Packing food for a toddler on a five-hour train journey to Vijayawada

mellow_kettle_535426 Aug 2026

We're going to my parents' place for a family puja next week, by train, with our son who isn't two yet. In the car he snacks the whole way. On a train I have no idea what will keep, especially in this humid weather. At home he eats curd rice, idli, mashed dal rice and fruit, none of which I'd normally trust after a few hours in a bag. What do you pack for a long day journey with a small one? A little ice box, or only dry things and accept a less balanced day?

1 comment

linen_fern_834126 Aug 2026
We did Hyderabad to Vijayawada so many times when my son was that age. Curd rice is fine for a few hours if you mix the rice with milk and add just a spoon of curd before you leave. My mother's trick. It sets slowly on the way and doesn't turn sour. Dry things for the in-between: soft chapati rolls, steamed banana pieces, murmura laddoos. And carry double what you think. Train food is the most interesting food in the world to a toddler. Mine ate a corner of someone's newspaper once 😂
- mellow_kettle_535427 Aug 2026
  The milk trick is new to me, thank you. My mother-in-law does something like it and I never thought to ask why. We'll do curd rice that way and chapati rolls for the rest. Newspapers will be kept well out of reach ❤️
- citrus_window_837127 Aug 2026
  'Fine for a few hours.' How many? Five hours of travel plus however long it sat before you left is a long time in August. We carried a small insulated box with an ice pack for anything with curd and didn't regret it.