Road Trip Food

[JennyG]

Hey guys! We don't have a camper nor will we be camping at WDW, but I figured you guys would be the best to ask about road trip food.

We are driving to WDW from TX, 17hr drive... and it's our first time to drive. We have a 4yr old who just learned to walk a few months ago. Thank goodness because he'll want to get out and run around at rest stops.

DS and DH are not big sandwich eaters, so I need some ideas on what to take for lunch and dinner while we're on the road. DH will probably want something warm for dinner... is there something we can purchase that plugs into the cig lighter for that?

Any ideas would be great!!

 

[donnaf516]

We're driving from NJ. I'd like to hear about this too.

 

[Teamubr]

We generally don't take "food". It's more like snacks. Pretzels, fruit, licorice, non-messy stuff. When my DS was young, we made sure he had penty of his favorite snacks (fish, cereal, fruit)

We also take a small cooler (12 pack size) and keep water or soda in it. It fits on the floor behind one of the seats.

For meals, we typically grab something when we stop for fuel. Gives us a chance to get out, walk around and we usually go inside to eat so we aren't sitting in the car/truck all the time.

I travel more for races now than camping. It's usually just my team mate and me. We split up driving and swap at fuel stops (200-300 miles) but we still do the same thing with meals. Snacks in the truck, meals inside wherever we stop for fuel.

j

 

[JennyG]

Great suggestions, thank you!

I'm just trying to keep the cost down as much as possible. Snacks and fruit will probably be our best bet anyway... saves bathroom stops.

 

[KristinU]

Here's our road food list:
Pasta salad (tricky for the driver, so better while stopped)
Bagels and peanut/almond butter
Apples, Oranges, Bananas, Grapes
Baby carrots
Cherry tomatoes
Squeezable yogurts (or regular ones for adults, with granola to sprinkle in)
Oatmeal/Nut/Granola bars
Trail Mix
Tuna Salad on Bagels
Juices and small milks
String Cheese

Although, some of our stuff wouldn't be the best with a 4 year old...I'd be worried about choking in the back seat with carrots, grapes, and tomatoes...I didn't start handing those back to our DS in the back seat until 5 or 6.

 

[artsheart]

We travel a lot and although not always the healthiest here are a few things we always have: lunchables (my 4-year-old loves the jrs. with diced ham), animal cookies, goldfish, gogurts, chips, cereal bars, pop-tarts, granola bars and we always make pb and j sandwhiches and freeze them so when we are ready to eat them they are not soggy....the kids love them! Another good idea is those nugget lunchables you can keep them in a cooler or if you take them out in the morning they are good by lunch time. Lunchables all around are great. There is one I love with crackers and philidelphia cream chees spread and turkey...mmm so good!

 

[LarryJ]

I know you said DS and DH are not big sandwich eaters, but they should "belly up to the bar" so to speak for this one time and chow down on a sandwich which is by far the easiest for on the road. Package of lunchmeat, maybe some packs of mayo that you can scrounge at some fast food place in your normal daily routine and a loaf of bread, bag of chips and maybe some pickles and done for something to fill the belly.

Larry

 

[gillenkl]

We usually pack sandwiches so I can't help you much there - I do bring some extras for the kids like lunchables and yogurt - plus drinks - soda, water and OJ. Most grocery stores have prepared containers of celery/carrots with dip - and I've found some individually wrapped pineapple spears we like to bring.

 

[retired and happy]

Many grocery stores/Wal Mart/etc also now have some form of deli or fast food place inside. That'll give some variety depending on where you stop and that same chance to stretch your legs.

 

[NancyDee]

I always make muffins for Breakfast...Sandwiches for lunch....and breaded chicken for dinner...along with salads and snacks.

We too eat when we stop for gas, but we picnic.

 

[MissChris]

We eat a good breakfast before we start and then pack lots of fruit. Apple slices, bananas, grapes, oranges all pack well and so many travel snacks are so salty that it's refreshing to have some nice fruit. We also bring sliced meat and cheese (we eat them rolled up together, not in sandwiches usually). Of course goldfish crackers, and those gummi fruit snacks are also very popular. We mostly bring lots of water to drink, soda and other stuff gets the little ones too riled up and water doesn't stain or stink if it spills.

When we travel with the kids, particularly a long day, we actually find it really helpful to stop for dinner. We stop at a diner or fast food place and everyone gets out and stretches their legs and has a relaxing dinner and then we put the kids in their pajamas and tuck them in nice and snug and they usually fall asleep which means we can finish of the drive with a minimum of difficulty. It adds some time but its worth it to us.

Good luck, and have fun.

 

[Aalsen]

12V output in you car and have this bag that keeps the food cold. Could use it to anything

 

[estherhead]

I have a recipe on my Tr for the main course we are taking. Empanadas. They are in my freezer right now. When it's time to go I'll reheat them, wrap in aluminum foil & put them in a sideded cooler. They'll stay warm for 2-3 hours when they are all together & are the perfect temp when it's time to eat.

 

[PrincessMom98]

I have something like this - Roadpro-Liter-Cooler-Warmer . I bought mine at Target years ago for about $20. I have never used the heat option on it, just as a cooler for roadtrips without the camper.

 

[mikeymouse1]

Cheese-Its!!!Are our road food. I have seen a cigarette lighter powered crock pot at a truck stop before. Walmart or Target may sell one.

 

[brat]

12 volt crock-pot full our fav vegtable hot dish if driving in our van.In our RV normal meals many of them very budget friendly.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I make this trail mix that really kind of keeps me going.
It is
1 large bag of M&M plain
1 jar of unsalted peanuts
1/2 bag of prexel sticks brokeb up
1 large box of raisins

 

[ScottOKW2K]

For those that like to stop we have found that the kids menu at Cracker Barrel works well for us. It is just enough to feel like you have had a meal, relatively inexpensive for a sit down meal, and is small enough that it will not make you sleepy later. This has worked well for us on a number of WDW trips.

 

[fort4evr]

I take fancy wrap style sandwiches, a bag of salad and a gallon baggie with my favorite home made soup, i take along a hotpot then heat up the soup. A filling meal of soup,salad and sandwich! Say hi to Steve for me
Yvonne

 

[dudelydude]

Subway subs in a small cooler.