clean car food ideas?

[laura&fam]

Does anyone have any ideas for cleanish food for the car? I realize that my kids can make a mess with anything, but somethings are better than others.

So far I've come up with unflavored crackers, pretzels, and water. It's going to be a long drive if that's all they get

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Fruit snacks?? Well, I guess those could get squished and that would be bad....string cheese?

 

[laura&fam]

String cheese isn't too bad, it does get a little greasy as it dries out. But it's a good snack with more substance than most and cleaner than most, I'll put it on the list.

 

[21yankees]

Carrot Sticks or baby carrots
Apple slices
Normal Gold Fish


steph

 

[darph nader]

Gold fish and water only. Other than that there are always rest-stops on the highway.

Forgot to add,small toy bags or games. NOOO coloring books. (crayons and leather don't mix)

 

[spiderdust]

I'm guessing "messy" means foods like yogurt, cheez doodles, etc?

What about dried fruit, grapes, beef jerky? I used to only buy "fun" cereal to be eaten as a snack on road trips... maybe a baggie of that?

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

How about raisins?

 

[Mugglemama]

we often make some dried apples at home in the dehydrator to take on road trips. if my kids ate nothing but pretzels and other bread products during the drive their tummies would NOT be feeling too good after a while.

i have 4 kids (ages 4-17), and we've always let them eat in the van during road trips, and we've never had any food stains or anything. we typically bring granola bars, dried fruit, fresh fruit, and lots of water. sometimes a few crumbs from the granola bars fall, or a tiny bit of banana gets mushed onto the fabric of the kids' carseat or something, but it's all really easily cleaned.

good luck!

 

[Nanseev]

For drinks, sunny delights in the sports bottles. The tops don't leak.

For snacks....fruit bars. Don't get the crumbly ones...get the soft granola ones that won't fall apart. I think raisins would be ok...they are easy to clean up.

I'm sure you wont have access to a toaster or micorwave, but flavored waffles without syrup works well with my kids.

Lunchables as well?

 

[ballarinamom]

I think the most important key that helps is the packaging. I put a handful of snacks in a snack size ziplocs. Only one baggie at a time. Little hands can hold them easier and if they fall on the floorboard, there isn't as much to spill out.
I buy fruit rollups instead of the nugget type fruit snacks because there is only one piece and does not break apart easily. Also, I always have presliced apples. If you are going to be in your car for multiple days, you can slice and bag each morning before you leave. Also, the prepacked cubed cheese has only 10 cubes of cheese in each bag. You could bag up your own in the snack size siplocs as well. Finger sized cheeses seem to work better for us.

 

[andee2000]

Costco has prepackaged sliced apples that my kids like, they also (as well as Sam's Club) carry organic regular and chocolate milk that doesn't need refrigeration (they are better cold though) that you poke a straw through a foil seal that don't leak unless dropped. I like the babybel cheeses in wax since they are portable and are self contained (and yummy too.)

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

I agree that portion size and container is key. We always us snack sized zip locks, one per kids per snack.

Snacks we like in the car
sliced apples
grapes
golf fish- regular (or baby for a special treat and I even saw chocolate the other day)
Ritz makes a small bite sized cheese or peanutbutter cracker sandwich (in a box by the regular sized ritz)
carrott sticks
grape/baby tomotos (but only if your kids are versed at eatting them-- you MUST put the whole thing in your mouth at one time, no taking bites!!!)
cheese- either cubed or stick
meat slices- rolled up
dry cereal of any variety
marshmallows- small ones
fruit snacks
Quaker granola bites
Capri Sun Roaring Water- clear in color, flavored water drink in pouch

 

[laura&fam]

Thanks! These are some great ideas.

I hadn't thought of the portions before, but I think you're right. We'll split the drive into 2 days, so it shouldn't be horrible.

 

[specialks]

A couple of notes. Remember to bring a cup or little bowl to give them their snacks in. I keep all the snacks in a box behind my seat and then give them their portion of snack in a little paper cup. The cups sit in cup holders or next to my youngest in her carseat and are easy for them to hold. Then you can just throw them away at your next pit stop (helps keep the car clean). I am normally a environmental person - but during road trips I like the throw away cups since I can't wash other cups.

Also, coloring is not a no-no for us. I have found a great solution -- I put a selection of crayons in cups with lids for my daughters. Then they get pulled out and put away with the coloring books when they want to color. The girls find it easy to see the crayon colors and pick what they want and they don't spill all over like if you use a box or bag (we have tried both).

 

[laura&fam]

I melted crayons in the back window of our car as a kid so crayons are out for us. I do let the kids have colored pencils though, so I'll try that idea with them.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I got the Color Wonder Markers with their own lap top containter (Target). They don't make a mess and no melted crayons forgotten under the seat.

 

[PHXscuba]

Lots of snack food companies are making things in "mini" size now. For a treat, mini cookies or crackers that are one-bite are good. I also like dried fruit, goldfish, cheese (we usually eat this first so it doesn't get warm in the cooler), pretzels, and grapes. Finding things they don't normally get at home (snack pack-type stuff) seems to make it extra-cool.

For toys, we like Color Wonder, Magnadoodle, stickers, light-up spinner toys (buy ahead, not at DLR), puzzle books, and CDs.

... It was a (short) blissful moment a few weeks back traveling with my four kids. The 4-year-old conked out, the girls were listening to CDs, and my son was playing his Nintendo DS. Ahhh, quiet.

PHXscuba

 

[spiderdust]

I melted crayons in the back window of our car as a kid so crayons are out for us. I do let the kids have colored pencils though, so I'll try that idea with them.

I was about to suggest this same thing!

 

[aliceindisneyland]

We try to limit the snacks in the car--DD2 can find a way to finely smoosh any food and it all funnels down into the cracks of her carseat!
So we try to actually get out of the car to eat at normal mealtimes--just a fast food quickie; DH will order while I take the kids to the restroom. It gives them a chance to stretch their legs as well.
They always have a water bottle, but with a sports cap so if they toss it down it just dribbles instead of full on spills.
I do take bags of mini pretzels & beef jerky ICE lol. Mixing raisins with goldfish crackers and/or cheerios can work--the salt/dust from the goldfish/cheerios coats the raisins & makes them less sticky.
I'm not crazy-tidy about my car, just hate hauling out the shopvac next morning after vacation!
Maybe more activities to keep them occupied instead of food? I'm going to look for Colorforms for our next trip--they can stick them on the windows and they peel right off. Walgreens has Jonas Brothers removeable wall decals on clearance right now for about $1--maybe those work too?
Colored pencils instead of crayons (again, DD peels/breaks crayons )

 

[laura&fam]

Maybe more activities to keep them occupied instead of food? I'm going to look for Colorforms for our next trip--they can stick them on the windows and they peel right off. Walgreens has Jonas Brothers removeable wall decals on clearance right now for about $1--maybe those work too?

That's a great idea - window clings. They used to have them at the dollar store by us, but I haven't seen them lately. I'll have to check for them.