Eating in Room/Driving Down

[Emme]

We are driving from NY to Fl this March. What suggestions do you have for car meals?? I really need some help with this one.

Also, we have a microwave and a fridge in our room this time around. We get a complete deluxe breakfast free in the morning, so breakfast is taken care of. I know you all are the masters of frugality LOL, what can we "prepare" in our room that would be yummy yet healthy for lunches? I know you all are extremely creative so please help me out, we are trying to save extra money so we are able to by AP's this year! Thanks!!

Emmy

 

[Sher]

Hi Emme,

I don't know how long your car trip is, but we drive down from Illinois--about 23 hours. We do one long day and stop overnight. I usually pack a cooler so we can eat lunch on that long day at a rest stop. One of my kids favorite memories of our trips is the time we got stuck in construction traffic so mom slapped together sandwiches from the back of the van. I was just trying to save the time it would have taken to stop when we finally got through the construction, but they thought it was great fun. I might do it again this year.

Our car food choices are not so much frugal as just car-friendly. We like snack pack puddings and applesauce, bagels, grapes, granola bars, those little cheese and cracker packs, and pringles potato chips. Another idea I have used is to get our favorite "gondola" sandwiches the day before the trip (minus the lettuce) and wrap them up for the cooler. Of course water bottles and juice pouches.

I have never done much cooking in the room, but would think that soups, that "cheesy mac" macaroni and cheese, and other canned meals would work well. I would probably bring a toaster too for bagels which could be topped with pizza sauce or flavored cheese.

I'm interested in the other responses you get. We are considering staying off site this spring which might mean we would have a kitchen.

Have a great trip!

Sher

 

[Buckleybunch]

Not sure where you are staying at.. But a few years ago, we stayed at Residence Inn.
We took our **** pot. I would make roast, steak and potatoes... It was nice, because after a long
day at the park dinner would be ready..

As far as eating in the car/van, I take stuff my kiddos can't make a huge mess with.. A lot of cheese snadwiches.

 

[Emme]

Bumping for more ideas! Please...

 

[fkj2]

How about Bologna sandwiches and a premade fruit cocktail? If you stop at some of the welcoming stations as you cross over into a different state, I think some of them have microwaves to heat the food they sell out of machines there.

You can even take salad fixings and potatoes to boil and make homefries.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

what about stoping on the way down at a grocery store Deli? We have done this and find it quick, cheap and easy. You don't have to wait as you do in a resturant and can even have drinks out of your cooler if you want. We have had sub sandwiches, chicken tenders, fried chicken,and corn dogs.You can eat in the car or hunt a roadside rest stop. I also have heard that Wal-mart in Orlando has a great Deli and wonderful Subs that are good to take back to your room. Have fun!

Jordan's mom

 

[YankeeFan51]

The last time we drove down, the variety pack of those Rice Krispy bars and Pringles were a hit. As were Capri Sun juice, Ritz crackers w/PB, PBJ sandwiches and homemade Chocolate Chip cookies. We filled one of those collapsible coolers and I was amazed at how much less we had to stop compared to the year before, when we were less well prepared. When we did stop for a meal we stopped at the Cracker Barrel Restaurants indstead of the usual fast food so we could at least have some vegetables, etc. to counter the sugar, etc. The prices there weren't really that much more than a drive through (the way DH eats!). We were at BWV and made those Easy Mac and Cheese and the Ragu Pasta and Sauce for the microwave when the kids wanted someting quick. By the way, we drove from Connecticut, so depending on where you are in NY, probably similar in distance to your drive. We made one overnight stop in NC. Also, I know you didn't ask about this, but what really made the trip go faster was a TV/VCR combo in the van. It was a Godsend.

 

[addieh]

Depending on how far you want to go, you could cook all of your meals in advance and freeze them in freezer zip lock bags. Then you take the meal out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to defrost the day before you use it. Pop it in the microwave and you have a quick and easy meal without having to pack your kitchen to prepare your meal.

To find good recipies on line just go to yahoo and type in freezer meals. I cook all day long every other Sunday after church, freeze all of my meals then I don't have to cook for the next two weeks. It's a great time and money saver.

You might want to get a styrofoam cooler seperate for these meals and pack it with dry ice for the drive. Duck tape the freezer closed if you have small kids so no one gets burned by the ice.

Have a great trip!!

 

[Boots]

We have some friends who did the freezer type meals. They said it worked really well. They stayed at someplace that had a kitchen though. We always eat a lot of picnic lunches too.

 

[RCF]

If you plan on doing breakfast in your room, I suggest bringing a box of "instant/powdered" milk. Have you ever tried it? If you drink skim milk, I think you will find this to be quite good. As a kid I tried it, but in those days we drank whole milk. It sure would add to the savings.

 

[bigs1923t]

If you like to make meals in your room why not get a wilderness cabin in fort wilderness?You get a bedroom, livingroom eat in kitchen area & a full kitchen including micro & dishwasher. Also all of the dishes, utensils, pans ect are included. You still get daily maid service and after a hurry up breakfast they will clean up & load the dishwasher for you. All this comes at a price copmparable or less than many good resorts. You also get a parking space right next to your cabin so no long treks to the car like many of the resorts.

We pack a couple good size coolers for the car, one has drinks, the other has food. We have a conversion van with a dinette instead of captains chairs & sofa. It also has a nice table so when some one is hungry the "designated chef" (whoever is in the rear seat) just wips up a snadwich, snack or whatever the person who is hungry "orders". MY DD loves to play waitress and take lunch orders. This all helps to save time burned up by stopping for lunch and is great fun for the kids.

PS I must be blessed we ran for 18 hrs on one trip with the two kids and only made one 20 MINUTE stop for fuel & bathroom. (it pays to have 2 fuel tanks & a porta potty for the kids in the back ) The kids were like angels so we treated them to a couple extra days to go to Sea World !

 

[singitalto]

In addition to the other ideas listed above. We usually take cup of noodles(the kids love these), and instant oatmeal(the packages). My son eats this all day -not just at breakfast. Also, when you get into Orlando, go the the Super Walmart and see what frozen food you can heat up in the microwave. In addition, buy bread and cold cuts. Make it nutritious by buying a bag of salad and some dressing. We belong to Costo and I know there is one in the Orlando are, you could always pick up a rotisserie chicken. Keep it in the fridge and heat it back up in the micro when you want it.


Any other good ideas- I'm always looking, Were staying at the Country Inn and Suites Too!!!(in September)