Traveling can be stressful, and it is very possible that your picky eater will become more picky while on the road.

In order to ensure good nutrition while traveling, pack nutrient dense meals and snacks that your child is familiar with and likes.

Good examples are 100% nutrition dry cereals, apples and peanut butter, bananas, and granola or fruit bars. For on the road meals, consider cheese sandwiches, homemade baked oven fries, or cold cut sandwiches. If your packed food needs refrigeration, be sure to bring a cooler with ice or purchase on that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter.

It’s also a good idea to pack a few of your child’s favorite treats so you can reward good eating on the road.

When dining at restaurants abroad, order from the children’s menu and let the child decide what they would like to eat. Take the time to explain to your child what each item is and how it compares to food they eat at home. Try to choose a restaurant that has an interesting décor. Country style and ‘oldies’ or historical themed restaurants might hold your child’s attention. Buffet style establishments may be a good choice. They usually offer a wide selection of dishes and your child can see the food before it shows up on their plate.

And of course, there is nothing wrong with the occasional trip through your child’s favorite fast food drive through to help encourage them to eat.

Do remember that some family members may take offense to your child’s picky eating habits. Members of the older generation, especially, tend to feel hurt or upset if your child will not eat the foods they lovingly prepared. Take the time to speak with family members before the trip to explain your child’s likes and dislikes.

Traveling with a mentally or emotionally challenged child has it’s difficulties. Your child may not understand why you are traveling, or may be bothered by the sights and sounds of the road or airport. Other people may react poorly to your child or be less than sensitive to your child’s condition.

Take extra care in preparing you child for the trip. Start at least one month in advance by talking about places far away. If going to visit family, play tape recordings of extended family talking to your child. Familiarity with the voices will be reassuring when you arrive at your destination. Talk about the upcoming trip, even in you’re unsure how much your child understands.

If you will be flying, try to get permission from your airport to have your child tour the airport and watch planes take off and land at least a two weeks before your flight. Let your airline carrier know your child has special needs.

If your child is calmed by music, be sure to bring a long a personal CD player or iPod. Allow your child to listen to their favorite music to help alleviate stress. Be sure to have lots of comfort items on hand.

Talk to your child’s doctor and any therapists about the trip. They will be able to give you ideas and suggestions based on your child’s specific medical condition and personality.

If traveling out of the country, make yourself familiar with the culture and customs of the area. As much as you may not like it, there are still places that are intolerant of those with certain mental illnesses or cognitive challenges. Your child may be subject to discrimination or even hostility in some areas of the world. In those cases, it’s best to leave the child at home with a trusted family member or friend.

American security requirements seem to change frequently. If you are a US citizen traveling the western hemisphere by air with your children, there area several things you need to know before you and your children leave the United States.

Starting January 23, 2007, most citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda will need to show their passport when entering or re-entering the US by airplane.

If traveling to or from the US from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, South America, Central America or the Caribbean you will be required to have your passport with you.

This includes children. Make sure you apply for your child’s passport several months before your scheduled trip. The official processing time is 2 – 8 weeks, but sometimes it takes longer.

When you receive your passports, be sure to fill out the emergency information page for all family members. Make copies of your passports and leave the copies with a trusted friend or family member who is not traveling with you.

You and your children should carry your passport on your body at all times to avoid loss or theft. Additionally, have your child carry documents identifying you as their parent or guardian. Include your name, passport number, local telephone number, hotel information, home telephone number and the name, number and address of an emergency contact not traveling with you. This way, if you and you child become separated, local authorities have several ways to contact you.

Parents should consider carrying a current photo of each child traveling with them.

You can purchase special pouches especially for this purpose, or make your own. The identification pouch should lie across your body in such a way that it can not be easily taken from you. Always wear it under your clothes, next to your body.

If your passport is lost or stolen while you and your family are traveling, you can contact your country’s Embassy or Consulate for assistance. However, obtaining replacement passports are costly and you may not be allowed to travel until you receive your replacement.

When traveling for business, it’s usually a good idea to leave the kids at home in the care of family or close friends. There are times, however, when you must take your children with you on a business trip.

When planning such a trip, keep the age of the child in mind and select a hotel that provides activities for your child’s age group and interests. Look for hotels that offer babysitting services, as well.

Before leaving home, find out if your company provides on-site child care for employees at the destination office. If not, check into daycare providers nearby.

You might also consider hiring a nanny or au-pair to accompany you and your child on the trip. While this is a more expensive option, you will have greater peace of mind and the child is likely to be feel more comfortable, as she will be spending her time with someone you have selected, as opposed to being left at a strange day care center.

Spend time with your child. Meet for lunch, go out to dinner, do some sightseeing, or take in a movie. Even though you are on a business trip, plan to do some vacation type things with your child.

Arrange for activities while you are working. Hire a local teenager, (ask local co-workers for names) to take your child to a local library or museum while you are gone.

If you travel to one work location frequently, you may even be able to share a local employee’s day care provider while you are there.

Finally, some companies understand the need for their employees to bring children along and have arrangements for the asking. Amenities like company rented houses, babysitting co-ops and onsite day care can make the trip more enjoyable for your child and more productive for you.