-the-go snacks for kids and adults
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our son LOVES Goldfish, and we’ve been lucky to find them in Playa Del Carmen (although they are expensive **angry face**).
These are his absolute favorite snack right now, so we always have a bag when we plan on flying with our toddler.
We recently found the rainbow Goldfish and he loves to play with them while he eats. It’s a great way to keep your toddler busy while traveling.
Pretzel Sticks
No products found.
Our toddler is a salt lover. I may have contributed to that because I craved salt that you wouldn’t believe while I was pregnant.
Not he loves anything with salt, which includes pretzels. We prefer the sticks because they take up less space, and you can fit more inside their bowls.
I’m also slightly addicted to pretzels, so these make a great snack for parents and toddlers while flying.
Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies
- ANNIE'S SNACKS VARIETY PACK: Three snackable, tasty options - Cheddar Bunnies, Bunny Grahams and Cheddar Squares
- WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: They're made with no artificial flavors or synthetic colors
- CERTIFIED ORGANIC: Certified organic ingredients for the goodness you'd expect from Annie's Organic snacks
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
When we are in the US, we typically buy Annie’s brand from Target. Our son loves their mac and cheese, plus everything is organic.
This brand is pricier than others, but being organic and gluten-free is a huge win for some parents. Plus, they taste good.
Annie’s Organic Animal Cookies
- Pirate's Booty are all natural, baked, and delicious snacks for the whole family.
- Free from fryers, trans fat, and gluten our snacks are sure to keep you snacking minus the guilt.
- Pirate's Booty snacks are a great addition to any kids lunch box or keeping a stash in your cupboard.
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
When our son stopped eating regular animal crackers, we switched to Annie’s Organic Animal Cookies and he’s been gobbling them up ever since.
We love this brand for kids, it’s one of our favorite snack brands for our toddler. We put a handful of these in his snack container, and he’s a happy traveler.
Honey-Nut Cheerios
- HAPPY HEART SHAPES: Honey Nut Cheerios with heart shaped cereal pieces is a tribute to heart healthy choices; Get one box for you and one to give to someone you love
- HEART HEALTHY CEREAL: Three grams of soluble fiber daily from whole grain oat foods in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease; Honey Nut Cheerios provides .75g soluble fiber per serving
- WHOLE GRAIN: Every serving of this toasted whole grain oat cereal provides 22g whole grain (at least 48g recommended daily)
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
We didn’t allow our son to eat Cheerios until he was 2-years-old because I was afraid of the choking hazard.
Now that he is nearly 3, he eats Cheerios for breakfast when we have an early morning flight.
They’re quick, easy, affordable, and good which makes them the perfect airplane snack for toddlers.
Rice Cakes
No products found.
We bought rice cakes when I was on my journey to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, and to our surprise, our toddler demanded a bite.
Ever since then, he’s been eating rice cakes as one of his snacks when we travel. It’s the perfect healthy snack for toddlers and parents when flying.
I prefer the lightly salted with almond butter, but there are other flavors available.
Cheddar Puffs
- Pirate's Booty are all natural, baked, and delicious snacks for the whole family.
- Free from fryers, trans fat, and gluten our snacks are sure to keep you snacking minus the guilt.
- Pirate's Booty snacks are a great addition to any kids lunch box or keeping a stash in your cupboard.
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pirate Booty Cheddar Puffs are a great alternative to Cheetos, which we rarely allow our son to eat.
Cheetos are messy and aren’t that great for little ones so we’ve found a great substitute that’s less messy and better for kids.
Our son also loves everything white cheddar, so that’s a huge plus for him.
Pea Snaps
- DIG IN. VEG OUT: At Harvest Snaps we are all about the good stuff. We make tasty and healthy snacks without being sinful. All our vegetable chips & crisps are packed with goodness and big-time flavor.
- HEALTHIER SNACKING: Our veggie chips are made with wholesome, plant-based ingredients for a gluten-free, non-GMO vegan snack experience. An excellent healthy snack for adults & kids that everyone can enjoy.
- ENJOY A HEALTHY GUILT-FREE SNACK: Veggie chips with a super satisfying crispy texture packed with plant-based protein for sustained energy. Enjoy a healthy, guilt-free snack with every crunch.
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I started eating Harvest Snaps Lightly Salted Green Pea Snack Crisps when I started losing weight and wanted to find an alternative to chips.
Who would have thought our toddler would steal them and he’d actually like them?
These are now included in our rotating airplane snacks for toddlers.
Cut Fruit
We always travel with some form of fruit, Lately, we’ve been traveling with peach and plus, but we usually have a banana or apple.
Fruit is a great way to fill your toddler’s belly while traveling. Plus, it’s a healthier alternative than chips or candy.
Remember, if you are traveling internationally your toddler has to each the fruit before getting off the plane in the new country.
We forgot a banana in the bottom of our stroller and the dog detected it when we were grabbing our suitcases. We had to throw the banana away before we were allowed to leave the airport.
Although it’s an innocent mistake, it’s important not to being fresh produce into other countries.
Snack Pouches
- FUN & COLORFUL FOOD STORAGE: Squooshi reusable food pouch provides you the feeding freedom to make it your way, every day. These animal printed pouches can be used for many times, perfect solutions to save money and natural resources. A better alternative to single-use disposable pouches, simply fill, eat, wash, and repeat!
- MADE OF DURABLE MATERIAL: Our reusable snack bags are made to last with durable, BPA-free, Phthalate, PVC & Lead-free materials with a no choke cap. These food pouches are completely leak-proof. Airtight double zip closure keeps food fresh and liquids contained. Little hands can't squeeze the pouch open.
- REFILLABLE FOOD POUCH: These reusable snack bags has a top spout and curved shape with a wide bottom opening allow you to easily fill your pouches with your favorite snack food like puree, yogurt, smoothie, apple sauce, or fruity frozen slush by using a spoon or pour directly into the pouch. No funnels or accessories are needed.
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pouches are so convenient when traveling with a toddler or baby. We prefer to fill reusable pouches because it’s cheaper, but there are a lot of pouches for toddlers and they’re great airplane snacks for little ones.
If you are taking a long-haul flight with a toddler, I recommend freezing the pouches and allowing them to thaw in a bag. It’ll keep everything colder longer, so you don’t have to worry about your little one eating warm yogurt or applesauce.
Related Post: Traveling with Frozen Breast Milk
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Juice Boxes
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
We’ve been traveling with our son since he was 8-weeks-old, and we’ve always been able to get liquid through for him.
Even now at nearly 3-years-old, we’ve gone through security with juice boxes for our toddler.
We’ve even gotten lucky with a few bottles of water, but it doesn’t always work. Having small juice boxes for toddlers can get through security, just have them in a cleat bag for security to check.
Our son drinks a lot of liquid, so we always have a lot for him to drink.
I know there are drinks on the airplane, but our son is picky, plus when you fly on budget airlines with kids the price of something to drink is ridiculous.
We fill his sippy cup with water and bring a few juice boxes with us.
Fruit Leather
No products found.
Our son ate Stretch Island Fruit Leather Snacks for a while before we allowed him to have candy. He didn’t have his first piece of candy until he was 2-years-old.
These are great alternatives to fruit snacks or fruit roll-ups. I like them, but our son won’t eat them anymore. Maybe you’ll have more luck with your little ones.
OUR FAVORITE AIRPLANE TREATS FOR TODDLERS
The snacks in this section are rewards that we use when traveling with our toddler.
These are the things that he isn’t allowed to eat on a regular basis, so he’s excited to eat them when we are on an airplane.
They’re the perfect “bribe” for those crazy moments when traveling with a toddler. Don’t feel guilty, sometimes you have to negotiate with your little one and that’s okay.
Fruit Snacks
- Made with real fruit
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Welch’s Fruit Snacks are a fun treat for toddlers when traveling, especially when they don’t get them too often.
Honestly, I like to have a pack to myself, so we get the individual packs so I don’t have to share.
Even though he has his own fruit snacks, our 2-year-old always manages to bully me into giving him mine too.
Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks
- FRUIT SNACKS: Certified Organic, these gluten free bunny-shaped fruit snacks are made with real fruit juice and packed with 100% daily value of vitamin C
- REAL INGREDIENTS: No artificial flavors, synthetic colors, or high fructose corn syrup
- CERTIFIED ORGANIC: Made with real organic fruit juice. Certified organic ingredients are grown without persistent pesticides
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
For families looking for an organic option, Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks are just what your toddler needs.
These fruit snacks are a vegan, gluten-free, so you can let your toddlers enjoy without the guilt. It’s the perfect toddler airplane snack.
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
No products found.
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars are full of sugar, so we don’t give them to our son too often.
They are great as a quick snack while flying with your toddler. I love the peanut butter and chocolate ones, but this list is about the best airplane snacks for toddlers, not me.
Dum Dums
- Pops: Value Pack of 2 Original Dum Dums Pops
- Multicolor Packaging: Contains 10.8 Ounce of Assorted Flavors
- Bag of 2 Pops: Perfect for Sharing at Parties and Events
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
We always have Dum Dums ready if we know we’re going to have a long travel day. It’s a nice treat for our little guy, especially if he had a good flight.
I don’t see anything wrong with rewarding your toddler while traveling. We’ve learned to compromise on our expectations and give him more patience when we travel.
Surprise Eggs
- TREAT plus TOY: Discover the fun of Kinder Joy and enjoy a delicious treat on one side of the egg and a surprise real toy on the other. Great for pantry storage, this pack includes a total of 15 individually wrapped Kinder Joy eggs
- FLAVORFUL COMBINATION: This tasty treat has two layers of creamy deliciousness—one cocoa and one sweet cream. Plus, there are two crispy, chocolatey-covered wafer bites filled with cocoa cream
- LOADS OF FUN: Give your kids the delicious egg treat with a surprise toy inside. Each egg comes with a unique toy inside, with over 100 to discover.
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our son loves to watch surprise eggs, so he’s fallen in love with Kinder JOY Eggs. He saw them one day at the store, and he’s been asking for them ever since.
We take these every once and a while for long flights. He eats some of the chocolate, but it’s all about the toy inside.
He likes to reinact the YouTube show, so that keeps him busy for a little while. It’s adorable to watch him get excited about the surprise inside.
OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL SNACK CONTAINERS FOR TODDLER
We’ve gone through a few contains since we started traveling full-time. I’m not sure what keeps happening, but they get lost along the way.
I can’t say we lost them all while traveling. As our son has gotten older, we’ve changed some of the containers to keep him from dumping everything over and laughing.
Here our a few of our favorite snack containers for toddlers.
Full Circle ZipTuck
- SET OF 2 REUSABLE BAGS: Our Ziptuck Snack Bag set is a great way to banish disposable food baggies; Designed to perfectly store and transport your snacks when you’re on the go; each 7" x 4.6", 1.5 cups, 12.17 oz
- LEAK-PROOF & AIRTIGHT: The food storage bags have a secure Ziptuck closure, which has an air-tight ‘lock’ seal designed to keep your food fresh; the travel bags are also leak-proof and suitable for liquids
- STYLE AND FUNCTION: Finished with a choice of patterns, the food-safe reusable snack bags stand upright when in use for easy filling, and flatten for easy packing and storage
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
We’ve been using reusable snack bags for years. We recently found the Full Circle ZipTuck brand and love them.
These are the bags that we use when we send our son to school. There are different sizes and designs, so you’ll find exactly what you need.
They’re perfect for storing snacks when traveling with a toddler.
Snack Attack Snack Cup
- Made for Families: BPA Free, Phthalate Free, Latex Free. Soft silicone material. Flaps will not bite little hands reaching in and easy for baby to pull out snacks.
- Spill Proof: Shake, rattle and throw and the snacks still stay inside! Large holding handle with no slip grip technology.
- Durability:100% Silicone will not break, unlike plastic parts on the majority of snack cups.
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Snack Attack Snack Cup is perfect for kids that like to dump out their snacks. We had this bowl for a little while when our son wanted to put his snacks on the floor and eat them.
Skip Hop Snack Cup
- Perfect for toting munchies, this cute cup encourages independent snacking without the mess. The easy-grip handle is sized just right for little hands, and the snap top lid ensures food stays fresh
- The flexible inside opening keeps snacks from spilling out - even if it's tipped over. With two lids there's less mess and mom's bag stays crumb-free!
- Featuring: Snap-top lid to keep snacks fresh, Screw off top for easy cleaning, Easy-grip/no-slip handle, & Clear body to see when refill is needed
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Skip Hop Snack Cup is a cute travel cup for toddlers. This snack cup has a large capacity to fit everything you need to fly with your toddlers.
Munchkin Snack Catcher
- Spill proof toddler snack container with soft flaps for easy food access
- Fits most standard cup holders in cars, car seats, strollers, etc.
- Great for home, daycare or on the go use
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Munchkin Snack Catcher are the most popular snack containers for toddlers. They are affordable and easy for little ones to use.
I will caution you that your toddler may be able to pop the top off, so you have to keep an eye on them.
When our son was 17-months-old, he had a blast opening his snack containers and pouring out his crackers. We had to transition to another bowl after he learned how to take the top off.
GoBe Kids Snack Spinner
- SNACK. SPIN. REPEAT - Make snacking a breeze with 5 snacking compartments with interactive button. Combine your snack bowls and cups into one light-weight, easy to use container!
- PORTION PERFECT - Each compartment holds 1/4 cups of solid food. Use to increase variety, make balanced eating fun, and entice children to try new foods in a fun, no pressure way.
- SAFE & EASY TO CLEAN - All materials are BPA and PVC Free for a worry free feeding solution. Made from durable polypropylene. Top rack dishwasher safe.
Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
GoBe Kids Snack Spinner are perfect for traveling with older toddlers. They can be responsible for their snacks inside their travel backpacks.
TIPS FOR GETTING THROUGH SECURITY WITH SNACKS
There is a certain way to pack travel snacks for flying. Trust us, it will make getting through TSA a lot easier, especially with a toddler in tow.
Here are our tips for getting through TSA easily with snacks.
1. Use original packaging, if possible
Keeping everything in the original bag is easier, but if you buy in bulk you can use reusable bags.
TSA usually doesn’t check too closely if snacks are in their original packing, which means you’ll get through security faster.
2. Pack your snacks inside a clear bag
Put all of your snacks inside of a large reusable bag. You can then put that bag in the security bin.
It’s likely to get pulled, so it’s a lot easier to have everything in one place when you have to stuff it back into your bag.
3. Keep all snacks in one bag
Unless you are traveling with older kids, I recommend storing all your snacks in one bag.
It may be easier to put your toddler’s snacks in their backpack, but keeping everything in one place to get through security is the best choice.
You can distribute the snacks when you get to the gate, but pack them in your bag to get through security to make your life easier.
4. Have a separate bag for juice boxes
We have gotten through security with juice for our toddler.
The key is to have small juice boxes that are unopened. Don’t get carried away three or four should suffice, depending on how many little ones you are traveling with.
We’ve gotten lucky with some larger liquids such as Pedicure, but I wouldn’t risk a large bottle of water.
If they questioned, we typically say he has a special diet, and the airport doesn’t have what he needs to drink.
This strategy has worked for us for the last three years, so hopefully, we’ll be able to keep doing it until he’s 5-years-old.