We eat in the car.I know. We are those kind of people.Even though we've made huge strides at slowing down our lives, we still have rushed days. And occasionally, my hubby and I have minivan date nights. The kids enjoy a movie and a Happy Meal and we take a long drive.(I'm also the mother of a two year old and sometimes it's just better to avoid public eating places. You have no idea what I'm talking about? Okay, never mind!)
And for the spills. Oh, the stories my upholstery could tell!
I've found that keeping a stash of extra napkins, wipes and paper plates in the glove box help tremendously for lap eating. Oh, and recently, I've dedicated an old shoe box as a dining box, complete with little red trays I found for $.20 cents each at Target! Now, we can dine in style. Sort of.
Yes, we plan ahead for our white trash moments. Dining-on-the-go works for me!
Please mark your calendars for my favorite themed WFMW on June 3rd, the "Mom, I'm bored!" edition. Get ready to share your best tips to beat summer boredom!
Do you have a fabulous WFMW tip for me? I'd love to hear it. I'm all about taking this fabulous carnival to the next level with your ideas! Click here to share your ideas in the ongoing WFMW suggestion discussion in my forum.
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49 comments:
There is nothing wrong with that...they can't scream while eating, right??
What a GREAT idea!!! I could have used that when my kids were small!
~TidyMom
We used to do the mini-van date/drive when the kids were younger. Preferably until they all fell asleep so we avoided the whole bedtime thing.
I also keep extra napkins in the car. Never thought about the plate though, that's a good idea! LOL!
Great idea. That would really make the KFC bucket a classier experience. I love that Summer is all about spontaneity, but spontaneity in style is even better :)
We totally eat in the car, too! My ultimate goal is to actually pack healthy lunches to eat in the car, but alas, the Chick-fil-a Fruit bowl will have to do!
I love the minivan date-nite!
That's great...it's good to have supplies on hand...especially when Micky D's doesn't include the napkins!!! Grrr!
Those trays look like lifesavers!
Love that idea! Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
my WFMW this week was about eating in the car, too!
your post had some good ideas!
Eating in the car is the best way to do it! :)
Sometimes I don't even want to know what happens once the food is handed back...In fact, it's best not to look. Lol! We keep napkins, wipes and extra grocery sacks (for trash) on hand. It helps. A little.
Great tips and cool plates!
You mean there are families who DON'T eat in the car? Really? Whoa. ;-)
I love your ideas! :) We keep extra McD's napkins in the glovebox but haven't gone to the extent of your trays! :)
I also LOVE your minivan date night! Good idea!
Great idea! We are just starting to take our 5 year old into fast food restaurants! LOL! It's just so much easier to eat in the car.
Oh, I know the "joys" of eating out with little ones all too often! Can't say we've tried that type of "date night" ourselves - we just stay home!
We've had meals in the car before too. Not only that but we're homeschoolers and we've had to occasionally bring the schoolbooks in the car, as we've raced to a doctor's appt. or wherever!
Life just doesn't keep up sometimes, lol! Thank you for hosting this again!
This is one of the best ideas I have heard of - ever !!! Where have I been!!! Just one problem, we are always running out of gas and we may have to redefine the whole gas budget thing... but this sounds brilliant and I for one am all for it!
Sounds like my kind of date night. That's about as close as we get too. And I totally understand the two-year-old and avoiding public places. haha :) Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
We often did picnics on the living room floor with plastic stuff! It was a lot of fun, and the kids didn't mind cleaning up the mess, either!
We also took a lot of bike rides and bike picnics that way. Come to think of it, we should do another one!
Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!
I need to try this. I had a box of plastic spoons in the car, but when DH cleaned out my car one day (I'm not complaining) he brought it in the house.
It's great to be prepared! One of these days you'll get to eat out in a restaurant again, I promise. Enjoy the season.
Clearly I need to re-read the rules as I seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time [story of my life]
I thought we were all supposed to be frugal and share our tips? Never mind, maybe some time soon I shall get a clue [or two]
As for long journeys and avoiding restaurants due to smalls......surely everyone gets that?
Cheers
I just wanted to tell you that I took the parenting style quiz in your sidebar.
Hilarious!
Thank you, because that alone just brightened my morning. Well, and shot shivers of fear down my spine for the coming years! Yikes!
Have a fantastic day!
*Tricia
Gosh, you mommies are sooo fast at posting your Works-For-Me Wedneday linkies!
I thought I was fast until I got in at #156! Geez! lol!
Someone please tell me when I can return to restaurant dining? I have a 2 year old and I'm confined to chick-fil-a and pizza buffets. HELP ME!
If I knew it would all get better soon I just might make it!!!!!
We eat in the car on more occasions than I'd like to admit. I was reminded of that fact yesterday when I vacuumed out our Tahoe. Yikes!
This is a great idea for parents of young kids.
We eat in the car, too. It's unavoidable with our schedule. Great tips ... thanks!
~Heather
Your posts crack me up - we eat in the car, too, as the dried milk splatters down the door interiors and hidden cheerios and chex mix can attest...
I totally love that you did this for WFMW! Awesome!
I keep extra napkins and grocery bags for trash in the car as well. I haven't gone as far as you have because we don't eat in the car all that much and my son is 9, but I still like these ideas!
We have "SUV date nights" when my son is at karate. We go and get coffee and drink it in the car while we wait for him to get done. It's something we always look forward to. Sometimes we'll flip through the radio stations and see what we can find that's strange or amusing.
We eat in the van a lot too. If we've been out in the morning & it's close to nap time I'll save our lunch for us to eat on the way home. This keeps my son (3) awake so he can take a real & better nap at home. Also, I use baggies to put my son's food in. WFMW.
On the go WFM too Kristen. Can't believe you found those trays that cheap, and who says a shoe box can't work for something?
Ginger
Oh you PLAN for that. Its better than I: we do it all the time, but I pretend we don't = unprepared for i-don't-eat-fast-food meals. :)
Great tip!
Cathy
We use old fabric placemats...they work great to cover laps, etc. When they are stained beyond gross...throw them out...they were headed for Goodwill in the first place! Or...attempt to wash them...you don't care what they look like, if they aren't being used on a table anymore.
When we're in the middle of tween, pre-tween, toddler...babies we take our dates where we can get them.
Great ideas. I love Target end caps!!!
Love this idea! Hubby and I are going to have to try that! We pack Travel Toy Boxes to keep in the car, so this might be another way to keep them entertained while you drive around!
Great post, and so timely today for my family. Love the car date night. I think I'll try that.
sorry, I linked twice cause I forgot to put a description of my post. Can you tell I'm learning all this????
Lots of good ideas.
We have five kids and sometimes eat in the car too;) I have found that it really helps to have frisbees in the car. They make great plates for the kids who are too little to hold all the food in their lap.
Laura
I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one who does this! I have a plastic box & I keep plates, napkins, wipes, eating utensils, cups w/ lids, straws, ziplock bags, kleenex, bandaids, air freshner, OFF & scissors & tape.
You just never know! And, I always ask for extra straws, napkins & eating utensils at fast food places. KFC will even give you a stack of plates if you get a bucket! I embarass my kids, but hey they are willing to give the items & it helps keep my stash stocked at no extra cost. And, the kids never complain when they need that spork or plate! LOL!
Mel
You're too funny!!
Ha! love the post... this could work for a messy hubby and pup too!
this is my first time joining WFMW and i am thrilled to be a part of the fun.
I'm off to check out everyone else on WFMW.
Blessings, Emily
So this is my first time with Work for me Wed, I hope I made it well. I write an English/Spanish version, let's see...
Love this post!!!!
McDonald's Happy Meal - $3 ... minivan date night - priceless!
I'll have to do this. It's a good idea. The extra garbage bag idea was a good one too. My kids tend to drop their trash on the floor. I know. I should be a better mom. We're working on it!
In that same vein, I hold onto the drink holders that come from fast food places. I then take one with me when we go to the movies (especially if it's just me and the boys) to put our drinks in. Then only ONE of us (usually my 10yo) is carrying drinks while I hold onto the toddler.
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