Claire’s Flight-Friendly Family Picnic

This Recipe is dedicated to making your airplane travel with children as easy as a picnic on the plane. Picking at airline food can be discouraging. Make it easy on yourself and take along some healthier choices that your whole family can enjoy. Having taken 30 flights in 3 months for work one year, I speak from experience here. The bit of attention and energy it takes to prepare your own food is guaranteed to be returned to you in feeling better during your flight, and having more energy after you arrive at your destination. Drink plenty of water during the days and hours leading up to your flight, and be sure to walk and stretch in flight. Flights are drying to the body and skin, and contracting. Travel security restrictions for liquids can be confusing. To simplify, here are the TSA’s rules at this link on what you can bring on the plane to eat. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm The issues of smelling up the plane with food odors, and waking your neighbor with garlic or tuna has been considered, fear not! One packed-and-ready-to-go “Plane Picnic:”

• Bagel Chips and Whole Wheat Pita Slices
• Cheddar Cheese Slices
• Green Grapes
• Plum Tomatoes and Sugar Snap Peas
• Spinach Dip

Some of the simplest snacks, meals, tricks & treats for your family in flight: Easy Meal ideas: Tortilla or Nori Seaweed Wrap: Wrap precut avocado, & cheese or homemade chicken salad. Add greens like lettuce and sunflower sprouts. Keep dry and wet items separate until you are in flight. (Don’t take avocado pits on the plane. Agricultural security may confiscate them in some places.) One-Dish Meal: Prepare at home, prior to your flight. Prepare a grain you like; rice, or quinoa, a high-protein alkalizing grain. Combine grain with bite-sized chicken meat, olives, feta, seeds, &/or nuts. Add chopped vegetables; lightly steamed cut-up green beans, asparagus, & carrots. Add parsley, or basil, and mix with olive oil & lemon, sea salt and spices in a container-to-go. Protein: Cut slices, cubes, or String cheese Scrambled or Hardboiled eggs Nut butters: Almond butter, sunflower seed butter, & cashew butter These are very delicious and are suggested to avoid the strong-smelling odor of peanut butter. Also, they’re thicker, so less likely to be confiscated as liquid. Vegetables & Sea vegetables: Cut-up Carrots, celery, tomatoes Crunchy, lightly sautéed zucchini slices Baked sweet potato wedges on cookie sheet. Edamame, boiled and salted Dressings Trick: Since liquids are limited to 3 ounces, why quibble or be held up at security measuring. Here’s a helpful hint that is really helpful! Toss heavier veggies lightly in dressing and store. (Veggies like sliced zucchini, tomatoes, celery, etc.) Add them to lighter greens & lettuces, or wraps, just before eating. Dried Foods Simply add boiling water to: Oatmeal, dried soups, noodle cups Your favorite teas Treats: Nuts & dried fruits Teething cookies Buttered toast with jam Keeping it Cool: Put a plastic frozen water bottle in with your foods. Drink water before going through security. Toss bottle in recycling. Done. You are ready to fly. Links to Re-usables on the Web: Wastefreelunches.org – save money on litterless lunch items Weangreen.com – baby food storage, child-friendly small glass cubes Grassrootsstore.com – cloth bags, lunch bins, and more Lifewithoutplastic.com – stainless steel lunch containers Pamperedchef.com – pyrex containers Wrapnmat.com – reusable lined cloth napkin with Velcro seal Kleankanteen.com – stainless steel bottles Ewg.com – The Environmental Working Group focuses on the body burden of toxins in our world & in our children. Laptoplunches.com/products.html – reusable items for lunch Great recipes & meal ideas in photos: http://www.laptoplunches.com/list-all-recipes.php

All About Baby Carriers for Nature Adventures

Safety Tips:

• Proper Positioning: Ensure your baby is seated correctly, with their legs in an "M" position and their head should be close enough to kiss.
• Checking for Wear and Tear: Regularly inspect your carrier for any signs of damage.
• Ensuring Adequate Support: Make sure the carrier provides proper support for your baby’s head and neck.

Exploring Nature with a Baby Carrier 

Advantages of Using Strollers for Nature Adventures 

Benefits of Bringing a Stroller

• Storage Space for Gear: Ample room for carrying all your essentials like a diaper bag, beach toys and more.
• Shade and Weather Protection: Built-in canopies to shield your baby from the sun when they are lounging.
•  Options: If you have more than one kid, you can stroll with one and carry the other. Or, if you’re getting warm or your little one is getting fussy, you can switch up their position from stroller to carrier or vice versa.

Safety Tips for Strollers

• Ensure your stroller is in good working condition. Make sure buckles are still buckling and that there are no rips or holes that could compromise your baby’s safety.
• Use sunshades or bug nets to protect your little one’s skin.
• Securing the baby properly: always buckle up your baby for safety even if you think they are old enough to go without the buckle.

Summer adventures with your baby are a wonderful way to create lasting memories and enjoy the beauty of nature together. From baby carriers to strollers, Ergobaby products are designed to provide comfort and ease for both you and your little one. So, gear up, get outside, and explore the world with your baby by your side.

Ready to embark on your own summer adventures? Check out Ergobaby’s range of baby carriers and strollers to find the perfect match for your family’s needs. Visit our website today and start planning your next outdoor excursion!