As our family grows and the kids get older we are away from home more in the evening. Fast food eating is getting expensive and really is not healthy.
I do keep a budget and try to stay within that budget. But that is for home cooked meals. I wanted good meals, but how would I make that on the go? My solution became quite simple because all that was needed was a picnic basket mentality….with a home cooked, healthy meal!
Keep It Simple
Not every meal needs to be gourmet.
Tuna salad with carrot sticks
Peanut butter and jelly with celery
Pasta salad with breadsticks
Time Efficient
Meals on the go need to be packed like taking a picnic.
Drinks should be just as easy by packing caprisun, waters or kool-aid slammers.
Plan on 15 min. of preparation of the meal.
Packing the meal should not take longer than 15 min.
The total amount of time spent should not exceed 45 min.
Packing The Meal
Grab a picnic basket and a cooler.
Keep them in a quick place so they are easily accessible.
Keep napkins and silverware in a baggie so they are already packed.
Have everything ready to grab and go by the dinner hour.
Add in a frugal spin by shopping when everything is on sale!
So make it a goal this week just like I did and pack one meal on the go.
It will take time to change old habits, but now my family likes my cooking over fast food!
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***This post does contain affiliate links that will eventually support my family!
I believe I will reread this post a couple times. Great information!
We do something similar when we stay in hotels. It’s a lot more relaxing and cost effective like you say. – Margy
I have also found that we can feed the kids and they are full. Restaurant portions do not feed 5 hungry boys and my husband 🙂