Creative Ideas for Meals on the Road

idocdlw

So...the first time in many years that I will be traveling with non-LC folks for several days. I normally travel in my RV so have the good food in my fridge for any trip. I will be driving with my folks in their van from Manhattan, KS to Philly PA for the Christmas. I anticipate the trip to take 3 days and I know my parents will most likely stop at fast food places for meals along the way. I think I have a pretty good handle on what to do, but would appreciate any tips and tricks. Once in Philly, I know that I can adhere to my woe...it's just the road trip that has me concerned. I never eat fast food so not sure what is and is not safe at this time (oh...that is a big lie...I know full well what is safe...I just want pointers).

Cadori

I would take a small ice chest and bring string cheese, salami, half and half, a small jar of coconut oil and pistachios.

I would make BPC in the morning, eat cheese and salami for one meal a day and do a bunless burger, eggs and bacon or a salad once a day at a restaurant. I'd have the nuts and a diet soda if I was feeling snacky.

sammyliftsandeats

McDonalds: All day breakfast - you can order sausage patties and round eggs a la carte. You save money this way. Coffee with cream. You can also order burger patties a la carte as well.

Wendy's: They do bunless burgers by request - baconator with no ketchup and no bun. A ceasar salad with no croutons. A Dave's single with no onions or ketchup.

Chipotle: Any of the salads - they have a customizable nutrition builder on their website.

7-11: Pork rinds, nuts, you can also look in their cooler and they may sell cheese sticks or hard boiled eggs.

Do you have a portable cooler? Maybe go to the store and pack some snacks like pepperoni, hard boiled eggs, cheese, and some veggies if you'd like. Celery or cucumbers with ranch dip.

T1DCarnivoreRunner

Great ideas already have been presented. I do longer road trips once or twice per year (solo, and I would expect to make that distance in less than 2 days... especially with multiple drivers so you can sleep in shifts). I don't normally bring a cooler.

Any burger place - ditch the bun and fries. Subway salads are great, just don't add croutons and watch for some of the higher carb dressings.

For snacks on the road, I take meat sticks (think Slim Jim or similar) and cashews / peanuts. And if you are eating while riding (I don't recommend this while driving), you can literally bring a jar of peanut butter and a spoon. But I find it easy to get carried away with peanut butter. Drink unsweetened iced tea or diet soda at restaurants or when you stop at convenience stores / refuel / rest stops.

idocdlw

Cadori wrote: »

I would take a small ice chest and bring string cheese, salami, half and half, a small jar of coconut oil and pistachios.

I would make BPC in the morning, eat cheese and salami for one meal a day and do a bunless burger, eggs and bacon or a salad once a day at a restaurant. I'd have the nuts and a diet soda if I was feeling snacky.

Thanks Cadori for the quick response & suggestions...but trying to avoid carrying an extra cooler...already carrying one for my dog as I feed him only Freshpet + homemade food. Not ready to invest time or energy into another cooler. If I were traveling alone, your suggestions are exactly what I would do. Maybe I should prioritize myself on the same level that I do my pup. (And diet soda are verboten!)

anglyn1

All of the above are great. Also if you are near a Jimmy John's the unwich is a great choice. Any sub lettuce wrapped. Depending on how neatly they roll them up you can sometimes even drive and eat them! lol

idocdlw

samanthaluangphixay wrote: »

McDonalds: All day breakfast - you can order sausage patties and round eggs a la carte. You save money this way. Coffee with cream. You can also order burger patties a la carte as well.

Wendy's: They do bunless burgers by request - baconator with no ketchup and no bun. A ceasar salad with no croutons. A Dave's single with no onions or ketchup.

Chipotle: Any of the salads - they have a customizable nutrition builder on their website.

7-11: Pork rinds, nuts, you can also look in their cooler and they may sell cheese sticks or hard boiled eggs.

Do you have a portable cooler? Maybe go to the store and pack some snacks like pepperoni, hard boiled eggs, cheese, and some veggies if you'd like. Celery or cucumbers with ranch dip.

Thanks samantha for the info...this (eating out options) is really what I was looking for as I am unfamiliar with most fast food menus nowadays. Echoing the response to Cadori, I will probably not be motivated to pack a cooler in addition to that I dedicate to my furry child. Most of what I would pack in a cooler would be great for the first day (still might do that) but sounds kinda icky after the first day without a real fridge.

sammyliftsandeats

idocdlw wrote: »

samanthaluangphixay wrote: »

McDonalds: All day breakfast - you can order sausage patties and round eggs a la carte. You save money this way. Coffee with cream. You can also order burger patties a la carte as well.

Wendy's: They do bunless burgers by request - baconator with no ketchup and no bun. A ceasar salad with no croutons. A Dave's single with no onions or ketchup.

Chipotle: Any of the salads - they have a customizable nutrition builder on their website.

7-11: Pork rinds, nuts, you can also look in their cooler and they may sell cheese sticks or hard boiled eggs.

Do you have a portable cooler? Maybe go to the store and pack some snacks like pepperoni, hard boiled eggs, cheese, and some veggies if you'd like. Celery or cucumbers with ranch dip.

Thanks samantha for the info...this (eating out options) is really what I was looking for as I am unfamiliar with most fast food menus nowadays. Echoing the response to Cadori, I will probably not be motivated to pack a cooler in addition to that I dedicate to my furry child. Most of what I would pack in a cooler would be great for the first day (still might do that) but sounds kinda icky after the first day without a real fridge.

Understandable.

I don't know what kind of fast food places are along your route, but I'm sure you will find something suitable. Also, don't discount mom and pop style diners for fried eggs and bacon, if you decide for a sit down place.

emaline2210

We always pack a cooler when we travel: nuts, beef jerkey, veggies and dip, meats and cheeses, pickles, olives and hardboiled eggs.

emaline2210

Also lettuce wrapped burgers at in n out and Carls jr. Salads at subway. Unwich at Jimmy johns are super yummy.

KnitOrMiss

If in doubt at any burger place that shows their nutritional data, a review of the carb count difference between a single and double burger of the same type can show you if there are fillers or additives to their meat, as a single burger patty should not increase the carbs from one burger patty burger to a two burger patty burger (unless it uses American cheese, etc.)... So I'd say if it is over a 5 carb difference, I'd skip it, but over medium eggs with sausage and bacon and such are one of my favorite "out" things, too...

RowdysLady

Subway will also sell you just the meat, cheese and veggies if you want - not the price of a salad. I haven't found any fast food restaurant that won't accommodate ordering just the meat, cheese, bacon, whatever al a carte. I do find that trying to do that through drive thru is an exercise in futility. Go inside it will be quicker unless they already know you.

KnitOrMiss

Also, if you're careful, you can grab and go from most walmarts/grocery stores. In the refrigerated area by the deli, there is usually salami, pepperoni, or prosciutto wrapped around cheese sticks wherever they have party trys. A small veggie tray with dip. Enough lunch meat, cheese, mayo packets, and small jar of pickles or olives to keep in the car (they only tell you to refrigerate them so you won't get sick if they stay in heat, but most use enough vinegar to keep fine in the car for the trip. We keep ours on the counter. They also have pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs, but those are usually 6 at a time. Family might be willing to share a rotisserie chicken - they get theirs on bread or whatever, eat yours with mayo, butter, or any full fat slab you like. Marscapone cheese comes in smaller tubs, etc. Pork rinds are good for the car, other than maybe a few crumbs, coconut oil comes some places in individual packets, etc. Someone makes a shelf-stable coconut oil, butter, and cocoa blend that makes instant BPC...comes in a jar... A little frother works (battery operated) well for blending. Starbucks and most of those places have heavy cream and such these days. beef and cheese sticks, etc.

idocdlw

Thanks everybody!

canadjineh

BTW.... Wendy's gives out 18% cream portions for their coffee/tea. You could be a bit sneaky and ask for extra to stick in the little cooler in case you end up somewhere where it's only 2%, lol.