Microwave in Baby Care Centers

[Starwind]

OP: I pack my lunch for work, but because of severe food allergies cannot use the microwaves work provides. So if I want a hot lunch, I bring my own from home, already heated and ready to eat.

My solution: Stanley brand vacuum food jar. I like this one: http://www.stanley-pmi.com/store/stanley/en_US/pd/productID.325305800 but they have ones of various sizes and that will keep things hot for various lengths of time. Although I have a similar Thermos brand one, the Stanley keeps food hot longer (and per specs was supposed to) and is what I use for food (the thermos I use to bring boiled water to make tea). Stainless steel and IME quite rugged. Some of the Stanley models will keep hot food hot upto 12 hours.

I microwave or otherwise heat my food at home (stews and soups works really well, and fresh out of the overnight crockpot is quite nice ) and then fill up the food jar with it. It stays nearly the same temp by lunch -- sometimes it is a bit too hot because not much temp has been lost. I have never had mine (I have 2) leak on me.

This might be a solution that would work for you. You could prepare and then use or reheat a safe meal at your villa, then use the food jar to bring it into the park. The main challenge will be finding the kind of "one dish" recipes that work well for this, though for myself for work in addition to stews and casseroles, I sometimes just bring chopped up chicken breast on top of rice with some cooked veggies mixed in - if rice isn't an option, more veggies could do.

SW

 

[pfalcioni]

I would think about making soups, rice pasta dishes with veggies in broth, things that can be heated in your room, then transfer to a stainless steel thermos to bring into the park. These would give him something hot and hearty to eat along with a side of cold prepared fruits and other quick snacks that fit into his diet.

I'm married to a guy with an extremely limited diet and we find that bringing our own food into the parks is easiest for us too, so I definitely understand why you're wanting to do this. I try to stick with things that are the easiest to pack and that don't require a lot of extra fussing when we're in the parks. Sure, it can be easy to get bored with the same stuff every day, but if we think of food as simply energy to continue enjoying the parks rather than a "treat", we're perfectly happy just "refueling" before heading to the next attraction, rather than having to stop and spend an hour preparing and eating.

It is nice to supplement with a Disney snack every so often, so I have a list of locations and items that are safe so that we don't feel totally deprived. Special Diets are a great resource to help you build a list of safe in-park treats.

 

[disneymom3]

Thanks everybody! One thing I just thought of is I have something called a Hot Logic which is an insulated lunch bag that has an electric hot plate on the bottom that sort of acts like a slow cooker. It takes about an hour to heat up the food and it needs plugged in in order for it to work. I would imagine this would be allowed to be brought in, I would just need to sit by an outlet somewhere for an hour. Which would be ok- our feet will need a break I'm sure.

I think it would be easier to just go to a closeby resort food court and use the microwave...Like the Poly, BC, etc. good luck!

 

[Baklava]

If it's helpful, my Kleen Kanteen insulated cup holds 20 ounces and keeps my coffee HOT for 4 hours and warm for about 12. It's metal, not glass and could easily hold soup. I have never tested it with non-liquids, but it might be worth experimenting.

 

[SDSorority]

OP: I pack my lunch for work, but because of severe food allergies cannot use the microwaves work provides. So if I want a hot lunch, I bring my own from home, already heated and ready to eat.

My solution: Stanley brand vacuum food jar. I like this one: http://www.stanley-pmi.com/store/stanley/en_US/pd/productID.325305800 but they have ones of various sizes and that will keep things hot for various lengths of time. Although I have a similar Thermos brand one, the Stanley keeps food hot longer (and per specs was supposed to) and is what I use for food (the thermos I use to bring boiled water to make tea). Stainless steel and IME quite rugged. Some of the Stanley models will keep hot food hot upto 12 hours.

I microwave or otherwise heat my food at home (stews and soups works really well, and fresh out of the overnight crockpot is quite nice ) and then fill up the food jar with it. It stays nearly the same temp by lunch -- sometimes it is a bit too hot because not much temp has been lost. I have never had mine (I have 2) leak on me.

This might be a solution that would work for you. You could prepare and then use or reheat a safe meal at your villa, then use the food jar to bring it into the park. The main challenge will be finding the kind of "one dish" recipes that work well for this, though for myself for work in addition to stews and casseroles, I sometimes just bring chopped up chicken breast on top of rice with some cooked veggies mixed in - if rice isn't an option, more veggies could do.

SW

I have never heard of this!!! I'm totally going to check it out- thank you!

 

[SDSorority]

Thank you so much everybody- this is definitely a HUGE help!!!!

 

[Starwind]

I have never heard of this!!! I'm totally going to check it out- thank you!

A hint:

When using a thermos/vacuum bottle/vacuum food jar/insulated klean kanteen etc, to extend the length of time it stays hot:

Boil water in a kettle. Fill the *empty* insulated container with teh freshly boiled water and close the lid. Let it sit for 5-30 minutes (longer is better) -- I will let it sit while getting breakfast and lunch and other things ready). Then empty it out (be mindful that you have boiled water in it and it could splash!) and put your hot food into it.

(this also works using really cold water in the same way when putting cold things into it).

Basically, you used the hot water to heat up the container. So when you put your hot food in the container is hot and not as much heat has to transfer from the food to the container to heat the container. So you buy yourself stay-hot-for-longer time. Your specific container should have instructions for doing this including the recommended time to let it sit.

SW