Packed lunches and snacks at disney

[carwel]

We are finally heading back to Disney. Last time, my youngest was in a stroller, so we could carry lunches in the bottom. Also, our 3 previous trips were in cooler weather, but now it will be hot (May 21-26). I've checked out the Counter Service menus, and have decided we need to pack lunches and snacks (we are staying in a condo with a kitchen, so we can store lunch stuff). I just hate the idea of spending so much for fast food, plus tacking on 40% because of the terrible Canadian dollar.

So I am thinking small cooler pouch with blue ice pack in the bottom of a small backpack X 2. I don't want to carry around really heavy loads. I'm looking for your favorite packed Lunch ideas and snacks for hot weather. We are 2 adults trying to eat mostly low carb, a 10 year old with a good appetite and a 13 year old with a huge appetite. We will also budget a reasonable amount to buy some treats in the parks (ice cream, funnel cakes, coffees etc) each day.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Praying Colonel]

We are finally heading back to Disney. Last time, my youngest was in a stroller, so we could carry lunches in the bottom. Also, our 3 previous trips were in cooler weather, but now it will be hot (May 21-26). I've checked out the Counter Service menus, and have decided we need to pack lunches and snacks (we are staying in a condo with a kitchen, so we can store lunch stuff). I just hate the idea of spending so much for fast food, plus tacking on 40% because of the terrible Canadian dollar.

So I am thinking small cooler pouch with blue ice pack in the bottom of a small backpack X 2. I don't want to carry around really heavy loads. I'm looking for your favorite packed Lunch ideas and snacks for hot weather. We are 2 adults trying to eat mostly low carb, a 10 year old with a good appetite and a 13 year old with a huge appetite. We will also budget a reasonable amount to buy some treats in the parks (ice cream, funnel cakes, coffees etc) each day.

Thanks for your input!

Way back when I did low carb, ice cream and funnel cakes were out. (I wish they had low carb funnel cakes! ) So I'm not sure if all of you are doing low carb or just some.

If you're thinking about low carb snacks, the best thing I can think of are nuts (macadamias and almonds are best for low carb, IIRC) and seeds like sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. String cheese may also be good but I'm not sure how that's going to keep in the Florida heat.

For non-low carb snacks I'd think about granola bars, Clif bars, dried fruit and regular fruit like like oranges, clementines, bananas and apples.

I've never packed lunches into the parks so I'll defer to others on that. I like saving money but at some point we also consider convenience, and it just never seemed convenient for us to shlep meals for 4 around the parks. YMMV.

 

[carwel]

Ya the sweet treats are for the kids....coffee would be our treat lol.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Depends how complicated you want to be...if you have 2 ice packs and 4 ziploc containers, you can do almost anything...you can turn a protein rich salad into a protein rich pasta salad by just changing the lettuce for pasta (which will help fill up the kids while keeping it low carb for you)...keep the dressing off til serving and you'd be all set - Cobb salad (sans avocado - won't keep), Caesar salad (sans crouton), Grilled Ratatouille Salad with added Fresh Mozza balls, Caprese salad (again, add dressing late), etc...

You can also keep it stupid simple and bring peanut butter cups, shelf-stable hummus, sliced lunch meat, frozen cheeses (which will thaw when needed), and different vegs and carbs (for kids) to have a nice "dip" plate as lunch.

GORP (heavy on the nuts and more than just peanuts) with raisins for a little sweetness and a bag of M&Ms for the kids to add in for even more sweetness.

You can get a rotisserie chicken and keep it cold on the ice by splitting it into quarters before you go in...

You're just limited by imagination and weight/sogginess...the ice will handle the keeping cool for lunches (as will a frozen water bottle or yogurt or juice on the opposite side of the ice)...

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

TwoMisfits, I love your menu ideas! Yum!

We packed cold picnic type items: fruit salad, chicken salad, roasted chicken, cheese and crackers, and we also had a bunch of sandwiches for the kiddos. We used a soft sided cooler with cold packs and stored it in one of the lockers at the front of the park. Everything stayed well chilled- I was kind of surprised in July! We did keep some items in our park bag to snack on. We have a really fun memory of eating cantaloupe in line for Tea Cups and then taking it easy on the spinning when we realized that might not have been the best idea!! lol (No issues, thankfully.)

 

[SweaterInJune]

If you're worried about lugging around food. You might also consider renting a locker. $8-$10/day + $5 key deposit. If you have a cooler bag and ice pack, you can store your lunches. Not so different than hiking over to a specific restaurant when you're ready to eat. It will cost a bit more than just bringing lunch, but still save a fortune off restaurant prices...

 

[leebee]

We take chewy or crunchy granola bars and fruit gummies as our park snacks. Avoid anything with chocolate chips, bits, coating, etc.; it melts like crazy and makes a mess. We usually eat in the parks but when we have carried in food, we'll bring yogurt (frozen the night before- thaws nicely), bagels, cream cheese, sandwich meats, etc. We freeze a couple of bottles of water and use them in the backpack for refrigeration. It works, and you end up with some ice cold water for drinking- bonus! I like the idea of pasta salads with protein... never thought of this!

 

[TwoMisfits]

Note on the pasta salads - you will likely want to predress with a tsp of olive oil (if you save the "real" dressing for lunch) to keep it from sticking into a big clump...maybe a little more depending how much pasta you are giving each person...

 

[TabbyShabby]

With ice packs, anything is possible!

Salads are super easy and you can add some tuna, salmon or another protein. I've done that a few times with good results. Cheese is also your friends. Meat rollups are easy. Just take a few pieces of prosciutto and wrap them around a stick of whatever cheese you like. We bought a smallish block of cheese and used it for rollups and cubed for salads. I like cut up veggies as well. Carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes (if you can secure them well enough they don't get smooshed), broccoli, etc. Low carb wrap sandwiches are great as well.

Non refrigerated items like nuts, veggie and fruit chips, peanut butter and crackers, tuna or salmon in a pouch, nut based "granola" bars, cheese "chips" (basically just cheese you melt in the oven or microwave until it's crispy), and jerky are all staples when I travel for work.

 

[Disneyliscious]

3 of us went in 2015 and we managed to pack a meal/snacks with ease. I took one backpack. We used frozen water bottles as our "ice packs" to save space. Sliced deli meats, cheese, jerky (some of those have high carb counts so check labels), chicken salad with a few crackers, yogurt, celery, bacon wrapped around just about anything), cherry tomatoes, etc were our low carb friends. It saved us a LOT of money by doing it that way.

Something else I recommend? Buying all non perishable items before you fly down. Groceries in the Disney area are astronomical. I packed one suitcase completely full of groceries for the condo/parks when we flew down. If you are on a short flight, you can even take frozen items (because thats where local grocers hit you the hardest).

I took a pack of 8 frozen steaks with us. Aint gonna lie. #NoShame The price diff in what I paid at home and the local grocer in Orlando was almost $25 for ONE pack of meat. Packed them in a soft sided cooler with an ice pack and tossed it in my "grocery suitcase". We flew during a cooler time of year but a soft sided cooler could also be used as a carry on.

 

[carwel]

3 of us went in 2015 and we managed to pack a meal/snacks with ease. I took one backpack. We used frozen water bottles as our "ice packs" to save space. Sliced deli meats, cheese, jerky (some of those have high carb counts so check labels), chicken salad with a few crackers, yogurt, celery, bacon wrapped around just about anything), cherry tomatoes, etc were our low carb friends. It saved us a LOT of money by doing it that way.

Something else I recommend? Buying all non perishable items before you fly down. Groceries in the Disney area are astronomical. I packed one suitcase completely full of groceries for the condo/parks when we flew down. If you are on a short flight, you can even take frozen items (because thats where local grocers hit you the hardest).

I took a pack of 8 frozen steaks with us. Aint gonna lie. #NoShame The price diff in what I paid at home and the local grocer in Orlando was almost $25 for ONE pack of meat. Packed them in a soft sided cooler with an ice pack and tossed it in my "grocery suitcase". We flew during a cooler time of year but a soft sided cooler could also be used as a carry on.

Good point about bring non perishables. We're actually driving, so we can do this. Border doesn't let you bring dairy or meat across, but your point about disney area grocery stores makes me think it would be wise to do groceries on the way on the last day of our journey. Thanks!

 

[lorac4disney]

We used the frozen water bottles to double as ice packs. Plus, the ice cold water really hits the spot as it slowly melts. DH and I each carried our own backpack for this. We brought salads and put the dressing in small ziploc bags packed inside of the salad container along with forks. It was great. We also brought along sandwiches and chips that come in tubes (Pringles, Lays Stackers, etc). Bagged chips get crushed. We also brought along jerky, crackers, nuts, baby carrots, celery, and fresh fruit (apples, bananas, etc).

 

[carwel]

We used the frozen water bottles to double as ice packs. Plus, the ice cold water really hits the spot as it slowly melts. DH and I each carried our own backpack for this. We brought salads and put the dressing in small ziploc bags packed inside of the salad container along with forks. It was great. We also brought along sandwiches and chips that come in tubes (Pringles, Lays Stackers, etc). Bagged chips get crushed. We also brought along jerky, crackers, nuts, baby carrots, celery, and fresh fruit (apples, bananas, etc).

Dressing in small Ziploc bags is a fabulous idea. And we're definitely going the frozen water bottle route instead of bluepacks. I've really appreciated everybody's ideas!

 

[seus-mouse]

So many great ideas here. My daughters and I pack nuts, fresh fruit, yogurts and a sandwich-usually a nut butter and jam on good bread and frozen juice boxes. DH's belt pouch looks like a hobbit got a hold of it! He'll have maybe a hunk of pumpernickel bread or hard crackers, a hunk of hard cheese- xtra sharp cheddar or gouda, a tin of sardines, sliced salami or pepperoni, frozen water and a 70% cacao chocolate bar. With so many Publix and Wallmarts and BJ's nearby we always shop when we drive into the area. Have a great road trip.

 

[Sagginit]

There is a brand called GoPicnic. They have shelf stable "meals" and snack boxes. They sometimes sell their overstock with a short expiration date on sale and also I have found some of these items on amazon. I use these items when I fly on the plane since I have allergies and they would work well in your scenario.

I typically buy lots of snack type items and keep it simple. Jerky, string cheese, carrot sticks and celary (don't need to be kept ice cold, hummus (again you can find shelf stable individual packs), crackers with shelf stable cheese spreads, apple slices, cookies, bars that don't melt and water. I normally only do a few meals like this each trip though as I stay in a hotel so sandwiches and salads become too complicated.

 

[star72232]

Can I recommend Packits? They are lunchbags that are actually coolers (the sides are ice packs). I use them daily for my kids lunches and they are awesome.

You can get them at Canadian Tire.

 

[kymom99]

I have a set of storage containers that includes these tiny pieces just perfect for salad dressing. I'm not sure what brand they are. Maybe Kroger. A set of these containers would do wonders for your food packing efforts. Nothing gets smashed. Pack grapes, pickles, whatever. If you end up throwing them out at the end of your trip it's no loss.

 

[tobikaye]

We have small 2 or 3 oz containers, about 8-10 per pack, that we got from Dollar Tree. I use them to take sauces/dressing when I take my lunch to work. I plan to grab some before my trip as they are also great for portioning out small snacks.