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EATING WELL ON THE ROAD – PART ONE

© Lain Ehmann

Feeding kids is somewhat of a tricky proposition under the best of circumstances. When you're away from home and facing unknown restaurants, questionable sanitation and strange menu items, dining can be a hit-or-miss proposition. So how do you keep everyone healthy and happy without resorting to scare tactics and threats? Read on for an age-specific look at eating well on the road.

Babies and Infants. Most babies under a year of age have diets consisting mainly of breastmilk or formula. Breastfed babies have it made; their diet won't be directly affected by changes in menu. Nursing mothers, however, need to take steps to ensure their milk supply while traveling. Drink more liquids than usual, get plenty of rest, and eat a balanced diet. Also, even though you are on vacation, your breastmilk is not; stay away from the alcohol. Order a virgin Pina Colada instead of the real thing. Be on the lookout for possible stomach upsets in your nursing child. If he exhibits signs of discomfort or gas, stick to your "regular" menu items.

For formula-fed babies, the main concern is safety. Varying sanitation standards throughout the world, and even different water quality in different areas of the U.S., can affect your baby. Use bottled water and/or pre-made formula to protect against water quality issues (Enfamil makes powdered formula packaged in neat little "Pixie Stix"-type pre-measured containers that are easy to transport and easy to mix on the road, even in the front seat of a moving car). Also, buy or bring a small bottle of dishwashing liquid so you can thoroughly clean bottles and equipment.

Toddlers. Though the toughest children to manage in a lot of ways, the 1 to 2 age group are some of the easiest, eating-wise. With smaller appetites and few pre-conceived likes and dislikes, toddlers can eat directly from Mom's or Dad's plate. Encouraging your child to experiment is fine, but adhere to your pediatrician's advice. Shellfish, ground beef, nuts and hard-to-chew items may still be off-limits to your child. And limit spicy foods and an excess of sweets or "strange" menu items. Nothing ends the fun of a vacation faster than a diaper-wearing child with diarrhea.

Preschoolers and School-Age Kids. Also known as "PB&Jers," these are your pickiest eaters. Finding something that these kids will eat can be a real challenge. When your seven-year-old loudly refuses the $50 lobster thermidor in front of her and yells for a Happy Meal, your patience may wear thin. The solution? Realize that though your child may not eat a "good" meal at each sitting, if her intake over the course of a day or so is balanced, she'll be fine.