Every mom and dad knows that they’re always going to have to pack meals to keep their kid’s tummy from rumbling on the go. Traveling to and from soccer practice and Taekwondo, chances are your child may need to have some meals on wheels every once in a while. Don’t hit the fast food joint, as tempting as it is. Pack quick meals that work well on the go.

Quick Meal Ideas for Busy Kids

So what makes a great in-transit snack? To serve your kids a great meal on the go, the food should be portable, neat, and compact, to prevent spills or stains from occurring.

Breakfast

• Muffins: Blueberry, cinnamon, and cranberry muffins are great meals on the go for kids who want to get their sweet fix in the morning. You can add plenty of nutritious ingredients to your child’s muffins, too! Add flaxseed, rolled oats, and other nutritious ingredients for a wonderful breakfast that travels well.
• Bagels: Bagels are another great meal that you can pack and take with you in the car. Pack a little container of cream cheese, or put cream cheese on a bagel slice before you head out the door for a great breakfast.
• Taco: Wrap some scrambled eggs, potatoes, and cheese in a flour tortilla for a wonderfully balanced breakfast on the go.

Lunch

• Sandwiches: Make mini sandwiches and package them with napkins so that the kids don’t get crumbs in the car seat. Mini sandwiches will be much less messy than the real deal. A peanut butter and jelly could be the perfect lunch for your little one.
• Spring rolls: Spring rolls can be a great meal on the go. Bring some peanut sauce along in a tupperware container. Since peanut sauce has some density to it, it won’t spill all over the car as easily as something less viscous.
• Cheese, ham, and crackers: Make mini sandwiches with some whole grain crackers, cheese, and ham. Cut the ham and cheese into slices before you head out the door and put them into a container. This meal is practically mess-proof and nutritious, too!

Snacks

• Fruits: Pick fruits that are portable, like apples and bananas. Grapes are great, too, but if you have younger children, they can be a choking hazard.
• Granola bars: Make granolas at home or pick up some Chewy bars at the store for an unbeatable road-ready snack.
• String cheese: A classic standby – full of protein, calcium and peel able fun.
• Drinkable yogurt:  Typically far less messy than the regular type of yogurt and available in lots of delicious flavors.  Generally a pretty healthy alternative.
• Dessert snacks: For those with a sweet tooth, cookies, brownies, and pudding all travel well. Just beware of crumbs! Cookies and brownies are crumb culprits that can by fought with napkins and a good car cleaning.

There are plenty of tricks that you will discover as you feeding the kiddos on the go. For example, if you want to serve soup, put it in a thermos for portability. The thermos keeps the soup warm and the height keeps it from spilling. Stock up on Tupperware of all sizes for your dips and sandwiches. If you’re planning on taking a road trip or the commute is going to be lengthy to school, transport your food with cold packs and it will surely stay fresh and delicious. With all of these tips for quick meal ideas in mind, you’ll be comfortably munchin’ on the road for years to come.