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Traveling with a fussy eater can indeed feel like a daunting task, especially when you're preparing for a long flight. The limited food options on planes can make things even more challenging. However, with a bit of preparation and creativity, you can transform the journey into an enjoyable adventure for both you and your picky eater.

Here we explore some practical tips and ideas to ensure your child stays content and well-fed throughout the flight

Pre-Order Special Meals

Most airlines offer special meal options like vegetarian, gluten-free, or child-friendly meals. While these may not align perfectly with your child's taste, they're often better than the standard in-flight fare. Some airlines even provide kids' meals featuring favorites like pasta or chicken nuggets.

Even if the main dish isn't a hit, remember to check the sides and dessert. The airline will often include sides of fresh fruit, yogurt, bread, cakes, or biscuits that your child will enjoy - and you can always ask for extras which sometimes will be provided if they have enough.

BYO Meal

If your child has specific dietary requirements, or if you're a super-organized parent or caregiver, consider bringing your own meal. A small cooler bag with an appropriate mix of protein, carbs, fruit, and dairy can be a fantastic option.

We suggest considering individually wrapped kids’ cheese, hard-boiled eggs, mini sausages, crackers, cold pasta pots, sandwiches, blueberries, apple slices, yogurt and cheese.

We love these neat Hydroflask food jars, which keep food either hot or cold for 12-24 hrs, and are super leakproof! A lifesaver for flights and long bus journeys! Once the flight is over, you can reuse them on the trip for all sorts of hot or cold snacks. Take a look here!

Just ensure it complies with the airline's security regulations. This way, you can guarantee that your child has a meal that meets their needs and preferences.

Hot, Filling Options for kids of all ages

Consider adding some 'just add hot water' food options to your carry-on, especially if you have teenagers who may want to eat between the scheduled flight mealtimes.

Pot Oats, Rice Pots, or Pot Noodles are all great options, relatively light to carry and airlines all offer hot water and spoons on request.

Cereal loving Children

Adding a couple of the small variety pack-sized boxes of cereal is a great and easy option for travel.

Not always well known, but the plastic inner in many of these packs is leak-proof and designed so that you can pour milk directly into it! However, this may be best avoided if you don’t want to be covered in soggy cereal!

Many children and teens will also eat their favorite cereals as dry snacks with no milk, which works as a distraction and time killer and distraction if needed on take-off or landing too!

Pack Snacks for Variety

One of the simplest ways to keep your fussy eater satisfied during the flight is by packing a selection of their favorite snacks. Dried foods that don’t need chilling are always easiest to transport.

Bringing a variety of options can keep things interesting and prevent boredom. Here are some snack ideas that kids often enjoy:

1. Fruits that don’t need to be kept cool – bananas, apples, apricots and pears. We strongly recommend these cool banana cases which we have used for both long trips and just days out. Not a very conventional travel item, but they are surprisingly brilliant!

2. Dried fruit snacks – kids love the ones wound into Yoyos or cut into shapes, but a bag of raisins or dried banana chips are just as good.

3. Cereal bars, biscuits, and crackers

By offering a selection of these treats, you can cater to your child's preferences and ensure they have a delightful assortment to choose from during the flight.

Teenage Favourites

Pick up some Biltong / Jerky, the dried, cured meat. Teenagers will love the high protein content and it is simple and easy to travel with as it doesn’t need refrigerating!

Mini Pringle tubes are great for travel as they can be thrown into hand luggage without bursting!

Consider gifting your teen a Starbucks, Costa or Greggs gift card in advance of the trip and send them off to select their own flight snacks at the airport. It will keep them occupied and they are more likely to eat what they pick!

See our top three tried and tested items here.

Sugar or No Sugar

Our travel community is definitely divided on this one! Many of our group feel the pros of offering sugar treats outweigh the cons. The ability to bribe kids and teens with the promise of a sweet treat, keeping them distracted and satisfied, providing a quick energy boost for late boarding or disembarkments, or for transfers. All helpful during long journeys!

Others have experienced trying to pin a toddler down after too much sugar and too many additives. Or have had to manage the fallout from the inevitable crash after a sugar high! As such they recommend avoiding sugary snacks and drinks at all costs! It is also worth remembering that excessive sugar can also contribute to dehydration, a common issue during air travel.

Our suggestion would be to pack something sweet and exciting but distribute single sweets rather than whole packets!

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can make anyone feel irritable, and this includes fussy eaters. Encourage your child to drink water regularly during the flight.

The cabin crew can refill reusable water bottles, which is not only convenient but also a more environmentally friendly choice. Most airports now have water stations where you can fill up your bottles before boarding.

Gifting a new, fun water bottle for younger kids, an 'Airup' or Air Water bottle for pre-teens (yes we are also skeptics on the value of water with a smell added but the craze seems to speak for itself) or, a slick looking vacuum flask for teenagers can be a great way to encourage them to drink during periods of travel.

Hydroflasks are certainly expensive enough for you to think twice before deciding whether or not a cheaper model is better value, but we and many others think they are worth the investment! They are a fantastic product and guarantee to keep water cool, and even ice 'icy' (!), for 24 hours+. We have tried and tested these flasks many times in all sorts of conditions, and can confirm the water has been cooler for a lot longer. You can see their range here, all of which are made from premium stainless steel.

We also like to carry a tiny Robinson’s juice concentrate to encourage little ones to drink if it is particularly hot and they are running out of enthusiasm for water! Each tiny pack makes 20 glasses of juice, and we make it last longer! The flavour options (all no sugar) are all listed here.

If you have a change bag, we have always found these flat water bottles really useful as they 'slide' into pockets more easily, and you can easily identify them as 'baby's water' so it isn't guzzled by other members of the family if you need it for making up bottles or for hydrating little ones! This one is 750ml and a great size; some of the smaller ones won't do the job when you need water for more than a couple of hours!

Be Patient and Non-Pressuring

It's essential to avoid turning mealtime into a battle at any time, but particularly when everyone is outside of their comfort zone, literally in a different timezone and in unfamiliar surroundings. If your child isn't interested in eating whilst traveling, don't force the issue. Offer options and then leave them accessible or reassure them that they can ask for something when they are hungry, Try to remember that it's just one meal, and they'll have plenty of opportunities to eat later, focusing on hydration is generally more important - however, this is obviously subject to any medical advice relevant to your child. Trust that your child's appetite will make them eat when they feel comfortable and try not to stress too much.

Involve Your Child

Involving your fussy eater in the decision-making process can be a game-changer. If the airline provides a menu, show it to your child and let them choose what they'd like to eat. Alternatively, you can let them pick their favorite snacks and decide when and in which order they want to enjoy them. It gives them a sense of autonomy and control and can make the experience more enjoyable for them and you!

Sucking Sweets for Ear Pressure

Finally, don't forget to bring something to suck on during takeoff and landing. Sucking sweets or drinking can help equalize ear pressure, reducing discomfort for your child. It's a simple but effective way to make these crucial moments of the flight more comfortable for them.

Divert Their Attention

A great way to encourage your fussy eater to eat during the flight is to bring along some distractions. When they're engaged in something they enjoy, it's often easier to get them to eat. You can pack travel games, coloring books, or their favorite electronic devices. These distractions will not only make the flight more enjoyable for your child but also help take their mind off the food if they're feeling apprehensive. See our blog on travel activities for more ideas.

Other items

Pack some biodegradable, disposable wipes and a bib that covers arms as well as chests and that is waterproof like this one for younger travelers. Choosing 'different' wipes with a picture talking point like these Cheeky Panda ones will also serve as a distraction and talking point.

If your little person is not using cutlery, consider getting a set to 'play' with as they eat on the move. The novelty may get them more interested in the food, and will give you both something else to focus on other than just the eating part! Remember to make sure you only take plastic ones like these Munchkin ones to avoid being 'caught' by airline or security restrictions!

If they are already using cutlery, this wooden Montessori children's knife is great as a similar distraction for safely chopping bananas, strawberries, and other soft fruits and vegetables. Trust us, the 'blade' is not a blade but toddlers and younger children will be able to feel involved in making their munchies!

Remember that children will often find the meal trays and containers offered by airlines a novelty that you can use as a talking point during meal times too.

A new toothbrush for little ones to get excited about is always a good idea to ensure that brushing teeth on the move after meals and snacks can be made a little more exciting.

Packing a couple of these simple extra items will go a long way to making snack and mealtimes easier when traveling.

Conclusion

Flying with a fussy eater can certainly be a challenge, but with thoughtful planning and a positive attitude, you can turn it into a memorable and enjoyable experience for both of you. Make sure you have the right bottles or containers to keep food and drink at the right temperature and without leaks, and then purchase snacks in advance so you have time to road-test them on your fussy eater!

Remember that the goal is to have a stress-free journey and create positive travel memories for your child, so try and be flexible and adaptable to their needs, whilst focusing on hydration first and then food (subject to any medical conditions or advice).

If you found this article useful, check out our other travel hacks including the best in travel entertainment and how to keep families cool and collected in hot climates!

You didn’t come this far to stop.

Our Top Tips Summarised

Pre-Order airlines' special meal options.

Consider bringing your own well-rounded meal in compliance with airline regulations. Include individually wrapped items like cheese, hard-boiled eggs, sausages, and snacks.

Pack 'just add hot water' food options for in-between flight mealtimes. Pot Oats, Rice Pots, or Pot Noodles are convenient and easily carried.

Bring a selection of favorite snacks that don't need refrigeration. Include fruits, dried snacks, cereal bars, biscuits, and crackers.

Encourage regular water consumption to prevent dehydration and irritability.

Pack some sweet treats but distribute them in moderation to avoid excessive sugar intake.

Quality, not quantity

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Stories from our Family Travel Community

We were travelling from New York to LA a few years ago when my normally calm 2-year-old, Timmy, disappeared. Like all those other parental moments when you think you are in control, one second he was helping me get bags ready to be checked by security and the next he was gone!

With the nimbleness of a ninja, he must have evaded the TSA agents like a pro as when I started to panic everyone assured me no one could possibly get through the checks undetected!

I had security checking the monitors at the same time as I dumped our bags and fought my way back through the line to the entrance for security, yelling. It was only minutes until thankfully a TSA agent wandered back to the security belt with him but it felt like forever.

Timmy just grinned, wearing his newfound independence like a badge of honor.

I used to scoff at the idea of baby reins, thinking them unnecessary, but now, looking back, I realize there's indeed a time and a place for them. An airport, I've decided, is most definitely that place!

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We have made quality of our habit. It’s not something that we just strive for – we live by this principle every day.