If a family adventure takes us far enough from home to require lunch while on the road, we usually pack a picnic. Our family of four would need to spend around $15, at the very least, to eat lunch at a restaurant or fast food chain. But our typical picnic basket costs only around $10 to stock AND we always have plenty of leftovers to take home.
Here are the typical offerings that we pack into our sturdy cooler:
- Taboulie – $2.25
- Cheez-its – $2.00
- Package of 6 grocery (not bakery)bagels – $1
- Package of cream cheese – $1.25
- A few apples or bananas (always some sort of fresh fruit offering) – $2
- Container of mixed nuts from our bulk supplies – $.75
- A sweet treat offering (like yogurt covered peanuts from the grocery’s bulk section) – $1.25
- Jug of watered down juice – $.90
We also pack the following supplies: a small cutting board, a sharp knife, a butter knife, reusable forks and spoons, cloth napkins, reusable plates, reusable cups, and small, reusable containers to pass snack items. We keep the food cold with one or two ice packs thrown into the cooler.
We rarely have an issue finding a space to spread out our lunch while on an adventure. Most museums are used to school groups so they have plenty of tables and space set aside for snacking. And when the weather is cooperative, it is beyond easy to find a suitable space outdoors to set up a picnic. We leave our cooler in our car and one parent retrieves it when it is time to eat. When we’re finished, we just pack it up and return the cooler to the car.
It’s a simple, cheap and healthy way to have lunch on the road. What’s in your pic-a-nic basket?