Comments on: Out of the Lunch Box

By: Fighting Hunger on the Road « Less Than a Shoestring

Fighting Hunger on the Road « Less Than a Shoestring — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:49:46 +0000

[...] by poetloverrebelspy A follow-up to yesterday’s piece, I was inspired by Janel writing at Frugal Hacks about packing food for the road. [A little plug here: I recently joined Frugal Hacks, and if you [...]

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:49:58 +0000

I am so with you on bagging sandwich ingredients separately, and putting PB on both pieces of bread. Great tips!

By: AnnMarie

AnnMarie — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:31:50 +0000

I grew up bringing a cooler along on all family trips (we took a major trip to the east coast every 2-5 years, plus shorter trips that were only an entire days drive a few times a year). I’m so used to it that I was horrified at the idea of stopping for fast food on trips when my DH suggests it. But I’ve converted him! And we have more spending money for other things when we pack food from home.

We now usually make the s’whiches at home so DH can pull them out of the cooler while he’s driving. But growing up, we usually brought all the fixings and made them at rest stops. It really helps break up the trip and makes sure you get a rest. It also helps to have the stuff along (loaf of bread, mustard, mayo, etc) because then we have it for making more the second day or for the trip back.

By: Laralee

Laralee — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:06:55 +0000

With a large family, we too, pack our own food when traveling. Like you, we pack sandwich makings. The children like salami & cream cheese rolls too. We usually pack a special salad as well. A little harder to eat in the car, but good for the inactivity of traveling. Apples, grapes and bananas are usual fruits we take.

Some special treats we usually take that we don’t usually purchase are string cheese, gogurts and pretzels. A special snack the children like is animal crackers used as a spoon for little applesauce cups (something REALLY special because traveling is the only time I buy these).

For the first morning of travel we will make egg burritos and wrap them individually in foil to heat before we leave and then eat on the road. Other on-the-road quick breakfasts that we take are homemade banana/pumpkin/zucchini bread or muffins, yogurts & granola, & bagels & cream cheese.

We always have water bottles on hand and usually a gallon of oj with cups for drinks.

Since husband is a coffee addict, he pays the children a quarter commission for each new Starbucks they spot on the road before he does. This helps them to pay attention to where they are geographically while traveling and helps them to keep their minds of finding something instead of getting somewhere : ) Less “Are we there yet’s.” My husband’s frugal tip for Starbucks is that he purchases just a coffee and adds cream rather than paying for the high priced fancier coffees.

Oh yes. I can’t forget the ziplocs and paper towels. Ziplocs are mandatory traveling supplies – good for trash, containing leftover food and especially good for containing the spewing due to the flubug that rears its ugly head right after we get on the road : ) Or does this just happen to OUR family?

Laralee
http:/www.PlymouthRockRanch.com
Recording the Faithfulness and Provision of God for Future Generations

By: momadvice

momadvice — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:54:45 +0000

We love to pack our food for trips and one way that I make it more special is buying things that we don’t typically have at home to prepare with. Having “special” snacks makes them beg less for food on the road because they already have lots of snacks in the car.

Great post!

By: Marsha

Marsha — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:11:30 +0000

I’ve developed a roster of “trip food” that is only prepared when we’ll be on the road. By now, the kids actually look forward to it because it’s special: I put together a little “bento” for each child, with cheese slices cut with a cookie cutter (stars, moons, whatnot) and whole wheat crackers, apple slices treated with a bit of lemon juice, lime or lemon water in a sport bottle, red licorice, a Herskey kiss and another small container of carrot sticks. I keep another bag in the trunk with some home-popped popcorn, bottles of diluted juice and maybe some homemade granola bars as well. This is useful in case we’re delayed and I need more food but it’s also nice as a treat if things are going well.

By: KimC (frugalmommy)

KimC (frugalmommy) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:26:05 +0000

Janel,
We often did sandwiches when our family was smaller but now we like to do wraps when we’re on the road. I find that they are even easier to assemble (esp. when you’re feeding 10 people!) and people usually expect less toppings – meat and cheese are fine w/o spread, and veggies make a nice extra but aren’t necessary. This cuts down prep time, since we can grab the fixin’s at a grocery store before or even during the trip.
Also, with lots of little kids, we find that wraps are far less messy. Fillings are safely wrapped inside and they don’t tend to slide apart the sandwiches can in small hands. Tortillas don’t crumble like bread, and no mayo means no grease smeared on the seats, floors, windows…