HELP with the PERFECT car/suv food.

[!@#$%]

Ok heres what I'm after. I need advice; ideas.

I'm looking for something to eat AS A MEAL in the car on the trip down. It has to be FILLING, HEALTHY, and (most importantly) CLEAN!!!
Sandwiches have never worked in the past as the kids make 10 million crumbs. Anything with sauces or dressings (salads) wont work, as the 3 year old DD will wear it.
Fast food... I dont do it. Sorry, no Mcanything. Ive seen too many of those shows on TV where they show what people do at those places. BESIDES, as a teen I worked in a fast food restaurant and I know what I did and saw. (we wont go there) that was enough to scare me away for life. I'd prefer something I can pack in a cooler or thermos, or even at room temperature. I just dont want to have to stop.
Is there a good bread available at say a gourmet shop that cant crumble? Sour dough bread? I like to eat good.
I dont want anything that they can drop, spill, smear, or crumble. I considered a meats/cheese sampler, but I'd like to avoid greasy/oily foods too.

Any suggestions???

 

[Shagley]

We like to eat wraps. We use whole wheat tortillas, and then fill it with sandwich fixings. We spread just a little light mayo or ranch dressing, then put in lunch meat, cheese, and a leaf of lettuce and then roll the tortilla like a burrito (fold one end up before you roll it, so nothing will fall out the bottom). You could make these up ahead of time, and wrap them in plastic wrap. Just fold down the plastic wrap as you eat it to prevent anything from spilling out the bottom. We usually have these with individual packets of baked chips, pretzels or goldfish crackers and fresh fruit (grapes, bananas or other non-messy fruit).

 

[DW2006]

We do a lot of wrap type stuff. But honestly with a 3 year old and such broad parameters you'd be hard pressed to find something that will meet all your standards. The vegan lunch box (google it) has some GREAT GREAT GREAT lunch ideas that maybe you could adapt?

 

[MissMagnolia]

All I can say is GOOD LUCK! I have finally banned all food and drink from our vehicles. Even the seemingly safest "non-mess" foods have a way of finding themselves in the cushions, on the floor, in the drink holders, etc. If you are really concerned, I would say...stop and eat or bring food and then eat it at a wayside.

On our boat we have the little ones sit on the back swim deck and eat if the food is really messy. We are not crazy clean-freaks BUT digging out Doritos or shredded lettuce and the like make me nuts!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

what ever you decide on make sure it won't "spoil". We gave our kids chocolate milk on the ride down and after they spilt it on the floor, it started to stink. To make it worse, we forgot that the empty containers were still in the car untill they really started to stink.

DH: "What's that smell?" yuck!!! rotten milk!!!

 

[smschex]

About the only thing I can think of that meets your criteria are the vacuum packed astronaut food packs!!

Seriously though I am going to watch this thread and see what others can come up with. I have resigned myself to enjoy my pit of a minivan while I can. Someday I will have a quiet, clean car that doesn't have the radio permanently tuned to Radio Disney---and I know I will miss the crushed goldfish in the back seat.

 

[MichelleChell]

WE took uncrustable sandwiches with us in the car. They are little PB&J sandwiches in a little pouch. Those worked great!! Also DD3 likes chicken vienna sausages. I know YUCK!! However they were a life saver in the car when she wanted something like that.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I plan on packing sandwiches for the road. I buy rolls from Stop and Shop bakery, they are soft and not too crumby. Bagels also work well, only my DD has a habit of just eating the filling- cream cheese or butter. Now that is messy! My kids like yogurt too but with a 3 yo the mess factor is too great, plus it's smelly if spilled. Sandwiches seem to be the easiest thing to prepare, pack and keep cool.

 

[SaraMc]

A friend of mine brought her portable dust buster with her and when they stopped she did a little clean up. She's a bit nutsy about clean up, they even got a SUV that is totally plastic on the inside so it can be hosed out. ( Its from Honda, looks like a box on wheels)

 

[Zoemakes5]

First, I have to premise my response with the idea that IF you are going to eat in the car with children, you have to expect that there will be some semblance of a mess. The alternative is to stop at rest-stop to eat the meal portion of your food, and then limit snacks in the car.
That being said, here are a few ideas:
Cold chicken pieces. My kids will only eat drum sticks. Home baked turkey or ham or roast beef, cut up in cubes or slices (meat, but not slimy).
Hot dog pieces (hot dogs that are cooked and then cut up into pieces).
Baked doritos, pretzels gold fish
Maybe bite-sized stuff, less crumbly mess. Like, cut sandwiches into bite size portions and give them to them a couple at a time.
Bread sticks baked with meat. Like pepperoni bread sticks, turkey bread sticks. (though be prepared to battle the "I want sauce" complaint).
Cold pizza.
Cheese sticks.
Dried fruits. Raisins, sliced apples and appricots are my kiddos fav's.
Chick-fil-a is a "fast food" place that is healthier (not breaded) chicken and big waffle fries and lemonade that you can still get through drive thru.

Best of luck!

 

[minkydog]

I don't think such food exists And really, I think it's better for kids' digestion to not eat in the car. They need to get out at least every 2hrs and run around(keeps them from getting constipated, ya know.) That kind of 'straight through' driving makes for sme cranky kids(and parents).

We don't eat in the car. I allow each kid to have a water bottle, but not juice, and no chips or messy foods. We stop every 2hrs anyway, so everyone is required to get out and play for 20 min. Sometimes we have a picnic, sometimes just a snack.

My standard menu on every trip:
cans of peaches
yogurt
granola bars
dry cereal
sliced roast beef & ham
olives
lettuce
sliced cheese
rolls
salad dressing
grapes
apples
peanut butter
graham crackers
water
juice

I can make salads or sandwiches from this menu. I keep a bag of paper products & palstic utensils in the car while we travel, ready to toss on the table in a second. We drink our (few)soft drinks while we're stopped. Really, if you prepare ahead, 20 minutes is all you need. The kids can play, you get to relax a bit and everyone gets back in the non-sticky car refreshed & happy.

 

[KristinU]

I don't think such food exists And really, I think it's better for kids' digestion to not eat in the car. They need to get out at least every 2hrs and run around(keeps them from getting constipated, ya know.) That kind of 'straight through' driving makes for sme cranky kids(and parents).

We don't eat in the car. I allow each kid to have a water bottle, but not juice, and no chips or messy foods. We stop every 2hrs anyway, so everyone is required to get out and play for 20 min. Sometimes we have a picnic, sometimes just a snack.

My standard menu on every trip:
cans of peaches
yogurt
granola bars
dry cereal
sliced roast beef & ham
olives
lettuce
sliced cheese
rolls
salad dressing
grapes
apples
peanut butter
graham crackers
water
juice

I can make salads or sandwiches from this menu. I keep a bag of paper products & palstic utensils in the car while we travel, ready to toss on the table in a second. We drink our (few)soft drinks while we're stopped. Really, if you prepare ahead, 20 minutes is all you need. The kids can play, you get to relax a bit and everyone gets back in the non-sticky car refreshed & happy.

I was just going to suggest stopping at rest stops to have picnic meals then just stick with neater snacks in the car in between. Dried fruit (cranberries are a favorite with us) and chewy granola bars are neater - or at least easier to pick up than cracker crumbs, etc.