Living out in the country, I commute to most everything I do with Sylvie. Most of our friends are across the water in Seattle. The nearest Zoo is 30 minutes away as is our parent/child class.
All of this commuting has made me very proficient at packing snacks on the run. I realize most of you don’t have to commute just for a play date, but I think you’ll find this advice helpful even if you’re just packing a picnic, taking a long journey, or planning a day of errands.
The first thing that I can’t live without is my insulated lunch tote. Mine was a gift from my MIL in Germany, but there are lots of great ones around. A few things that I would recommend when buying one is to look for one with a shoulder strap. (We mamas and pops have our hands full.) Secondly, I would recommend something tall rather than wide. I find the items I use fit in it more orderly. Here is a great one I found that is similar to mine:
I just use reusable freezer packs (2) in mine to keep items cold.
The next item I use regularly is an insulated thermos. Mine is an Alfi brand, and I use it to store anything I want to keep cold (goat milk in my case). I love mine, and it’s a bonus that it has farm animals and says “Farmily” (sigh).
For drinking in the car and on the run, I have been on a very long quest for a sippy cup that doesn’t leak. This has been no easy task, and I’ve had my daughter go all Jackson Pollock more than once on the inside of my car. My favorite so far is this one by Camelbak. (I will note that I’ve never tried the Kleen Kanteens, but I’ve tried about everything else.)
For transporting snacks, I really like the ZoLi snack stacker.
This was given to me as a gift, and I love it. It fits really easily into the tote, and make the snacks organized and easy to find. There are so many great bento stackers out there though, that it should be easy to find one you love. For sandwiches, I really like Snacktaxi bags.
I’d love to hear any tips you have for taking food on the go.
(Note: I don’t currently have sponsors, and I didn’t get any of the products listed for free. I genuinely use each of these, and I had to pay for them- except the ZoLi that was a baby gift.)