Driving to Disney.... food suggestions?

[RJBMickey]

We are driving to Disney from MA in early September (Yeah, I know ). This will be our 7th time driving down and instead of stopping for fast food for each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner), we were thinking of making food & bringing it with us. Not only would it save us time, but it would also be much healthier. (We bring a cooler each year and fill it up with drinks, as well as small snacks, but we've never done much else.)

I know packing sandwiches is a possibility, but I have no idea what would actually stay good for the 24 hour drive (we stop once) down. Nor do I have any idea as to where we would store it. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips?

I'd greatly appreciate any help I could get. Thank you!

 

[Subrbnmommy]

We bring a plug in cooler. The bottom layer is drinks, (soda, milk, juice & water) some frozen, some cold. On top are veggies in ziploc bags (brocoli, celery & carrots) & apples, yogurt tubes & wraps, PB&J, cheese & chicken. We also bring things like muffins, soy chips, regular chips, cookies & fruit bars that we don't put in the cooler.

Have a good trip!!

 

[rt2dz]

I'm short on time right now, so I'll come back to give some ideas later, if you don't get many. But in driving and packing food, you should avoid sugar and caffeine as much as possible. You may also want to get some dry ice to keep things good longer--just make sure it's packed in such a way that no one can accidentally touch it.

 

[karapp75]

Well - we drove to Fl for THanksgiving when our DS was 2 and our twin girls were 1. Gotta love the DVD player! We made a very unhealthy decision to make multiple MCdonalds stops. The food was familiar and we tried to pick ones with a play area so the kids could run around and strech their legs for a while before getting back into the car. We also packed juice boxes and snacks, pop tarts etc for when it wasn't a convenient time or place to stop. I know Mcdonalds doesn't have the healthiest food but the play area thing was a higher priority for us. Good luck!

 

[happymommy]

What about two coolers? They are inexpensive, if you have room. That way you can keep drinks separate from food.

You can pack sandwich fixings and keep them cold, then a loaf of healthy bread or some rolls.

We drove down from the DC area once, and I packed TONS - I used those plastic storage bins for pantry items and such (we were staying 10 nights at the Boardwalk villas so we had a kitchen, it was after 9/11 attacks and WDW was so quiet, so we got a good deal). I liked the storage bins, since they kept everything nice and organized.

I'd suggest eating breakfast and lunch in the car or at a picnic area, but maybe a dinner in a restaurant then.

I like things like pasta salads, cut up fruit, definitely bottled water! Grazing along the way makes the time go by also. I like the idea of trying to keep it healthy. The sugars and fats in fast food are okay in a small amount, but it's not good for sustained energy. You can make ahead some salads, and put them into little containers. Also, you can start saving containers like from margarine or such, then use them and toss them along the way (cool whip also).

Good luck and happy planning!

 

[piratemamaof3]

Things that can be packed into individual zip lock bags are good b/c then you have single servings esp for the kid or now you can get single serving bags of a lot of thing. Peanut butter cracker (or cheese) packs, There are lunchables, PB or the PBJ swirl all in one jar, veggies, juice boxes or gator aid (these at least have resealable tops). Consider freezing these or bottle water to help cool down food but as they melt they may sweat some but you don't have a cooler of ice water plus you have cold drinks. Pop tarts for me just break into pieces and become a mess, pringles travel well fro chips or nuts.

Be sure to pack small bags for trash. Try to stop from time to time a rest stops so they can run around.

 

[Grendalynn]

We left at about 5PM after DH got out of work. Our plan was tro drive straight through. We have a Durango/SUV and are also limited on space as well.... We packed a softsided cooler and stuck it on the floor behind my seat - DH drove 75% of the way. It had juice packs, powerad and water. Also milk for DS1.

One of our fave on the road meals is cold fried chicken!! The boys like it, DH loves it and its cheap and easy. Be sure to have plenty of napkins though. We also pack lunchables, juice packs, apples, grapes and thinsg that wont load the kids up on sugar. Lunchables are great for the kids ad I grab some sub sandwiches for DH and I. For breakfast I will get coffe cakes or we will grab soemthing when we stop for coffee.... That should tide us over until we getthere. We are sure to pack plenty of things to keep the kids occupied, because when they get bored is when the natives get restless! Dramamine is also a must ahve or any long car trips in my opinion!!

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

Try Smuckers Uncrustables. They are in the frozen food section. We packed them in lunches our last trip to WDW. Got the idea from WDW. We were at MK on the first day of our last trip (first trip for our oldest) and he ordered a PB&J for lunch. It was a bag of chips, uncrustable and juice box. My husband and I looked at this lunch and at that moment decided to pack our lunches from then on. We love packing our lunches. We bring a few foldable coolers to WDW and find easy and healthy things to bing along.

 

[happymommy]

Oh yes, I forgot about trash bags! Pack a little box of small ones! Dump them full at every stop. Also - we go through lots of hand wipes!

What size car do you have?

I definitely think with planning you can make it a much healthier trip.

I have also brought a little (maybe $10) hot pot with me, so we make ramen (okay not healthy but we like it) and oatmeal in the hotel. Maybe you're not supposed to use this, and I'd never use a toaster in a hotel room, but I am SUPER careful with it always!

Even our Costco produce section has little bags of cut up organic apples, individually wrapped. We buy granola bars there also. I agree - poptarts and chips can be too messy! Anything messy, just plan on eating during a rest stop. I also buy the pb&j swirled together in a jar - doesn't need refrigeration either.

 

[rt2dz]

Here is what usually travels with us:

In the cooler:

• Individual packages of sliced apples (no dips)
• Milk boxes that do not need to be refrigerated
• Juice boxes (as a treat and clear)
• Small water bottles
• Cheese
• Sandwiches pre-made and placed in plastic baggies
• A lunchable or two per child
• Sliced carrots (no dip)

In a Rubbermaid container:

• Muffins
• Extra bread
• Bananas
• Crackers, individual servings
• Breakfast cookies/bars/squares

We frequently freeze the juice boxes and some of the water to act as ice for the cooler. We have a 48 hour cooler. I put everything in it from the refrigerator. I don’t go hog wild on it because I don’t want to encourage non-stop eating (or bathroom breaks).

We get out often, about once every 2-3 hours, to stretch legs and eat at picnic spots sometimes. We do eat at restaurants along the way too, with a play area. I'm also not against getting a treat at a stop or two to keep spirits up.

 

[MidgeD79]

At a local music festival, one of the restaurants were selling taco salads to go. An individual bag of Doritoes was crushed and opened and taco meat, lettuce, cheese and salsa were added. We were given a plastic fork and off we went. I'm going to try this next summer on our drive to WDW.

 

[baloo's girl]

One of my favorite car ride food is a ham salad that my mom would make. We' drive from NJ to Memphis every summer (a 20 hour car ride). Anyway, she'd take a small ham, and grind it up in the food processor. Sometimes she'd grind up some cheese and mix it in. She'd add mayo (and sometimes some mustard). Then she'd put the ham salad in a tupperware. She packed pre-cut pita bread. So when we wanted a sandwich, she'd use a spoon, scoop up some ham salad into the pita-and we had instant sandwiches. No mess, little space taken up in the cooler.

hope this idea helps too.

 

[noodleknitter]

Can you pack two small coolers. Then freeze the second day's drinks, and take whatever you like. We've taken down tuna salad pasta, macaroni salad, chicken salad, chicken, veggies, cheese, hummus, etc. When it isn't being opened it stays frozen/cold.

 

[keywestbride]

Individual cups of applesauce
Nuts
Oatmeal cookies
muffins
All types of fruit
Definitely peanut butter!
cut up veggies with little cups of Ranch dressing for dipping

 

[wickywinn]

We always drive and bring a big cooler. I make these sandwiches that I got the recipe for off of the internet. Basically cut a long loaf of french bread longways and scoop some of the inside out. Mix 4 oz cream cheese, about 2/3 cup light or fat free mayo and a couple handfuls shredded cheddar, worcerstershire sauce and chopped green onion. Spread on bottom half and top with slices of deli turkey. Cut in wedges. I put each wedge in it's own sandwich ziplock. This sandwich is supposed to be refrigerated so the spread can chill so it's perfect for a road trip. It keeps for a few days even. And my kids gobbles them down like they're Mickey D's happy meals!

We also bring capri suns, bottled water, grapes, rice crispy treats as well.

We bought our kids those plastic travel desks with the side compartements and the Magic Marker sets with the paper that changes color as the marker colors on it. With those and the dvd's it's a smooth trip, even with a 2 and 4 year old!

 

[noodleknitter]

That sounds like a nice recipe!