Any ideas for healthy lunches for a car ride? Sometimes our morning errands take too long and I end up with two very hungry kids (2 and 4.) I would rather have something prepared than run through a drive-thru. Thanks!
Just as an add-on: I should have clarified that this isn't a daily occurrence nor do I let my kids eat in the car often. But sometimes life happens and I am looking for ideas! Thanks!
schedule errands between meals. if kids get hungry have a banana handy for them but don't feed food (lunch, breakfast etc) in the car. it's not healthy and it's dangerous.
lunch ideas for NOT in the car:
PB and J with milk or water followed by some kind of fruit
cold cuts sandwiches
boiled egg, bread, fruit, cheese etc.
but please don't make it a habit to feed kids junk food or any kind of food while running errands.
granola bar,box of cereal and a sippy cup with milk,cook some eggs or broil some eggs
- PBJ cut-up
- Quesadillas cut up and room temp
-Sliced fruits/veggies
-Juice boxes
** See if you can find a place to sit down so they aren't getting in the habit of eating in the car. I have found that pulling into a parking lot and finding a bench to sit on works well!
Be careful letting your kids eat in the car. My daughter choked on food in the car and I had no idea until she got the food dislodged in her throat. She told me she tried to tell me, but that the sound didn't come out because she couldn't breathe. It was very scary. Also, when I finally did hear her I was unable to pull over at that moment. I don't let her eat in the car anymore.
I have packed little bagged lunches before. (Pb &J, juice box and snacks) Bagel with creamcheese are really nice on the go. I usually have pretzel rods or some snack in the car. The kids are older now and need their afterschool snack. Sometimes i have too many errands to go home.
You do have to be careful with the choking. I gave my daughter a banana in the car (14 years ago). She started choking and i had to pull over. It was scary. I feel better with them eating in the car now that they are older.
I have a cute story. On occasion i buy junk. One afternoon about a week ago i put buggles in the car. I picked up my girls along with some teenage friends. It was chilly and rainy. One of the boys was so excited that i had buggles. He was cracking us up. He said "ooooh warm dry car and buggles!!" ...as he was chowing down mouthfuls :)
Keep a cooler in your car.
Schedule your errands... per your kids naps and needs for snacks.
Give them a snack before leaving for errands.
Put things/snacks in ziplock bags... or get single serving snacks that are already packaged... .like those 100 calorie Nabisco snacks that come several in a box.
We always carry a few of the following with us:
Salami
Roasted Seaweed
Cheese sticks or cubes or slices
Bread and butter,
PB&J
Small bag of favorite cereal
Sun Chips or Baked Potato Chips
Whole Wheat crackers (like Ritz - lots to choose from there)
Fruit Leathers
Fresh fruit: Grapes and apples carry the best IMO
Fresh veggies: small cucumbers, carrots, celery travel well.
Change it up...and you have enough for a lunch
I take nearly anything I want in a well insulated lunch box with an ice pack.
We love banana wraps! Put peanut butter on a whole wheat wrap (soft tortilla shell). Cut up a banana on it, and wrap it like a burrito. It doesn't need refrigerated, and it's healthy. We usually have them once a week. Enjoy! =)
