Snack/lite meal ideas for the car ride?

[molly2004]

Hi, there! I just wanted to get some good ideas for snacks and meals during our roadtrip next week. I don't want to stop off at every fast food joint along the road for obvious reasons. I wonder what you all might have up your sleeves for wholesome good eats. Fruit and granola bars are obvious choices. What are some other ideas?

One idea I had was along the lines of Lunchables you see in the cold cuts case at the grocery store. Only problem with them is the disgraceful amount of sodium and other junk in them. I can make my own "lunchables" but wondered if you guys might have any interesting ideas on how to pack them so they are appealing to kiddos. I know my guys would try the real Lunchables simply because of the kid-friendly packages. Any thoughts about how to package them up in ways that would have the same pizzazz as the store bought ones? Gotta entice the kids AND DH!

 

[mask_w03]

What about making some cute sandwhiches ahead of time and get a mickey cookie cutter and cut them out to get everyone into the mood for the trip. Or get some crackers and cheese and meats and make a cute box decorated in Disney items (stickers and what not). You could also use the cookie cutter to cut the cheese and meat into mickey heads or something fun.

 

[java]

Our Target had the sectioned meal trays- like cafeteria style? You could section up stuff in each section and present it like a "package" meal. I would wrap the whole thing in that Glad wrap that sticks to everything_ I can't remember what it is called but it really does self stick to everything-even metal! Think string cheese, crackers, rolled lunch meat- or even better a cold piece of chicken- like a rotiserie leg! with some grapes. I also do a trail mix to bring along- just all different kinds of cereal- Cheerios, Kix, Rice Crispies, Corn Pops ect.. and my kids love picking through it- sometimes I'll add a few mini marshmallows too for fun.
Another thing I suggest is stopping at non-chain places along the trip. Last time we stopped at a great sandwich place right outside of Richmond about 3 minutes off I95. And then we stopped at a fantastic BBQ place in Georgia. If you are willing to drive just 3 minutes off an exit chances are you can find some yummy places- I used a book Drive I95 to find the places we stopped. Before the trip I didn't think I liked the book- but now that we have driven down with it- it did help us find food!

 

[LSUDis]

How about using those paper plates (Hefty, I think) that, if you flip one over, it snaps onto the bottom one & becomes a tight lid? Have the kids decorate w/ markers and stickers b/f you put them together w/ the food.

Also have used the idea of previous poster--make your own trail mix. Do it up big. . .have the kids go w/ you to the store and choose elements of the trail mix--their favorite dry cereal, M & M's, raisins, peanuts, popcorn, baked Cheetos, whales, yogurt drops, etc.

 

[hollyb]

We use to pack a ton of food for the 4 of us. We have come to realize that we like to get out of the car, stop, eat,strecht, go to the bathroom and wash up a little. Having said that. Now we just bring drinks and little snack bags of chips and some fruit and of course a little chocolate.

 

[tjmw2727]

We drive from DE to FL a few times a year to visit relatives. I pack sandwiches for dh and I and like the OP said homemade lunchables for the kids as well as sandwiches. For the lunchables you can get the gladware use or toss contaners with the compartments. They have them in toddler type and regular types. I put lunchmeats, cheeses, crackers and usually some rasins and cut carrots, my dd's love this for school as well. As for sandwiches I usually make several and cut them into 4's then bag them two 4ths to a bag (or a 1/2 sandwich) to cut down on waste. My kids tend to snack on a car trip rather than sit to each an entire lunch so I put smaller portions than I would say for school lunch.

I do pack lots of snacks but instead of buying the snack size bags I buy the big size and then use baggies. Again this elminates waste and I can control the portions, we can also reseal them if necessary. I love the PP's trail mix idea and will definately do that next trip if not sooner!!

I bought the small size water bottles with the sport top to elminate spills and because I really didn't want juice boxes or bags in the car due to the mess. My dd's also like sunny d and that now comes in a sports bottle. If the kids are toddlers there are lots of no spill cups including disposables!

Don't rule out a trip to the ff stops for a break esp if they have an indoor playground. Most times for us its just to play and maybe munch some fries or even an ice cream treat.

TJ

 

[Shagley]

We always take crackers, cheese slices (a couple different kinds), and pepperoni or salami slices (or sometimes we take sliced ring bologna or summer sausage). Or roll ups are good too. Put the sandwich fixings in a flour tortilla and roll it up. They are easier to transport than sandwiches because they don't get smooshed as easily.

You could always get those cute paper plates that look like animal faces to serve the snacks...

http://www.dixiefun.com/parent/products.html or
http://www.pactiv.com/HeftyPals/ or
http://www.makeitadixieday.com/prdct-plates-disney.html