From bon voyage to bon appétit

Eid is right around the corner. This is a time when some of you will be leaving for a vacation to an overseas destination. The thing about being an expat from a far-off country like Jamaica is that an annual trip home always includes a transatlantic long haul and roughly 30 hours of travel time. This is no mean feat for us adults; however, it can become a tad challenging and stressful when there is a toddler in the picture. From tackling their sudden pangs of hunger to ensuring they remain well-hydrated while aboard a flight, everything has to be looked into and planned meticulously. Of course, it helps if you have a checklist ready ahead of your big travel. So buckle your seatbelts because it's going to be quite a ride.
Pack a baby foodie bag
No matter how old your child is, get a good quality insulated food bag from a trusted brand (personally, I love Igloo) and pack all the eatables there. Be sure to get a few ice packs as well; I usually pack a large one and two small ones.
Know your child's taste
Every child goes through phases quicker than you can say 'huh?' So while avocados may have been the can't-do-without snack last month, today it may just be carrot sticks. Be sure to keep note of the things your child likes and pack accordingly.
Non-perishables
I do love to give my child fresh stuff, but there are times when you have to bend the rules. Whether you have a long or short trip, delays happen. When going on a long holiday, it's good to carry along some things with a longer shelf life. When my son was just an infant, I would carry packages of organic Ella's Kitchen baby food in his bag.
Fun finger foods
Take things like Cheerios, and other bite-size foods to make feeding and snack times fun for infants and toddlers. For instance, cut grapes into two to prevent choking. Make squares out of hard cheeses like cheddar and small, fine sticks out of carrots.
Carry extras
Count the expected number of meals and snacks for the entire journey. Carry extra meals and formula if your child is on it. I take along 200-250 ml boxes of long life organic milk as extras on top of fresh organic milk. The fresh milk does not usually last long outside the refrigerator, so after a few hours, it has to be discarded.
Rinse utensils
Always rinse bottles, bowls and utensils with bottled water immediately after using them while travelling. There are few things worse than milk that has curdled after being left in a bottle for too long.
Keep them well-hydrated
Remember to get the little ones to sip water at regular intervals when they are inside a flight. It helps keep their little bodily functions regular as well. Take along their water bottle and refill with purified bottled spring water at intervals.
wknd@khaleejtimes.com