Transition day prep - snacks that actually travel well?

Dec 251 min read

My 6-year-old has gotten motion sickness on the 45-minute drive between houses. Pediatrician said half the issue is he's hungry/thirsty before we even leave.

Looking for snack ideas that:

Don't make a mess in the car
Won't spoil (can't always go straight home)
Aren't super sugary (he gets hyper)
Don't require utensils

Right now we're doing goldfish and apple juice but I feel like I'm missing something obvious. Any tips?

11 comments396 views

Comments(11)

CChris T.RegularDec 26

String cheese and those apple pouches are my go-to for the drive. No mess, stays fresh, doesn't get sticky. Avoid anything with a lot of sugar before the ride though

EEd R.RegularDec 26

Have you tried those Belvita breakfast biscuits or granola bars? My 6yo actually eats them in the car without destroying the upholstery and they're filling enough to help with the nausea issue

LLuke N.RegularDec 26

Pretzel bags, fruit pouches, beef jerky if he likes it. All portable, not messy, not super sugary. Also honestly having him eat a decent breakfast before the drive matters more than the snacks

RRussell D.RegularDec 26

Ginger ale or ginger chews help a lot with motion sickness. We switched from juice boxes to those flat ginger candies and it actually made a difference on longer drives

OOwen F.RegularDec 27

String cheese + crackers is our go-to. Doesn't need refrigeration for 45 mins, won't melt all over the car, and stays down better than heavy stuff

BBrad N.RegularDec 26

The motion sickness thing is huge. Someone told us the acupressure bands actually work - the sea band ones. Seems gimmicky but we tried it out of desperation and it genuinely helped

JJoe C.RegularDec 27

Motion sickness + hunger is brutal combo. Have you tried ginger chews? My son's gastro recommended those specifically for car rides and they actually worked

SSteve C.RegularDec 26

This is super smart - eating before leaving instead of mid-drive. We were doing it backwards and wondering why our kid was always nauseous. Thanks for the tip

PPete S.RegularDec 27

Pro tip: empty stomach + motion = nausea. We eat like 20-30 mins before leaving now instead of right before. Something about having something IN the stomach helps

RRandy B.RegularDec 28

Goldfish crackers in a sealed container, those cheese stick things, grapes in a spill-proof cup. Nothing that crumbs everywhere or gets the car sticky. Hydration is key though - make sure he's drinking water starting like 30 min before you leave

KKeith L.RegularDec 28

Banana + peanut butter on whole grain toast, pack it in a container so he can eat it right before you leave. Digests slower, keeps blood sugar stable through the drive