Guest guest Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 We have decided to break the eating out habit this year. I would love some suggestions of what I could keep in a box in my van that is not junk food and not parishable that we can grab when it is lunch time and we realize we are not going to make it home soon. Also, anyone have some suggestions on quick meals, under 30 minutes that is not intesive to make for dinner. I get home and am so tired, and everyone is hungery and I just want taco bell. But We really have to quit eating out. It has really hurt our budget this year, and I would love to not keep this cycle as it is bad for our health too. Thanks so much Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 we rarely eat out because there aren't many vegan options, and my husband can't eat anything with oil in it. i set up a wholesale vegan and gf bakery (www.angelfood.co.nz) here in auckland late last year and since i now cook for a living (and love it!) i often don't feel like cooking dinner at home. sorry, family...! the best things i've found are a) cooking a lot when i do cook, so there's at least part of the next night's meal prepared and b) lowering my expectations! if all i have time/energy to prepare is brown rice with tinned beans plus green beans/peas from the freezer, that's absolutely fine. i'm sure planning meals a week in advance would be an excellent idea too, but i'm not naturally organised like that. cheers! alice On 22 Jun 2007, at 08:19, Amy Lovelace wrote: > We have decided to break the eating out habit this year. > > I would love some suggestions of what I could keep in a box in my van > that is not junk food and not parishable that we can grab when it is > lunch time and we realize we are not going to make it home soon. Also, > anyone have some suggestions on quick meals, under 30 minutes that is > not intesive to make for dinner. I get home and am so tired, and > everyone is hungery and I just want taco bell. But We really have to > quit eating out. It has really hurt our budget this year, and I would > love to not keep this cycle as it is bad for our health too. > > Thanks so much > Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 , " Amy Lovelace " <loveamy wrote: > > I get home and am so tired, and everyone is hungery and I just want taco bell. If you like taco bell make your own! corn tortillias keep well in the freezer or fridge I use amys refried beans black or pinto in a can , jar salsa and jar jalapnos ( I also use cheese) to make quesidillias you could also do nachos quickly too in the oven just use bagged chips beans salsa and tomatos ( optional-cheese) slice an avacado to have on the side or slice an onion & green pepper to make a fajita tortillias can be heated in the microwave between 2 wet paper towels mexican style food is fast! you could also drop ingredients in a slow cooker in the morning and come home to a hot meal ! any stews or soups do well in a slow cooker vegetaian chili, lentils potato curry it is easy to convert any recipes you have to a slow cooker here is a site http://busycooks.about.com/od/slowcookerrecipes/a/crockpot102.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 Amy--Here's what we do. First of all, in a box in the car I'd keep juice boxes, GF granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, GF pretzels, and/or homemade trail mixes. Thanks for the reminder--I need to restock my own box! Then, when you're about to head out, pack a small soft-sided cooler with cold drinks (we take frozen water in small bottles for each family member--they melt as we go, and are delicious!), fresh fruits and veggies, etc., so you don't have to worry about kids (or adults!) getting hungry and asking for fast food. We take these " goodie bags " along with us every time we leave the house, just in case. As a matter of fact, they came in handy just last night when we were running VERY late with errands and homeschool co-op, and didn't get home until almost 7:00! Try and remember to pack a ziploc bag in the cooler for pits and garbage, plus a wet washcloth in another ziploc for sticky hands and faces, and a napkin or two. Quick meals--how about a raw dinner? Nothing beats fresh fruits and veggies for a nutritious meal! Set out cut up veggies and/or fruits (keep cut up ones in the fridge for faster meals), with or without a dip (hummus, ranch, soy yogurt with fruit juice added, etc.), and dinner is served! No, my husband doesn't consider this dinner. But my kids and I just LOVE eating this way! Or keep homemade soups in the freezer in meal sized containers. Then thaw, heat, and serve with bagged salad and GF bread or rolls. Spagetti is a great standby, with bagged salad (okay--lazy moms like me LOVE bagged salads! LOL!) and GF bread or rolls, raw baby carrot sticks, or anything else you normally serve with pasta. Boil the water for the pasta as you're unpacking the groceries, and it will be ready when you're done. Precook some brown rice, and heat it. Heat up canned black beans, pinto beans, or lentils. Serve with cut up fresh or canned tomatoes, leftover cooked veggies, scallions, onions, raw cashews, or sprouts--let everyone pick their own toppings. My family loves this! Makes good use of leftovers, too. HTH! Marilyn ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 I always have an apple with me and bottled water in my tote. When I need to eat something I grab that or a rice bar/granola bar. When I am going to Special Olympics practices with my son we always have picnic type food in the car such as nut butter, bread, raisins, fruit, water, crackers, chips, canned fruit, granola bars, etc. If I didn’t do this we would be eating out every week sometimes multiple times a week which is something that I cannot do for my diet, and costs too much. Just having picnic type stuff with me all the time helps. Cece ______________________________\ ____ Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with FareChase. http://farechase./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 Suggestions for what you can keep in the car that keep indefinitely without refrigeration: dry cereals (healthy types, low- or no-sugar!) with individual-sized tetra packs of non-dairy milks. Also, cans of healthy style baked beans and soups you like. These CAN be eaten cold. You also need to keep a compact picnic set with a can opener for in-car eating. What we like to do, instead of dropping into a restaurant when we need some food, drop into a grocery store and grab fresh fruit, natural unsalted nuts, 100% juice. It takes about the same amount of time and can be eaten in the car; and these foods are health-promoting and mood-elevating. This kind of snack helps keep your energy more stable and greatly reduces that " so tired " feeling when arriving home after a long day. Also, this kind of food is a necessary part of a balanced vegan diet anyway, so it's not extra money going out the window. We learned to think this way after reading " Fit for Life " by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond back in the early 80's. It made car travel a whole more pleasant for us! Deborah We have decided to break the eating out habit this year. I would love some suggestions of what I could keep in a box in my van that is not junk food and not parishable that we can grab when it is lunch time and we realize we are not going to make it home soon. Also, anyone have some suggestions on quick meals, under 30 minutes that is not intesive to make for dinner. I get home and am so tired, and everyone is hungery and I just want taco bell. But We really have to quit eating out. It has really hurt our budget this year, and I would love to not keep this cycle as it is bad for our health too. Thanks so much Amy . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 I just thought of some more ideas: rice cakes with nut butters of various types and no-sugar jam. Canned artichoke hearts. Deborah Suggestions for what you can keep in the car that keep indefinitely without refrigeration: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 I keep a larabar (vegan, raw, GF) and a individual container (lunch sized cups) of applesauce in my glove compartment. Trader Joes sells almonds in individual serving sized packs. I always keep one of those in my bag just in case. Marie =) On 6/22/07, Deborah Pageau <dpageau wrote: > > I just thought of some more ideas: rice cakes with nut butters of > various types and no-sugar jam. Canned artichoke hearts. > > Deborah > > Suggestions for what you can keep in the car that keep indefinitely > without refrigeration: > . > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2007 Report Share Posted June 23, 2007 I'd be leery of keeping nut butters in the car, especially during the summer. They are liable to go rancid in the heat. -Erin check out my gluten-free vegan cookbook: http://www.zenpawn.com/vegblog/store.html , " Deborah Pageau " <dpageau wrote: > > I just thought of some more ideas: rice cakes with nut butters of various types and no-sugar jam. Canned artichoke hearts. > > Deborah > > > Suggestions for what you can keep in the car that keep indefinitely without refrigeration: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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