When packing snacks for a visit, I’ve by no means fairly managed to be the kind of father or mother who brings alongside a rainbow of healthful meals…
Goldfish? Sure. Greens that I’ve sliced and prepped the night time earlier than? Not gonna occur. However I have discovered a secret weapon snack that has a confirmed observe report of abating hangriness and powering by means of unwelcomed TSA delays for my two children (ages 5 and a pair of).
It’s…a Ziploc bag of cooked pasta.
Sure, that’s it. I boil a pound of it the night time earlier than we depart, let it cool, toss it with a tiny splash of olive oil to forestall sticking, and put over half of it in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. (I depart the rest in a Tupperware within the fridge for once we get house, so there’s one thing to eat.) The bag goes into my tote…typically with an ice pack if it’s going to be some time.
A big bag of pasta has accompanied my household by means of an insanely lengthy immigration line in Costa Rica, a six-hour automotive journey to North Carolina, and a three-hour-delayed flight to Dallas.
It fills my children up and doesn’t require silverware — penne or rigatoni is necessary right here! Straightforward to seize! For toddlers, it even retains them occupied for a lot of minutes at a time (minutes — this can be a win in kid-travel time!) as they attain (with clear arms) into the large bag to seize their penne.
What it lacks in creativity (and any form of nuanced taste), it makes up for in ease: there aren’t any sticky fingers or crumbs buried in automotive seat crevices. Penne is simple to wash up when some inevitably drops on the ground.
Have we additionally used the pasta bag as soon as we arrive on the vacation spot? Completely. The bag o’ pasta can jam right into a resort mini-fridge, and it’s additionally nice for if you haven’t purchased groceries to your Airbnb and your jet-lagged kiddos are hungry at 5 a.m. however nothing is but open for breakfast. As a result of pasta for breakfast — or any hour — is unquestionably permitted if you’re touring.
What’s your tried-and-true journey snack?
Carey Polis is an editorial advisor and strategist for meals and life-style manufacturers. She writes the publication: Cheese, Ebook, Restaurant, Factor.
P.S. Muffin-tin tapas and the #1 trick to having fun with household journey.
(Prime picture by Simone Wave/Stocksy. Pasta picture by Jenny Rosenstrach.)
