Do you find yourself popping to the drive thru too often for the kids dinner? Or are your kids having too many sugary snacks to top them up in between school and activities? Do you wish you could give them something more nutritious while you’re out and about? Look no further – my article on ideas for kids meals on the go is just what you need.
It’s probably not something that entered your head before you had kids, but these days parents and kids are often eating “on the go”. Life with children can often seem like an endless round of car trips as you ferry the kids back and forth to various activities and these things often take place after school at meal times. So how do you feed your kids on those days or evenings when you’re out and about?
Believe it or not, it is possible to feed your children a healthy dinner on the go and avoid the oh so tempting drive through takeaways. For more ideas see my lunchbox ideas for kids.
Here are some initial steps to take to help keep your sanity while out and about….
- Keep a stash of handy items in the car – napkins, wipes and utensils. Bin bags are essential to prevent your car resembling rubbish tip
- If something isn’t working, try a different approach
- Remember to take something for yourself too. Maybe just a snack or a flask of coffee if you’re planning on eating later at home
- This can be a stressful period of parenthood, but remember it’s not going to be like this forever and try to go with the flow for now – your kids are learning new skills and gaining valuable experiences
- Invest in plenty of reusable, portable pots and boxes
- Meal planning is essential for things to go smoothly. Set aside around 30 minutes a week to plan your meals inside and outside the home for the coming days
KIDS MEALS ON THE GO – The Art of Eating in the Car
1: A Pick and Mix of Healthier Foods
Kids often end up eating in the car on the way to their activities. Try and choose items that are not going to be too messy to eat. If you’ve had a really busy day yourself and have very little preparation time then it’s best to go with something quick, low stress but filling and nutritious. Cold food is best in this situation and remember it doesn’t have to be complicated to be healthy. Focus on providing some sort of carbohydrate, a protein source and some fruit or veg. Here are some ideas:
- Turkey bagels + sticks of celery + peanut butter + raisins
- A tortilla wrap spread with hummus + carrot and cucumber sticks + chocolate milk carton
- Ham salad sandwich + trail mix + carton of fruit juice
- Cubes of cheese + crackers + grapes + mixed nuts + tube/pouch of yoghurt
2: Hot Food
If you have a bit more time to prepare something, a hot meal is perfectly possible. However, It’s probably better suited to slightly older children as there is a higher chance of mess with some of these suggested dishes. To keep things warm wrap items in foil and a clean tea towel and place in an insulated lunch bag. Thermos flasks are great for any food items with a sauce or gravy.
- Burritos
- Toasted sandwiches
- Sausage or bacon sandwiches
- Hot pasta dishes e.g. macaroni cheese (place in thermos flask)
- Soup, stew or casserole + bread roll + pineapple chunks
- Pizza slices + banana + yoghurt tube
3: Find food while you’re out and about
If you have no time to prepare and nothing in the house to throw in a bag then you need to buy it when you’re out. Local grocery shops and supermarkets have plenty of grab and go options. Concentrate on lean protein options and less processed foods with fewer ingredients:
Bagels
Crackers
Fresh fruit
Dried fruit
Fruit pots
Pre-made salads
Pre cut veg and hummus pots or guacamole
Yoghurts
Individual cheeses
Nuts and seeds
Cooked chicken pieces
Scotch eggs
Ready made chilled pasta bowls
Sandwiches (egg, chicken, salad, tuna)
Ready made sushi packs
Smoothies
Milk
KIDS MEALS ON THE GO – The Art of Eating at Different Times at Home
Often you will find that there is time to eat at home but everyone will be coming and going at different times so you won’t be able to eat together. Eating in the car may not always be an option for you either. So what do you do…
Make Use of a Slow Cooker
Cook something in the slow cooker that day that can be kept on the “keep warm” option. Everyone can help themselves whenever it suits them. Here are some great ideas. Serve these with some kind of bread (rolls, naan):
- Casserole
- Stews
- Chilli
- Curry
- Pulled pork
Pre-cook Something to be Reheated
Here are some ideas for meals that can be made ahead and reheated.
- Curry
- Lasagne
- Soup
- Casseroles
Serve with something very quick to prepare such as bags of salad, frozen veg or ready cooked rice that you heat in the microwave.
Prepare something that can be eaten cold and leave in the fridge
A little time spent preparing means you can have tea straight from the fridge
- Pasta salads
- Potato salads
- Nicoise salad (boiled egg and tuna)
- Cous cous salad with meatballs
- Sandwiches / wraps and coleslaw
- Mediterranean platter – deli meats, torn mozzarella, rocket, sundried tomatoes, olives, roasted peppers from a jar, fresh tomatoes, balsamic dressing, crusty bread
- Falafel, hummus and salad
Don’t forget to leave a note with instructions.
I hope you find these ideas useful and that I’ve helped you to feed your kids healthy balanced meals even when life gets a bit hectic.
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