On-the-Go dinners

[NotUrsula]

Not to rain on your parade, but before you start hauling big picnics, please check to make sure that outside food is allowed into the venue where your kids practice. Our rink very strictly prohibits outside food; it's part of the club's ice-time contract that no outside food will be brought in during the concession stand's open hours. Some people take siblings out to the car to eat, but DD can't leave until practice ends -- they don't get unsupervised breaks. Rink mgmt. will eject parents if they are caught with outside food in the building, and if it happens more than once you'll be asked to leave the team.

For this reason, we're big on using our crock-pot on practice nights when the parent not driving isn't home early enough to cook. (And BTW, yes, it's only one activity, but DD is on the ice about 16 hours per week, plus off-ice drills.) I have protein-heavy snacks ready when the bus gets home, and she eats those in the car on the way to the rink. Dinner is ready in the crock-pot when we get home. We do have sandwich nights and such sometimes, but we try to mix it up when we can.

If you have a 2-parent household, your best option is to take turns: if you don't drive or don't stay, then dinner is your responsibility unless you also have to work late. Dads who are home don't get to not cook.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Some things we have found to be easy to eat in the car are:
- Burritos (whenever I make tacos for dinner, I make extra meat and beans, make up burritos and freeze them. Then when we don't have much time or I don't want to cook, pop one in the microwave and voila)
- Hot subs (ham, turkey, roast beef, or bacon + cheese heated up in microwave or oven)
- meatloaf cupcakes (meatloaf made in cupcake wrappers, topped with mashed potatoes, cheese, and bacon bits)
- bite-size meatballs
- egg rolls/ spring rolls
- samosas
- hot pockets (you can also home make these with dough and fillings)
- chicken nuggets/ strips and fries
- corn dogs
- pigs in a blanket
- burgers (have these pre-made, heat in microwave if necessary right before you leave, throw on a bun and add toppings)
- quesadillas
- grilled cheese (add ham, turkey, bacon, or tomato for a little extra substance) with thermos of tomato soup
- fish sticks or popcorn shrimp and fries/ tater tots
- homemade pizza or bagel pizza
- tortilla pinwheels (deli meat & cheese wrapped in tortilla and cut in slices, skewered with toothpick)
- Bento box of pepperoni, ham cubes, or salami, chunks of cheese, crackers or pita bread, olives, baby pickles, baby carrots
- Anything in a thermos (soup, chili, Mac & cheese, pasta)
- sausage links, bacon, and tater tots
- French toast sticks or waffles (instead of messy syrup, add fruit or chocolate chips to the batter for more flavor)
- wraps with meat, cheese, and veggies

Depending on what it is, we either wrap in foil or put in Tupperware or a paper bag for transport. Add some raw veggies and a fruit and yogurt smoothie to round the meal out.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Some things we have found to be easy to eat in the car are:
- Burritos (whenever I make tacos for dinner, I make extra meat and beans, make up burritos and freeze them. Then when we don't have much time or I don't want to cook, pop one in the microwave and voila)
- Hot subs (ham, turkey, roast beef, or bacon + cheese heated up in microwave or oven)
- meatloaf cupcakes (meatloaf made in cupcake wrappers, topped with mashed potatoes, cheese, and bacon bits)
- bite-size meatballs
- egg rolls/ spring rolls
- samosas
- hot pockets (you can also home make these with dough and fillings)
- chicken nuggets/ strips and fries
- corn dogs
- pigs in a blanket
- burgers (have these pre-made, heat in microwave if necessary right before you leave, throw on a bun and add toppings)
- quesadillas
- grilled cheese (add ham, turkey, bacon, or tomato for a little extra substance) with thermos of tomato soup
- fish sticks or popcorn shrimp and fries/ tater tots
- homemade pizza or bagel pizza
- tortilla pinwheels (deli meat & cheese wrapped in tortilla and cut in slices, skewered with toothpick)
- Bento box of pepperoni, ham cubes, or salami, chunks of cheese, crackers or pita bread, olives, baby pickles, baby carrots
- Anything in a thermos (soup, chili, Mac & cheese, pasta)
- sausage links, bacon, and tater tots
- French toast sticks or waffles (instead of messy syrup, add fruit or chocolate chips to the batter for more flavor)
- wraps with meat, cheese, and veggies

Depending on what it is, we either wrap in foil or put in Tupperware or a paper bag for transport. Add some raw veggies and a fruit and yogurt smoothie to round the meal out.

Great ideas!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Not to rain on your parade, but before you start hauling big picnics, please check to make sure that outside food is allowed into the venue where your kids practice. Our rink very strictly prohibits outside food; it's part of the club's ice-time contract that no outside food will be brought in during the concession stand's open hours. Some people take siblings out to the car to eat, but DD can't leave until practice ends -- they don't get unsupervised breaks. Rink mgmt. will eject parents if they are caught with outside food in the building, and if it happens more than once you'll be asked to leave the team.

For this reason, we're big on using our crock-pot on practice nights when the parent not driving isn't home early enough to cook. (And BTW, yes, it's only one activity, but DD is on the ice about 16 hours per week, plus off-ice drills.) I have protein-heavy snacks ready when the bus gets home, and she eats those in the car on the way to the rink. Dinner is ready in the crock-pot when we get home. We do have sandwich nights and such sometimes, but we try to mix it up when we can.

If you have a 2-parent household, your best option is to take turns: if you don't drive or don't stay, then dinner is your responsibility unless you also have to work late. Dads who are home don't get to not cook.

That is interesting. This isn't an issue for me at the ice rink or the soccer facility so I'm good. How ridiculous!

We are a 2 parent home, but DH travels midweek every week so sorta a 1 parent while all this is going on.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS! We have the same problem. Even though winter activity season is coming to an end (hockey and scouts) We ate out so much that I'm tired of it...Sooo tired of it. Why I didn't think about posting here, don't know. I am going to use these ideas come spring..So much better!

 

[missbrooke06]

Sliders. We like the mini sandwiches for being easy to eat and Pinterest has tons of combinations.

 

[cel_disney]

Sliders. We like the mini sandwiches for being easy to eat and Pinterest has tons of combinations.

The Hawaiians Rolls that they sell in packages of 12 are a staple in our house for these! Highly recommend them and they have a long shelf life to boot!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

The Hawaiians Rolls that they sell in packages of 12 are a staple in our house for these! Highly recommend them and they have a long shelf life to boot!

My kids loves these too. They use them instead of sandwich bread.

 

[neatokimmo]

My kid works out from 4-8 four days a week. She is a little older so we eat afterwards. I meal prep so dinner is finished in the 15minutes it takes her to shower.

They make car hot boxes that plug into your car adapter. I don’t think they cook (although there are car crock pots), but it would give your kid hanging out a hot meal.

 

[richkaryn]

There have been several nights I have nuked hotdogs, thrown them in a bun, and wrapped in foil to take to ball park with us in our mad dash out the door. Not necessarily eating better than buying one at the ballpark, but I can buy a pack of hotdogs and buns for less than I would pay for 1 hotdog per person at the ballpark.