Ideas on what to pack for lunch to eat in the parks

[ShellieR]

I hope this is the right forum to ask this I need ideas on what to pack for lunches while inside the parks. I did a search and found that I need a soft sided cooler (small) and some ideas for PB sandwiches, nuts, pickles and granola bars. If there is a tip thread for this could you point me to it??? I have 3 boys so I would need food that's filling.

 

[Malibustyle23]

I cant give you any suggestions as to what foods to bring but I would like to give you an "ewww tip". Please make sure that if you are carrying your cooler around and not leaving it in a locker your cooler is always zipped and closed. I have seen bags of food being pilfered through by squirrels and birds while the family was going on rides and shows. Then inevitably the family returns has no idea what happened and enjoys their lunch and "extras" left behind by their lunchpals!

 

[SDSorority]

We always bring things like PB and J sandwiches, cut up fruit (like oranges) or grapes, kashi crackers, granola bars, single serve applesauce cups, almonds/raisins/cereal mix... things that don't need to be refrigerated that are easy to carry around. We are vegetarians now, but even when we weren't, we always stayed away from bringing deli meats or cheese to the parks with us.... those frozen packs can get heavy and I'm WAY paranoid about food spoiling!!! OH and lots of water. Fruit leathers are a nice treat to have too... not filling... but a portable sweet snack that won't 'melt' like chocolate can. We have brought whole fruit like bananas or pre-washed apples in ziplocks and those work well, too.

 

[brymolmom]

We bring just about everything...And it doesn't HAVE to be a small cooler - we bring a big-ish one (16 inches tall??). We freeze water bottles and throw them in there to keep everything nice and cool. We bring turkey or roast beef for dh and I, bologna for ds and PB&J OR yogurt and cheese and crackers for dd who isn't much of a sandwich eater. We bring chips, a treat of some sort (cookie or M&M's), and a bunch of fruit (bananas, apples, strawberries).

Plus LOTS of drinks.

 

[FLA NUT]

We have taken leftover pizza in ziplock bags, $1 burgers from Wendy's, McDonalds, etc. We always take Pringles chips so they will not crush (Disney is the only time my family will eat Pringles, but they sure taste good when you need a little snack). I have taken an empty Pringles can and refilled it with some other type of chip that the kids like. We always freeze water bottles and I can't live without my Pepsi. Capri Suns work well for the little one and don't take up alot of space. I usually buy a big box of the Uncrustables and take those also (and yes I know that I could save money and make my own but the frozen uncrustables are just too easy and don't crush because they are frozen, by the time we are ready to eat they are thawed).

 

[Dizneydaz]

You got some great ideas here. I second (or is it 3rd?) the frozen water bottles. Especially if you are going during the hot season. Of course you'll need to have a refrigerator with a freezer compartment.

If you are going while it will be hot make sure to bring along some salty snacks.

 

[DawnM]

I bought one of these:

http://www.krustbuster.com/

I make a huge batch with 2 loaves of bread at a time and freeze them myself. They work great. I just grab and go.

Dawn

We have taken leftover pizza in ziplock bags, $1 burgers from Wendy's, McDonalds, etc. We always take Pringles chips so they will not crush (Disney is the only time my family will eat Pringles, but they sure taste good when you need a little snack). I have taken an empty Pringles can and refilled it with some other type of chip that the kids like. We always freeze water bottles and I can't live without my Pepsi. Capri Suns work well for the little one and don't take up alot of space. I usually buy a big box of the Uncrustables and take those also (and yes I know that I could save money and make my own but the frozen uncrustables are just too easy and don't crush because they are frozen, by the time we are ready to eat they are thawed).

 

[DawnM]

We take:

String cheese
Trail mix
baby carrots/dip
crackers
pringles
sandwiches

Koolaid ind. packets to add to water

 

[indimom]

In addition to your lunch, if your guys are always hungry, you might consider letting them each have a personal fanny pack of snacks. My kids didn't eat much breakfast in the room and got hungry by 9 or 10 a.m.
Things like crunchy granola bars, trail mix, beef jerky, apples, pretzels, cookies and PB crackers would be filling and inexpensive. For us, the crunchy granola bars, trail mix and homemade beef jerky were best. Very filling and almost indestructible in the kids' bags.

 

[ShellieR]

My 6yr. old will eat Chef Boyardee from the can...he loves it. I wonder if Disney would let me bring a can in the parks?
Thanks for all the ideas!!

 

[ShellieR]

We bring just about everything...And it doesn't HAVE to be a small cooler - we bring a big-ish one (16 inches tall??). We freeze water bottles and throw them in there to keep everything nice and cool. .

I won't be able to freeze water bottles, we are camping at FW so I won't have access to a freezer. But we are camping the first week of January so I'm hoping that 2 quart size baggies filled with ice will keep my cheese and caprisuns cool. Maybe some yogurt too.....I might just take empty water bottles for me and hubby to fill up at the fountains? We like the crystal light to go packets so we could have a few of those with us.

 

[FLA NUT]

You can get free ice water at Disney (one of the only freebies) to refill your bottles with. Just ask at any cart, stand, etc.