Planning a family day trip, road adventure, or park picnic? These easy family meals for day trips and picnics are simple, mess-free, and loved by kids and adults alike.
15+ Easy Family Meals for Day Trips and Picnics (Kid-Approved!)
Dining out as a family while on the road can be expensive and complicated. It’s especially difficult to find road trip meals for families if you have food allergies or picky eaters. To save money (and your sanity), plan your family’s meals when traveling ahead of time!
Whether it’s a trip to the beach or the neighborhood pool, I enjoy packable family meals during the summer. What kind of food do you pack for a day trip? We prefer mess-free meals that don’t require any type of heating. Sandwiches, wraps, salad or cold pasta, are easy to make and eat. Prepackaged or mini snack bags of chips, pretzels, goldfish are universally loved. Don’t forget: cut fruit and vegetables with dip are easy to eat too!
No-Mess Picnic Ideas
A sandwich is the easiest meal to pack for a picnic or day trip on the road. They are small and compact, so they don’t take up a lot of room in a cooler. Sandwiches and wraps eliminate the need for utensils as you eat them with your hands!
- Nut butter and jelly
- Chicken Salad
- Egg Salad
- Tuna Salad
- Deli meat + cheese, vegetables + condiments
- Pinwheel sandwiches
- BLAT (Bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato)
- Vegetables and hummus wrap
- Cold grilled chicken + vegetables + condiments on a hard roll
- Burrito – use your wrap to make a cold burrito (leftover chicken, lettuce, salsa, etc. – it’s so good!)
- A Beach Sandwich – there are so many delicious varieties you will want to try them all!
Tip: Make sure to store sandwiches/wraps in a reusable sandwich wrap or tin foil so it stays together until it’s time to eat.
Check out this list of easy to make sandwiches (that you can eat while pregnant!).
Salad in a Mason Jar or Container
I love the idea of salad in a mason jar. There are endless mason jar salad recipes that it’s impossible to not find one your family will enjoy. Plus, salad lasts up to 5 days in a mason jar! Protein, vegetables, grains and dressing – that’s all you need for a great salad in a mason jar. Make sure to store the jar salad in a cooler and don’t forget to pack a fork.
Pasta salad tastes great in a mason jar too! This Spinach Pasta Salad in a Jar sounds kid-friendly and tasty! All pasta salads must be prepared in advance to allow for proper cooling or the pasta will become mushy.
Photo by Ella Olsson on Unsplash
Mini Frittata or Crustless Quiche
Egg muffins aren’t just a breakfast meal! Mini frittatas and mini crustless quiches can be enjoyed hot or cold at any time during the day. They are easy to eat with your hands too! Prepare your muffin tin egg dish ahead of time so it can cook and cool before packing it. My go-to muffin tin frittatas are spinach and red peppers or ham and cheese. Store the mini egg cups in a reusable container or snack bags in your cooler.
Pizza (it’s a travel-friendly food!)
Not everyone is a fan of cold pizza, but it’s actually delicious when prepared correctly. These picnic pizza rolls are easy to eat and can be made with a variety of ingredients. This veggie picnic pizza or summertime veggie pizza is made to be eaten cold! Have leftover pizza in your fridge? Pack if for your picnic – but make sure to store the pizza correctly to avoid soggy crust.
Bento Box Meals
Packing for a day trip or picnic can feel a lot like packing my kid’s lunch for school. Why not use a bento box for each family member? These 13 Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas for Work or School are perfect for any occasion and do not require any reheating.
Tips for Packing Food on the Go
Packing food for a day trip or picnic doesn’t have to be stressful! With a little planning and the right tools, you can keep meals fresh, organized, and mess-free. Here are my top tips for packing food on the go with kids:
- Pack Finger Foods – Think less mess! Cut-up sandwiches, fruit kabobs, cheese cubes, and mini muffins are easy for kids to grab and eat without needing utensils.
- Ask for help – A great way to get family involved is to add “prepare family meals” to your older children’s summer chore list.
- Make sure to store sandwiches/wraps in a reusable sandwich wrap or tin foil so it stays together until it’s time to eat.
- Label Everything – Use name labels or color-coded containers if you’re packing individual lunches to avoid mix-ups and minimize “Is this mine?” meltdowns.
- Bring a Picnic Blanket or Tray Table – Don’t count on finding a clean surface. Keep a roll-up picnic blanket or travel tray in your car just in case.
- Pack Extra Snacks – Even if you think you packed enough, always throw in a few extra snacks. Sunshine and fresh air seem to supercharge kids’ appetites.
Supplies for Packing Travel-Friendly Meals
There are a few supplies you will need for making travel-friendly foods.
- Leak proof plastic storage containers OR any leakproof food-safe container
- Reusable storage bags OR leak proof Ziploc bags
- Bento Box Plastic Containers
- Disposable Utensils
- Food Safe Mason Jar OR Reusable Salad Container
- Insulated Picnic Basket or Insulated Foldable Cooler Bag
- Napkins or Baby Wipes
- Car Trash Bag
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