In-room food ideas

[gardendame]

Thanks for mentioning the Gogurt! I forgot about that one. My kids love these!

 

[Susie Bee]

My kids love them as well and they pack easily in a fanny pack or backpack--also, they sell Jell-o, Skippy peanut butter and pudding in tubes also...

 

[MultiMut]

Just got back from a 2 1/2 week driving trip to Orlando & Tampa. Stayed at the Gaylord Palms, Wingate Tampa North, and Pop Century.

We drove down and brought a long a small electric kettle (we like hot tea and don't like to use in room coffee makers for tea) and a cooler.

For breakfast, we had oatmeal (using the electric kettle), cereal boxes, rice krispy square bars, fruit, or bread with chocolate spread. At Pop Century, we used the cooler to keep milk cold (just two buckets of ice was enough). If you don't have a cooler, you can rent a fridge.

For lunch at the parks, a couple of times we would buy pre-made sandwiches from gas stations the night before and keep in the cooler overnight. They were really good quality sandwiches for $2.99 US each (we didn't do this all the time).

For dinner, if we weren't eating at the parks or eating out, at the Pop Century, we used the microwaves provided in the food court to heat frozen dinners. If you have a car, and the kids like pasta or macroni and cheese, we food the Publix had frozen "Banquet" brand dinners for $1 each (tag says $5 for 5, but if you buy less then 5 it's still $1 each). We saw another family use the microwave to make their own Kraft dinner and cook hot dogs using Tupperware.

 

[sdamico71]

We are a member of DVC, so we have a kitchen when we check in. But prior to the purchase of DVC, we always had to make sure we had our local favorites. I am a PICKY eater. So we typically bring the following local stuff~
Swiss Farms Ice Tea/Tea Cooler (they now sell it at Walmarts so I can cross this off my list if they carry it in Florida stores)
Herr's potato chips
Tastykakes

We always bring the cereal, cereal bars dried fuit, etc for the kids. Gotta love the Gogurts and the Skippy PB too. We also will bring Uncrustables. If you are fortunate to have a small fridge and a microwave, we have found the Hormel dinners to be good. They have chicken, turkey, etc. We use the Easy Mac as a side, and a canned vegetable (with flip top lids)

 

[crazelion]

Here's list stuff I take for lunch every day to work that I like. Like the other post said Hormal makes mircowave dinners in a bowl that easy to do:
Noodle Rings Chicken
Beef stew
Chicken dumplings
Chili
Lagsena
Beefonai
Beans and hotdogs

What I take on trips is:
Cracker Jacks
cokes
bottle water
candy
potato chips
strawberry ceral bars. Can't have milk

I only have two meals that I have to buy that either late breakfeast or early lunch or just dinner. I eat my own brought snack from home. I am picky eater that I just stick simple food.

 

[jgates]

OK - I'll apologize if some of these are repeats again - we do a lot of the listed stuff - but I'll try to get different ones here -

1. Cashews/Mixed nuts (as I mentioned before -buy big & repackage). The other value of repackaging is that you tend to overeat when you grab a handful from the can. The new can I just bought is nearly gone already.
2. String Cheese (if you like the smoked flavor -when you can find it- it goes great dipped in cocktail sauce).
3. Cheese cubes - Sam's has these also in 3 lb bags. That's a lot of cheese and a lot of constipation on a trip so this would be dependent on where you were flying or driving from - maybe repack and freeze and take with you - it might be thawed & ready for fridge when you got there.
4. Small sausage sticks - the Hickory farms mentioned are usually pricey - you might be better off buying a big one from WM and just dumping whatever doesn't get eaten. Or again -freeze and grab just before you go.
5. Ritz crackers
6. Can we say lo-carb? A 16 oz container of plain yogurt, splenda sweetener and a can of cinnamon - nummy. I take a 1/2 cup measuring cup and just scoop and mix my servings in the glasses in the room.
7. Raisins or dried cranberries
8. Sam's has large(?) (about 3 or 4 tuna can size? - 12 oz?) of chicken breast - you get 5 per bundle for about $10. My DS eats these plain, I put them on salads and DH covers them in salsa. DD won't eat it.
9. Check a deli at the grocery store for pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs (back on the lo-carb again). We usually use 'spray' margerine and then I can smash the eggs, warm up, & salt them.
10. Veryfine 100% juice bottles - Sam's has cases of 24, along with tons of other brands. I always have to have juice along because of my diabetes.
11. A few cans of RedBull for those nights you plan on going to PIsland.

and....

MY KIDS FAVORITE TRIP FOOD!!!! Chicken-n-biscuit crackers and the squirt cheese in a can!!!!! - thou there is always a fight about American vs. Cheddar!

 

[pjlla]

I found these at my local Big Lots for 99cents each..... tuna, chicken salad, ham salad, seafood salad "kits". Each contains a small can of the meat already mixed with mayo and in most cases relish (which means my DD won't touch it). It also has about 6 crackers in the package and a napkin and tiny spoon. I found it to be acceptable for a quick lunch or snack. If you are concerned about calories or fat, one of them is significantly less fatty than the others, but I cannot remember which (maybe the seafood), so read the labels. I believe that there was also some sort of chili with crackers. I cannot remember the name brand, but it was a famous one (maybe chicken of the sea?) I wouldn't want it every day, but certainly a few times during the week it would be fine. It is shelf stable and needs no refrigeration until it is opened. ..........................P

 

[Gomez Gang]

What hotel will you be staying at? Will you have a rental car?

We ALWAYS use Tiffany town car service as we don't rent a car. Our trip from the airport to our hotel always includes a stop at Pick N' Save. I get milk, mini cereal boxes,beer (smile!), granola bars, apples,doughnuts, pnut butter and jelly, bread, chips, juice boxes.
When we stayed at Coronado and Port Orleans, we got a fridge (mini or bar size) in our room ($10 / night--we still saved$). I would keep my milk in there (1/2 gallon will fit), a few juice boxes and a couple of beers. I took some plastic knives and a roll of paper towels for the PBandJ sandwiches.
Now we are DVC members and we stay in a villa with a full kitchen. Our grocery trip now includes much more as I have a full size fridge, oven, micro, etc.
A lot depends on if you will be stopping at a regular grocery store or if you have a car.
Another option would be to UPS yourself a box of goodies. I did this before we discovered Tiffany towncars and we did not rent a car. I packed diapers, wipes and loads of non-perishable food. At check-in they delivered the box to our room.
I agree......don't cook in your room.

 

[jlp651]

I'm working on my little package of goodies...

So far I have granola bars...but I dont leave for another 2 weeks...

Another idea was to make sure to put items in something hard...like for instance...I have mine in a plastic pencil box...that way they wont get smushed!

I think we'll go for the pop tarts and peanuts...I dont like having things that will give us a sugar high and then *BANG* we drop like flies!

 

[kwnancy]

another idea if you have a refrig - the prewashed salads - some even include the dressing. you can always add pre-cooked chicken or sliced deli meats to make if a full meal. my current favorite is the field greens with walnuts and dried cranberries.

goodlings and publix both have a pretty extensive deli section with premade salads, made to order subs, etc.

 

[connie254]

OOOOOOOOOOO. This is off topic but I gotta ask-where can you get the individual Crystal Lights?

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I just found this list and I'm sooo excited! I'm jotting down notes like a mad woman. Right now I'm debating on whether to just rent a fridge or get a cheap foam cooler and ice on my grocery stop on the way in. I'm guaranteed a fridge due to my meds but I heard that could be a shoebox sized one. Keep the ideas coming!!

 

[Gomez Gang]

Actually, due to medication for my son on our trip to Coronado, we got a refrigerator for FREE as long as we produced his meds. It was the same size fridge we got when we paid $10 a night at the POR. The size of the fridge is like what you would find in a mini-bar or dorm room. It will fit a 1/2 gallon of milk and about 6 cans of pop (or beer!) It also has a tiny freezer......the size of a shoebox!

 

[darlene9947]

Quick recipe for grilled cheese sandwiches in the hotel room:

Bring some aluminum foil from home. Prepare the bread and cheese like at home, wrap up in the foil. Put a towel on the bath counter or the dresser or any flat surface. Heat the iron and "iron" the sandwich on both sides!! Works in a pinch!

 

[peanutzmom]

We split ur in-room and food cout breakfasts 50/50 wih Poptarts and dry cereal beig the in-room winner. One thing I struck upon on our last tip & plan to use on our next one concerns feeding our kids. We have a 4 year old and almost 6 year old, and they are the typical preschoolers -- picky eaters, and not very big appetites when they're all jazzed up on vacation. So, we started packing "picninc lunches" for them before heading out to the theme parks, consisiting of PB&J sandwiches, individual bags of goldfish crackers, and juice boxes. We usually amke lunch PS's at sit down places and grab counter service for dinner. So, we'd give the kids their picnic lunches to eat while we wheeled them aroudn in their stroller about an hour before our PS's. Then at lunchtime we would let the kids pick out a desert to share, while DH & I ordered our meals. This saved us $10 to $15 a day on "kids meals" that would have ended up going uneaten anyway. It also led to some experimentation on the part of our kids (especially at Epcot) because we encouraged them to try some of our adult entrees if they wished. Anyway, that worked really well for us, and we plan on doing it again in November.

 

[gardendame]

Originally posted by connie254
OOOOOOOOOOO. This is off topic but I gotta ask-where can you get the individual Crystal Lights?

I have found these at both Albertson's and SuperWalMart. They come in plastic bottles packaged as a 4-pack. I have seen only 4 flavors - rasberry ice, lemonade, pink lemonade, and tea.
Hope this helps!

 

[CheapMom]

Originally posted by darlene9947
Quick recipe for grilled cheese sandwiches in the hotel room:

Bring some aluminum foil from home. Prepare the bread and cheese like at home, wrap up in the foil. Put a towel on the bath counter or the dresser or any flat surface. Heat the iron and "iron" the sandwich on both sides!! Works in a pinch!

That is hilarious.
Reminds me of Mr. Mom

 

[darlene9947]

HAHA!! But it works!

 

[CheapMom]

I can pack all of my kids clothes (and more) in the cooler. I use 3 bungee cords to make sure it doesn't pop open. For me, bringing a cooler is a no brainer.

 

[Susie Bee]

Originally posted by CheapMom
I can pack all of my kids clothes (and more) in the cooler. I use 3 bungee cords to make sure it doesn't pop open. For me, bringing a cooler is a no brainer.

I, myself, will also be bringing my own cooler. I asked for the Coleman 40 qt. Thermoelectric Cooler for Christmas--perfect for packing a few extras in! When you get to the hotel just plug it in and you don't have to worry about ice... You can get them at Walmart

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...=4125&product_id=895623&path=0:4125:4128:5164

With rentals being $10.00 plus tax per day it pays for itself in six days and you get to keep it. I have also been using it weekly. It is AC/DC and I plug it into my car's adapter when I go get groceries and put my frozen goods in there--works perfectly!! Would recommend it to anyone. It also has the ability to keep things warm also, for picnics or the such...

Food for thought???