Before you click away, hear me out. I’m not totally wacko, I promise! (And if I am a wacko, I’m a wacko who saves hundreds of dollars on each vacation we take.)

If you like eating out on vacation, this article is still for you. I’m not suggesting you entirely cut out restaurants on vacation. Instead, I invite you to consider how you can make my tips to prepare food on vacation work for you.

I also outline just how much money you can expect to save with some of the budget travel strategies below.

And I’m betting you haven’t tried at least some of these strategies—so definitely read to the end!

Curious? If you’re into budget travel, keep reading to learn how I save hundreds of dollars on every vacation.

And don’t forget to pin this post so you remember these tips later!

This post contains affiliate links. That means when you click and buy, I earn a small income at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting To & Fro Fam!

Quick cold foods

If you have young kids, I’m betting that you are plenty familiar with “cold meals”—you know, when you don’t actually cook anything but everyone’s fed just the same.

These cold meals are money for budget-friendly tactics like prepping food on vacation. You can prepare so many meals with an absolute minimum of work, supplies or clean-up.

Think of what quick, no-cooking-required foods your family relies on at home. Some ideas to jump-start your brainstorm:

• Sandwiches
• Cereal
• Yogurt and fruit
• Salad
• What else? Let me know your cold meal ideas in the comments at the end of the post.

Grocery store hot and cold bars

I’ve written before about how grocery stores are the best place to “eat out” on vacation, especially if you have selective eaters or food intolerances in the family. Rely on their hot and cold bars for a quick meal that requires no work on your part but still saves money!

Not every grocery store has a stellar selection in its hot and cold bars. More high-end shops like Whole Foods have more options beyond jojos and macaroni salad. Consider adding these ready-made foods to your cart:

• Pasta salad
• DIY a delicious custom salad
• Sushi
• Pre-made sandwiches and wraps
• Quinoa salad and other grain salads

I typically have the girls pick a few foods from the salad bar. That way, I can grab a few baby tomatoes, some sliced cucumber and a few hard-boiled eggs—without buying a whole package of each. It also helps me include some healthy options on the kids’ plates.

If you haven’t tried this strategy to save money on food on vacation, give it a (delicious) try!

Freezer meals FTW

For me, 2020 has been the Year of Freezer Meals. I’ve fully embraced the fact that a pre-made meal from the freezer aisle helps keep me fed without stress. I’ve chosen to not hold myself to a ridiculous standard of cooking every meal from scratch—and the same goes for vacations.

That’s why we sometimes microwave freezer meals to save money on a budget vacation. I typically buy Amy’s or another brand with gluten-free and dairy-free options.

(I also heat the meals on an actual plate rather than the plastic packaging. It looks so much nicer and alleviates the worry of microwaving plastic.)

If you’re stressed about the sodium levels of freezer meals, remind yourself that you’re not eating them every day for the rest of your life. A few freezer meals on vacation isn’t going to permanently overwhelm your system with salt.

Another bonus: Everyone can choose what they want! So Max and Edie might pick macaroni and cheese (I’m sure you’re shocked), Hubs might opt for stir fry and I get veggie enchiladas.

Snack board meals

Charcuterie board, anyone? Snack plates aren’t only for parties or fancy gatherings; put one together and call it dinner. (No, call it super-easy, budget-friendly, stress-free dinner!)

Get some cold-cuts, slice some cheese, arrange crackers, cut up some veggies—and declare dinner done. Kids tend to love DIYing their food, so encourage them to make tiny cracker sandwiches.

Want to go the extra mile? Add some olives, cornichons, grapes, apple slices or dip like hummus. Even with these final touches, you’ll still save tons of money on food.

Pack meals for when you’re on the go

When my family travels, we rarely eat out. That’s partly because we want to save money and partly because Maxine eats like 10 foods. Whatever the reason, though, we make it happen by packing food to eat throughout the day.

That means a little planning and prep on the front end, but it actually saves time and effort throughout the day. That’s because you don’t have to figure out where to eat, travel to a restaurant you choose, wait in line, or wait for your food to arrive.

Instead, when you pack lunch and snacks for on-the-go-eating, you have ready-made meals. This money-saving strategy really helps when you have a kid on the edge of a hanger meltdown!

Whenever we can, we eat these meals as a picnic in a pretty spot. That way lunch doubles as a sightseeing activity. Plus, Max and Edie can run off and play while Hubs and I finish our meals!

Don’t underestimate the power of a microwave

For the first year or so of Edie’s life, we didn’t have a microwave. Then we bought one and I was seriously floored by how much easier it made everything.

You may be rolling your eyes at me (duh, microwaves are life-savers for parents of young children, you might be thinking). So consider how helpful they can be on a budget vacation!

Yes, you can warm up freezer meals (which I wrote about above). Their use goes beyond freezer meals, though.

Reheat leftovers (including takeout or restaurant meals you didn’t finish). Warm up foods your kids eat a ton of at home. (In my family, this is dino nuggets: Edie eats them almost nightly, including on vacation.) “Boil” water for foods like instant oatmeal. Warm up soup.

The microwave is your best friend for preparing foods in your hotel room—and saving money while you’re at it.

Cook in your hotel room—seriously!

This tip might make you think I’ve crossed the line from budget-savvy to downright loopy. But hear me out!

With a tiny bit of prep and extra supplies, you can cook a legit meal, even in a hotel room.

Part of how I saved more than $2,000 on a Disneyland vacation was preparing about 95% of our own meals. We had road tripped from Oregon to Southern California and had brought a small electric griddle (totally easy to pack). So one morning I made eggs and pancakes for my family of four plus my in-laws. I fed all six of us for about $5 total. Compare that to what we probably would have spent at a restaurant—an estimated $60—and the slight amount of hassle is well justified in my mind.

Tips to save money on food on vacation

If you want to save money on food on vacation, prepping some meals in your lodging is the best way to do just that. Follow these tips to make this money-saving strategy work.

• Avoid strong-smelling foods. If you’re staying in a hotel, keep in mind that people in other rooms will be able to smell certain meals. Avoid these delicious but strong-smelling foods, such as curry or fish.
• Take care of your trash. You may want to empty your own trash cans more regularly, so scope out a common trash bin near your room.
• Leave an extra tip. Preparing food in your room may cause a little extra mess. If that’s the case, don’t forget to leave housekeeping an extra tip.
• Check room specifications. Before you book a hotel room, or even a home rental, notice the accommodations it includes. Does the room have a mini fridge? A microwave? Even a kitchenette? Take this into account when you book your lodging. Factor in the money you’ll save by preparing food on vacation when comparing prices of hotel rooms.
• Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good. To save money on vacation, you don’t have to eat in for every meal. Strike a balance between eating in restaurants, getting takeout and preparing food in your hotel. Do what works for you and your family for a budget vacation that’s still fun and relaxing.

Bring these budget travel meal prep supplies

Life will be much easier if you bring these supplies for preparing food on vacation. Add them to your packing list!

Here’s what to bring to prepare food in your hotel room:

• Sponge and dish soap. You’ll want to wash up after making and eating your meals. It’s a lot easier to do the dishes if you don’t have to rely on a washcloth and bar soap!
• Tupperware or storage containers. Bring reusable containers to store leftovers and food to go. I usually pack a few empties in addition to the containers that store food I bring with us.

Pro tip: Use square or rectangular food storage containers. They pack more easily and are more efficient with space.

• Ziplocks or reusable bags. I’m obsessed with these reusable silicone “bags,” which nest inside each other—making for more compact packing. Use them for leftovers, ingredients and foods you bring on the day’s adventures. Alternatively, bring different sizes of zippered plastic bags.
• A knife. Bring a sharp knife; we typically bring a small paring knife like this one. It’s compact and gets the job done. (Make sure to pack it with its sheath.) I use it to cut everything from apples to cucumbers to sandwiches. (Will the kids ever eat a sandwich with the crust on? Time will tell.)
• Plates, bowls and utensils. We do our best to avoid single-use items like disposable plates and forks. So I bring sturdy plastic plates and bowls for each of us in addition to silverware. (In fact, we carry a set of silverware and cloth napkins in the glove compartment at all times we use when eating takeout on the road.)
• Disposable plates and utensils. If you can’t get around the idea of washing dishes in a hotel bathroom sink, pack disposable cutlery and plates. This option still generates less waste than takeout (with its non-recyclable clamshell containers and plastic to-go bags). Look for plates made from recycled materials or biodegradable cutlery.
• Seasonings. We definitely don’t make anything gourmet on the road. But having a small assortment of seasonings and spices helps! At the least, you may want salt and pepper. I also bring cinnamon (for oatmeal) and nutritional yeast (for pretty much everything!). I love these travel-friendly spices kits, which include a variety of seasonings in one easy-to-pack container.
• Cutting board. A compact cutting board will make preparing meals on vacation so much easier! Plus, you can use it for that snack board dinner.

Budget travel doesn’t have to be hard. And you don’t need to feel like you’re depriving yourself on vacation just by preparing some of your own meals instead of eating out.

Pick and choose which of these strategies works for you. Then apply one (or all!) of these tips to save money on your next family vacation!

The post 7 ideas to save money on food on vacation: How I save hundreds of dollars appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and buying, you help me earn a small income (at no extra cost to you!) so I can continue bringing you free travel content.

But before I reveal all my pro cooler packing hacks, I have a question: Have you gotten a copy of my book yet? Road Trip Games & Activities for Kids shares 33 fun, customizable games and free printables that will keep you entertained on the road. Click the image below to get your copy in e-book or paperback!

Why is packing a cooler important?

Keeping foods colder longer is important whether you’re camping, road tripping or just going out for the day. Of course you probably agree that food and drinks just taste better when they’re cold. In addition, here are the actually important reasons to pack a cooler right:

1. Properly packing a cooler ensures food stays colder—and therefore safer. Temperature fluctuations create an environment where bacteria and other baddies can grow.
2. Cooler organization helps you find everything faster. I think you’ll agree that rummaging around in a cooler—scraping your knuckles on ice cubes, even—is no fun.

Friends, I totally geeked out on this post on how to pack a cooler. Yep, that’s right—I made an infographic. I’m a visual learner, and you might be too.

And, at the very least, Hubs can use the below diagram if he ever has to pack the cooler without me. 😉

How to pack a cooler—the smart, organized way

1. Loose ice on top. 

This top layer is like icing: It finishes off packing a cooler by ensuring every square inch of the cooler is primed to stay cold. Leaving unused space will make everything inside the cooler heat up more quickly, since air gets warmer more quickly than water or ice does. 

You’ll also pack the densest ice on the bottom of your cooler, so this top layer ensures food near the top stays cold, too.

2. Use square reusable containers.

I’m a big fan of bringing prepped food camping and on road trips. That way I don’t have to break out the cutting board and knife if I want to slice some peppers for lunch or chop a bunch of veggies for a foil dinner.

I put all that prepped food in reusable containers—but use square ones! Round containers take up more space and don’t pack together efficiently. You’ll use valuable cooler real estate unless you stick to square and rectangular containers.

3. Gather lunch supplies in a bag. 

Fill a zippered plastic bag with everything you’ll need for your first meal while camping or on a road trip. 

I’m guessing you’re like me, and that when you get to camp or hit the road, you have plenty of other things to do besides rummage around a cooler. So stash everything for that meal in one place. You won’t get hangry—and you won’t keep the cooler open longer than necessary. That’s a good thing for the longevity of your ice!

4. Store foods vertically.

Can you tell I heart Marie Kondo? If you’ve read her blockbuster book on organizing or watched her Netflix show, you know she’s a fanatic in storing clothing vertically. I’m the same, except for food. Whether I’m packing a cooler or storing dry goods for a long road trip, I try to keep everything stacked vertically—not horizontally.

Why?

When you pack items vertically, you can see more at a glance. You won’t have to dig through layers of ice and food to get the one thing at the very bottom. 

5. Beverages at the bottom.

Pack your La Croix, beer or pop at the bottom of your cooler. You don’t want your drinks crushing the rest of your food!

If you have the space, though, pack a separate, smaller cooler just for drinks. I like this drinks cooler for a few reasons: a) It can store more than three dozen drinks. So when you refrigerate all those drinks before you leave on your trip, they’ll help keep each other cold. b) This cooler is collapsible. So when you near the end of your trip and have eaten most of your food, you can fold down the drinks cooler and combine everything in the main cooler. 

6. Loose ice fills the gaps.

Think of a perfectly packed cooler like a cake: It has layers and makes for a delicious outing. In this case, loose ice is the frosting between two layers of cake. 

You cover the bottom layer of the cooler in ice for two reasons:

1. A layer of loose ice ensures all of the foods stay cold and safe, not just those at the bottom and top.
2. Loose ice fills gaps in between food items. Pockets of air stay warmer, melting the ice more quickly. 

7. Freeze food you don’t need immediately.

If you’re packing a cooler for more than a few days, there will be ingredients you won’t need until later in your trip. When possible, freeze these items and use them as a solid ice layer.

So if, for example, you’re planning chicken sausages for dinner on night 3, freeze them. The frozen food will help keep the entire cooler cold; the frozen food will stay fresher; and the frozen food will thaw by the time you’re ready to eat it.

8. Freeze water bottles.

My kids don’t just ask for water when they’re thirsty. Max and Edie routinely request “ice cold water.” Unfortunately, camping and road trips make fulfilling that request a lot harder than it is at home.

But! That’s why I love this trick. Instead of buying a bunch of ice packs, we freeze bottles of water instead. Just leave some room for the ice to expand.

Fiji water bottles are rectangular and so work best, but any water bottle will do.

A few days into your camping trip or road trip, the bottles of water will have thawed. Then you and your whole crew can enjoy ice cold water!

9. Solid ice forms a foundation.

At the very base of your cooler, pack a layer of solid ice.

We reuse the ice packs we receive with meal delivery services. (We order a few times a month from Freshly, which delivers fully cooked and ready to heat gluten-free meals. Here is a link if you want to try Freshly and get $40 off.)

Solid ice is important here because it melts more slowly than loose ice. As a result, it’ll help keep the entire cooler cold for longer.

These tips will work in any kind of trip, whether you’re packing a cooler for camping, a road trip, a beach day or anything else. 

Read on for situation-specific tips on packing a cooler the right way. 

How to pack a cooler for camping

I’m channeling all my stir craziness into camping—so my family and I are doing a lot of camping during this COVID summer. As a result, I’ve had some extra opportunities to learn even more cooler packing strategies. And I’m here to teach you how to pack a cooler for camping specifically.

You’ll want to follow all the above steps and organization rules. 

In addition, you’ll want to find a shady place to stash your cooler once you arrive at your campsite. Under a picnic table or under trees tends to work well. 

If you can’t store your cooler in the shade, at least use a reflective shade or cover. Reflective shades bounce 70% or more of sunlight away from your cooler, helping preserve the ice and food inside. This is especially important if you don’t have easy access to ice when you’re camping.

Plus, the reflective shade kind of makes it look like you’re futuristic aliens who like to camp. 

Finally, you’ll want to safely store your cooler at night. Food left outside can attract critters from ground squirrels to bears. I’m pretty sure you don’t want to share your food with wild animals.

If you’re car camping, stash the cooler in the car or its trunk. If you’re in bear country, store all food in a bear box elevated off the ground. 

Take it from a gal who once woke up in a tent to the sound of a skunk snacking on our food, which we unwisely/drunkenly left out overnight. 

How to pack a cooler for a road trip

Yes, I know that you might be taking a road trip to go camping. If that’s the case, all these tips and strategies apply! Here are the cooler packing ideas specific to a road trip.

As you pack all your gear in the car, pack the empty cooler, too. That way you know you have a perfectly cooler-shaped spot available for when you add all your food.

Packing a cooler should be an almost-last thing to do before you leave. (If you’re tired of forgetting things, you’ll appreciate the full pre-trip checklist I created.) That way, the food stays cooler longer.

Then the cooler is the very last thing to pack in the car—besides your crew, that is!

When the cooler is right next to the hatch or trunk, it’s easily accessible whenever you stop on your road trip. You definitely don’t want to have to unearth the cooler from a mountain of other gear!

Last tip: When possible, pack your cooler in the main part of the car, not the trunk. This tip isn’t relevant to those of us with a minivan. But if you drive a sedan, you probably noticed that the trunk heats up in the summer! You want to protect your cooler, and the food inside, from such extreme temperatures. 

Should I drain the water from a cooler?

This question has experts and even scientists arguing over who is right. But when it comes to whether you should drain the water from a cooler, the answer is: it depends.

When you should not drain the water from a cooler

Much of the time, you don’t want to drain the water from a cooler. That’s because the melted ice is still colder than the air that would replace the space water had formerly taken up. So if you let out a gallon of melted ice water, the equivalent of a gallon of air will now be in your cooler instead.

Not good if you want to keep cold foods colder. 

When you should drain the water from a cooler

A couple of exceptions from the general rule of letting the water chill out in the cooler:

1. If you still have lots of solid or loose ice, drain the water from a cooler. This is because water causes the remaining ice to melt more quickly. So to preserve the ice you have, empty your cooler.
2. Right before you add fresh ice, drain the water from your cooler. If you have access to fresh ice, make sure you’re not adding it to a melty ice water soup. It’ll stay colder longer.
3. Drain the cooler water before you have to move it. If you’re lugging the cooler around, leaving the melted ice water inside makes it heavy. Save your back; drain the water. 
4. If anything spills in the cooler, drain the water. You don’t want food sitting in a cocktail of water and salsa. Yuck.
   This happened recently on our camping trip in Central Oregon: I brought along a can of whipped cream, thinking it would be a nice treat for Max and Edie. I didn’t realize the dang whipped cream would squirt every time anyone bumped it, so we ended up with whipped cream water all over everything.

You didn’t realize there was so much to correctly packing a cooler, did you? Now I bet you understand why Hubs leaves it to me. 😉

Read the how-to instructions below for a quick recap.

How to Pack a Cooler for Camping + Road Trips

Print

If you want to keep your food colder, fresher and safer for longer, you need to pack your cooler correctly. Here, I'll share step by step how to pack a cooler for camping, road trips, beach trips or any other adventures.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Active Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost $10

Materials

• Good quality cooler
• Ice packs
• Frozen water bottles
• Ice

Tools

• Freezer

Instructions

1. The day before your trip, freeze any ice packs or water bottles you'll use in the cooler.
2. Also the day before your trip, bring your cooler inside, especially if you store it in a hot attic or garage. It will reach room temperature and keep the cold foods colder.
3. The day of your trip, lay solid ice blocks or frozen ice packs on the bottom of the cooler. This is your foundation.
4. Add frozen food you won't need for several days.
5. Drinks also go at the bottom so they don't crush other food.
6. Top the drinks and frozen food with a layer of loose ice, fitting ice into any gaps between foods.
7. Load already prepped food in rectangular storage containers.
8. Pack food vertically instead of horizontally. You'll see more without digging through the cooler.
9. Load more delicate foods, such as produce, at the top.
10. Cover everything with a layer of loose ice. Make sure the cooler is completely full, as this helps it stay colder for longer.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Coleman Cooler | Xtreme Cooler Keeps Ice Up to 5 Days | Heavy-Duty 70-Quart Cooler for Camping, BBQs, Tailgating & Outdoor Activities
• 
  Below Zero 10x14 Cooler Pack (4 Pack)
• 
  Coleman Performance Cooler, 48-Quart - Blue

Did you try this? What did you think?

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The post 22 pro tips: How to pack a cooler for camping + road trips appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

These kid-friendly restaurants in Portland will satisfy both you and your littles. They’re all independent restaurants so you can support local entrepreneurs and business owners. And they serve delicious kid-friendly fare your children will be happy to nom!

So if you’re looking for great restaurants for families in Southeast Portland, you’ve come to the right place. Get your appetites ready—you’re gonna be hungry.

11 restaurants for families in Southeast Portland

Going on a family vacation in Portland? PDX is known as a foodie mecca, and local restaurants haven’t forgotten about the kids. Try out these kid-friendly restaurants in Southeast Portland for full, happy bellies.

Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB)

This enormous brewery in Southeast Portland has multiple dining areas, which is a good thing because it’s one of the most popular kid-friendly restaurants in Portland.

Hopworks Urban Brewery (aka HUB) serves delicious pub fare, including its famous pretzel sticks with a beer-and-cheese dipping sauce. Children have lots of options in the kids’ meals, from grilled cheese and burgers to pizza and even a pretzel-wrapped hot dog!

The best part about Hopworks Urban Brewery is its many play areas. The brewery designed its space with families in mind so kids have tons of room to color, build and play while they wait for food—or while adults order another pint.

Slappycakes

Kids love to get hands-on, so it’s no wonder they love the DIY aspect of Slappycakes. This wonderful restaurant for families in Southeast Portland lets kids (or adults) make their own pancakes at a griddle right there in your table.

Choose from five varieties of pancake batter—including one that is both vegan and gluten-free—then order toppings. You choose from both savory and sweet fixin’s, from chocolate chips and berries to cheddar cheese, scallions and even lavender honey.

If your kids are all about pancakes but you, not so much? Slappycakes in Portland also serves breakfast dishes you don’t have to cook yourself. Expect regular breakfast fare plus a few off the beaten path choices, including chicken fried steak. Orrrr you can just do what you really want and order a side of candied baked bacon, all on its own.

Off the Griddle

Dear friends of ours sold veggie and vegan burgers in a food cart years ago, and to the delight of vegetarians in Portland, they opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant! Off the Griddle serves vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free comfort food in Southeast Portland. My favorite meal is the BBQ burger with vegan bleu cheese.

Their seasonal menu is constantly changing, so ask for the day’s specials. They also serve vegan dessert, like their insanely delicious vegan brownie sundae, as well as dairy-free milkshakes!

The kid-friendly menu offers plant-based options for the whole family, like their mac & chz we ordered for the kids but that Hubs and I totally wanted to chow down.

Portland Mercado

Portland Mercado, a center for Latinx food and community, is one of my favorite family-friendly restaurants in Southeast Portland. Inside, you have several options for Mexican and Central American food. I love the empanadas!

Seating is limited inside Portland Mercado, but the adorable décor makes the tight squeeze worthwhile. You can also grab a bottle of Jarritos—or a bunch of other imported food and drink—from the Hispanic grocery store in the complex.

On the weekends, you’ll also find a farmer’s market. Sometimes Portland Mercado also hosts artisans selling handcrafted goods, live music and kids’ crafts. Check out Portland Mercado’s calendar for upcoming events. 

Jurassic Cart

Food trucks are the epitome of kid-friendly restaurants: They’re quick, relatively cheap and convenient. Plus you can order from several different food trucks to satisfy everyone in the family.

One of my favorite food trucks in Portland is Jurassic Cart, a great restaurant for families in Southeast Portland. The best, most unique item on the menu is the kid-friendly dinosaur egg—half of a grilled avocado stuffed with cauliflower sticky rice veggies.

What’s more, this family-friendly food truck gives kids a toy dinosaur with every meal ordered. A brand-new toy makes eating at restaurants with kids a million times easier.

Level 10 travel tip: Kids and adults alike can take their food truck meal to the picnic tables inside Pod Bar. This shaded spot is great for too-hot days. What’s more, Pod Bar has toys kids can play with while everyone waits for food to be ready!

Jam

I first started going to Jam when my older daughter was a teeny-tiny baby, and we never stopped. Jam is probably the most famous family-friendly restaurant in Southeast Portland, and for good reason. It has a gigantic kids’ play area in the middle of the dining area. My girls love eating at Jam because they get to play. I love eating at Jam because they play while I catch up with my girlfriends—and get to eat my scramble while it’s still hot.

The staff at Jam are definitely used to kids. They’re terrific about adjusting orders for food sensitivities and allergies, and they are always sweet to all the children at the table. What’s more, they have the coolest kids’ water cups anywhere in Portland!

Level 10 travel tip: Weekends are always busy at Jam, so expect a wait. Put in your name at this restaurant for families, then walk across the street for a coffee and a scone at Grand Central Bakery. The detour will keep your kids from getting hangry.

La Calaca Comelona

This artisanal Mexican restaurant in Portland runs an amazing happy hour, which as you know is the perfect time to eat at a restaurant with kids. La Calaca Comelona tacos are $2.50 apiece and the perfect size for little hands. I love that you can order a variety of small dishes from the happy hour menu and let your kids pick and choose, trying a bite of their diced guacamole one moment and a vegetarian chalupita the next.

What’s more, this Portland Mexican restaurant has a spacious outdoor seating area. Kids can get up from the table and explore, then come back for bites to go. If the weather’s not cooperating, La Calaca Comelona’s interior is absolutely gorgeous. Kids can look at the pictures, carvings and many skulls in the restaurant while you finish your from-scratch margarita (a steal at $6 during happy hour!).

Rocking Frog Cafe

Also on Belmont in SE Portland, Rocking Frog Cafe offers pick-me-ups for both parents and kids. Mom or Dad might want a latte or pot of loose leaf tea from Portland’s own Jasmine Pearl Tea Company. Kids will definitely want one of their made-to-order donuts.

These donuts are cakey, topped with a light glaze or icing. The chocolate and maple flavors are Rocking Frog Cafe’s most popular, but you can’t go wrong whichever donut you choose. Kids might need to wait a moment before diving in; they’re served hot.

Rocking Frog Cafe also has a shelf full of board games and books for you and your kids to flip through if you get bored. And during warm weather, you can sit outside at several picnic tables.

Soro Soro

This Korean cafe and sweets shop is arguably the cutest restaurant in all of Portland. Soro Soro puts in the energy and attention to make every bite and sip not only delicious but adorable, too!

On a recent visit, the kids shared a slice of rainbow cake and a chocolate chip cookie with eyes; I drank a chai tea with oat milk. Drinks are served with a two-bite cream puff that was like a surprise party in my mouth, ha!

Next time I’ll try the gluten free cheesecake (the top is decorated like the face of an itty bitty bear). And everyone goes nuts over the cloud affogato, where you pour espresso over a foot-tall poof of cotton candy onto ice cream.

If you’re in Southeast PDX, you absolutely need to visit Soro Soro. You and your kids will be talking about this family friendly restaurant in Portland for ages.

Hawthorne Asylum food carts

You know how I feel about food carts, especially ones here in Portland: They’re the ultimate in family friendly food. Everyone can order something different when you go to a food cart pod, and that’s definitely the case with the newly opened Hawthorne Asylum in SE Portland.

Here’s the trick, though: Everything is so dang good you’ll have a hard time ordering!

One of my favorite parts about this family friendly food cart pod is all the seating. Tucked away in the west side of the pod is a whole slew of tables just begging for a meetup with all your mom friends and their littles.

If it’s a bit chilly, try to snag a seat at the Hawthorne Asylum tables surrounding the fire. Just keep an eye on your kidlets, obvi!

Teote

I absolutely love this Latin American restaurant in Southeast Portland. Crowd favorites also happen to be kid-friendly: Arepas, beans and rice, and of course chips and guacamole please even the pickiest kids!

Definitely head upstairs when you eat at Teote, where there’s much more room for families to spread out. The open-air patio is one of my favorite places for happy hour in Southeast Portland. This spot is so relaxed, and kids like to look at the colorful decorations.

And if all they eat for dinner is a bowl of guac? That sounds like victory in my book!

Our favorite kid friendly restaurants in SE Portland

If you’re looking for someplace to eat with kids, you’ve come to the right place. Portland’s family friendly restaurants cater to kids while satisfying foodies, too.

We spend a lot of time in Southeast Portland, so thank goodness this area has so many family friendly restaurants. But don’t take my word for it. The next time you’re in PDX, hit up one of these 11 kid friendly restaurants. They won’t disappoint.

If you’re looking for someplace to eat elsewhere in PDX, you have to read my post on the best family friendly restaurants in North Portland!

The post Best restaurants for families in Southeast Portland: Kid friendly eats in PDX appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Raise your hand if you’ve been there: You’re on vacation with your family. You’re traveling to a new place. It’s time to eat—but you don’t know where to go. You end up googling and Yelping, and the kid friendly restaurant searches are coming up with nothing that looks good (to you or your picky kids). Meanwhile, your kids are getting more hangry by the minute, and you’ve run out of granola bars and fruit leather. DISASTER! Or is it?

You see, my kids went through the pre-meal meltdowns so many times that I just knew there had to be a better way to find a kid friendly restaurant no matter where we traveled.

Then I figured it out: Pretty much wherever you go, you can find a midrange to high-end grocery store that’s guaranteed to have plenty to keep any kids happy and well fed. When we’re on a family vacation, we often eat at Whole Foods, local natural food stores and even Safeway—and we always find something good to eat.

Read on for my tested tips and recommendations to find a kid friendly restaurant on vacation—at the grocery store!

Find a kid friendly restaurant ANYWHERE

Picky kids? Impatient husband? Gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, Paleo, keto, vegan? No matter what the combination of your dietary requirements and preferences, most grocery stores can satisfy your whole family.

First of all, even picky eaters can find something to eat at a grocery store. Hot delis have corn dogs, cold delis have sandwiches, and the rest of the grocery store is a treasure trove of ready to eat, kid friendly food.
Secondly, eating at a grocery store is waaaay cheaper than a restaurant (especially considering that your kids might not eat anything at the Thai place you picked after an hour of searching for family friendly restaurants on Yelp.)

Yes, you’ll want to branch out and explore other (actual) restaurants, but if you’re ever in a pinch and need to find a kid friendly restaurant like NOW, the grocery store is your best bet. Here’s how to make the most of the grocery store for any meal.

Rock the hot deli

For my older daughter’s fifth birthday, her Grandma offered to take her to lunch anywhere she wanted. Where did Edie choose? The fancy grocery store 5 minutes from our house.

She and her sister love the macaroni and cheese there. I also get them jojos, and occasionally a corn dog.
Other common hot bar options to turn the grocery store into a kid friendly restaurant: pizza, chicken tenders, stir fry and much more.

Many higher end grocery stores also serve made to order foods. Our neighborhood store, for example, serves customizable burritos and burgers.

Don’t forget the salad bar

My kids love salad—what don’t yours? OMG kidding! My girls have literally never eaten a piece of lettuce. But that doesn’t mean the salad bar is off limits.

Even when the girls get mac n cheese (which is, let’s admit, every single time), we stop by the salad bar to make our yellow and beige meal slightly more colorful.

One more thing I love about supplementing our meal with goodies from the grocery store salad bar: I can get a wide variety of healthy foods in small portions. I can also satisfy both of my girls. (For example, Edie loves beets because they turn her mouth purple, and Maxine almost always will eat hard boiled eggs.) Finally, I let my kids choose what they want (and how much), which gives them power over their meal—and makes them more likely to actually eat it, research shows.

The most common delicious (and healthy!) tidbits we get from the salad bar to make the grocery store into a kid friendly restaurant:

• Cubed turkey
• Grilled chicken
• Cherry tomatoes
• Beets
• Hard boiled eggs
• Raisins
• Peas
• Bell peppers

Find your jam at the cold deli

Many grocery stores have a huge spread just waiting to get on your table. And with so many options, there’s something to please all the members of your family.

In addition, the deli staff are happy to serve you whatever size portion you need. So if your littlest is the only one in the family who likes quinoa salad, get just a scoop and let everyone else pick what tickles their fancy.

Don’t be limited to the potato salad and coleslaw though. Although those picnic favorites are familiar, many grocery stores have so much more. Take for example my local grocery store, which serves teriyaki salmon skewers and chicken pot pies they’ll warm for you while you wait. There are so many options!

You can also get, say, a quarter-pound of your favorite deli meat and pair it with an avocado and a piece of fruit. That’s a gluten-free, keto-friendly meal I’ve taken advantage of many times while traveling.

Sandwich bar #ftw

This is the area of the grocery store I first head to when I eat at the grocery store. There’s something for everyone at the sandwich bar, even those of us who are gluten free, since most grocery stores now offer GF bread.

I usually choose a build your own option and load it up with all the veggies (which is even more important when you’re on vacation and get out of your healthy eating routine). My sandwiches usually include lettuce, tomato, spinach, cucumbers, avocado, pepperoncini and even shredded carrots.

Not everyone loves a sammie loaded with all the fixings though. Kids can pick the toppings they like, including the plain turkey and cheese option.

What’s more, many grocery stores offer a kid friendly peanut butter and jelly sandwich too. You can’t go wrong with that!

Finally, if you’re in a hurry, there are usually premade sandwiches ready to grab and go next to the sandwich station.

Groceries for lunch make the fastest meal ever

Sometimes when you’re on vacation you just want to eat something familiar —and the same goes for your kids. (Probably even more so for your littles, whether they’re picky eaters or not).

So when you’re on a family vacation, it’s 100% legit to put together an entire meal from ready to eat groceries.

Don’t feel any guilt whatsoever: you’ll end up eating well, with fewer complaints from the kids.

If they (or you) need any persuading, consider this: Picking up ready to eat food from the grocery store is perfect for getting a picnic ready in record time.

Ideas to make a meal out of grocery store options:

• String cheese
• Yogurt
• Sliced lunch meat
• Sliced cheese
• Baby carrots
• Premade crudités with hummus
• Avocado dip
• Fresh fruit
• Peanut butter and crackers

Yes soup for you!

I’m a giant fan of soup, especially on the chilly days we’re famous for here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s no surprise that I regularly get a cup of soup from the grocery store when I travel.

Pair soup with a sandwich, wrap or even a roll (usually found next to the soup or in the bakery section) to round out the meal. You can also get a grilled cheese from the sandwich bar to go along with your kids’ tomato soup for the classic, kid-friendly combo.

Grab and go sushi

A friend of mine has a daughter who literally turns up her nose at pizza but will eat like three sushi rolls. You just never know!

Even if your kids don’t like raw fish, the all-veggie sushi and freshwater eel rolls are delicious meals.

And the freshly made sushi available at most grocery stores is a great option for adults of kids who just want chicken fingers and fries. After all, one of the beautiful things about turning a grocery store into a kid friendly restaurant is that everyone can choose something different! So if you want sushi, one kid wants a corn dog, your partner wants soup and another kid wants yogurt, you’re totally good to go.

Level 10 travel tip: Make sure to get chopsticks and soy sauce at the sushi counter. Most grocery stores don’t have these utensils and condiments where they have the other plastic silverware.

(Want to get your kids to branch out? Click over to a post I wrote on my motherhood blog about getting even picky eaters to try sushi!)

Save the best for last

Chances are, when you hit up the grocery store for meals when you travel, the whole family will happily find something they want to eat. My kids are always thrilled!

Then again, if anyone in the family is underwhelmed, you can always tantalize them with a promise of dessert.

Grocery store bakeries make cupcakes, cookies, cakes, and even other goodies like mousse and gelato. Many places will also sell these treats a la cart, so you and your kids can each choose what you like.

My local grocery store makes amazing flourless peanut butter cookies, and the girls swoon over their cupcakes. Just make sure to save room for dessert when you eat at the grocery store—uh, I mean the kid friendly restaurant!

Your kids will never go hangry again

With this vacation-saving family travel hack in your back pocket, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find a kid friendly restaurant anywhere you go. So instead of wasting precious vacation hours searching for a kid friendly restaurant with a play place, simply find a decent grocery store nearby. It’ll feed your whole family on a budget—and everyone will leave happy.

Have you ever stopped at a grocery store for lunch or dinner? What do your kids think of it? How else do you find a kid friendly restaurant when you travel?

And don’t forget to pin this post for later!

The post Find a kid friendly restaurant—no matter where you vacation appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Chorizo? Check. Avocado? Check. Shrimp? Oh heck yes. In fact, we have all your taco bases covered here—even vegan tacos! Because one of the great things about LA’s food scene is there is something for everyone. So no matter if you like your tacos traditional or totally fusion-ed up, this roundup of the best tacos in LA is right for you.

Actually, that’s one reason why tacos are so family-friendly: No matter your kid’s food preferences, you can usually find something they’ll happily eat. (If not, you can always get a quesadilla, which I remind my kids is just like a grilled cheese but in the shape of pizza slices.)

So pin this post for the next time you’re in Los Angeles and definitely read on for these bloggers’ favorite tacos in LA. But don’t blame me if your appetite demands you book a last-minute flight to California, on a Taco Tuesday—or any day.

I’m 99.9% certain it’s impossible to take a cute picture of someone eating a taco. Proof: Me, digging in at Mariscos Jalisco.

Bloggers’ 9 favorite tacos in LA—that will soon become your favorites, too

LA’s food scene is indisputably amazing. But with all that delicious food, it’s hard to decide where to go.

What’s more, LA has some of the most delicious tacos north of the border. Thankfully, these bloggers’ favorite tacos in LA are a sure bet for a delicious meal.

So forget the guesswork; you don’t have to spend hours scouring Yelp reviews. Check out these bloggers’ favorite tacos in LA. You won’t regret it.

Tacos Por Favor

One of my favorite taco spots is the no-frills Tacos Por Favor in Santa Monica on Olympic Blvd. It’s not a fancy place, but they pump out some amazing tacos. I always order the Chorizo Cheese Soft Taco and I also really like the Carne Asada Soft Taco—both on corn tortillas. I pair it with a Mexican Coke, along with a side of chips and salsa. Most of the tacos on the menu here will only run you about $3 and it’s loaded up.

The food is so delicious here and it’s a local spot right across from a playground and skate park. You’ll often see kids coming in to grab a taco with all of their skate stuff on, before heading back across the street.

-Lisa Ng, LA-based blogger of the lifestyle site This Beautiful Day

Salazar

Trying to decide on a favorite taco joint in LA would be like trying to pick a favorite child, it just ain’t that easy when you really do love them all! But factoring in quality tacos, great ambiance, great cocktails, AND excellent guac… it would have to be Salazar in Frogtown.

Salazar is unique in its own right because the space is entirely outdoors, and not only is it absolutely beautiful they make fresh tortillas in house that give their tacos that extra special touch. The tacos are small enough that you can order 3-5 and be perfectly happy—that way you can also try more! Salazar’s tacos are definitely not the classic LA tacos you might find at Guisados, Guerrilla Tacos, or Mariscos Jalisco, but in my opinion they are the best for the all-around dining experience that comes with it.

-Caroline Juen, of the LA lifestyle blog Love and Loathing Los Angeles

Cinco

We’ve been obsessed with Cinco ever since Brooke moved to Playa Del Rey. It’s technically in Westchester (corner of Lincoln / Manchester) & so good! You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find good street-style tacos in LA for vegetarians. Most places offer all of the meat choices under the sun, but your only choice as a vegetarian is usually a bunch of chopped up random veggies or nothing. Not here!

Cinco offers soya (aka soyrizo) for their street tacos & burritos. For non-vegetarians, they have al pastor, barbacoa, chicken, or carnitas. The soft tacos are filled with your choice of protein topped with onions & cilantro, plus a side of delicious and refreshing salsa verde. Did I mention that they have happy hour Monday–Saturday from 3-7pm? So those delicious tacos are only $1 each and burritos (ingredients above + rice and pinto beans) are only $6. We’re suckers for places with weekend happy hours!

Brooke & Kelcy Christy, of the LA lifestyle blog written by twins, BKCsquared

Tacos Tu Madre

If you’re looking for a cute, low key place that’s Instagram picture-worthy and has unique yummy tacos, look no further then Tacos Tu Madre. With locations in Westwood, Los Feliz, Downtown, and Larchmont, you’re bound to find a location near you. I like the Larchmont location because I’m always able to find a spot at their “taco bar” and after I’m finished eating I can go shopping along Larchmont Blvd.

My favorite tacos are the Fried Chicken, Crispy Shrimp, and Grilled Fish Tacos but don’t worry they also have classic street tacos if you’re wanting something a bit more authentic. And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t forget to try their red velvet churros—they are SOO yummy! Can’t wait for you to try and have this place become your new favorite taco spot, too!

-Kelli Wheeler, Los Angeles-based inspiration-giver and lifestyle blogger at The Single Girl Life

Tocaya Organica

We all know tacos are part of Los Angeles’s culture and there is no shortage of Mexican restaurants. However, in a sea of taco trucks and Mexican restaurants, it is hard to find an organic Mexican restaurant with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Tocaya Organica is one of few healthy Mexican restaurants with a trendy feel that serves vegan and vegetarian tacos that are locally sourced. It’s my favorite place for Taco Tuesday. The tacos are not only delicious but Insta-worthy too! I love getting the Combo: 2 petite tacos, 2 sides, and a drink. My favorite taco is the Baja Chipotle with sea bass & vegan mozzarella. Order it and you wouldn’t be disappointed.

-Liz Shamooni, of the LA lifestyle and fashion blog Liz in Los Angeles

Guisados

If you’re looking for something a bit different from your traditional LA taco shop, you must check out Guisados. They have become somewhat of an LA institution since opening their first location in Boyle Heights in 2010. Guisados is famous for their homestyle braises (similar to a stew) served on handmade corn tortillas. They use fresh, quality ingredients and you can really taste the care that goes into their cooking. The menu features over a dozen types of braises you can choose from such as steak picado, tinga de pollo and chicharron.

If making your first visit to Guisados you absolutely have to get the taco sampler. This is fun to order and gives you the opportunity to try up to six different tacos. My favorites are the chicken mole and steak picado. The steak is so tender it melts in your mouth while the mole sauce is dark, rich and delicious. Don’t forget to order an agua fresca as well. The melon one tastes just like a juicy cantaloupe and the sweetness will balance out your savory tacos perfectly.

-Eden Fite, blogger and Los Angeles-based traveler who writes at Rock a Little Travel

Mariscos Jalisco

You haven’t truly eaten in LA until you eat at a food truck. Extra points if it’s a taco truck. You get an A+ if you eat at Mariscos Jalisco, a seafood taco truck permanently parked at 3040 E Olympic Blvd. The shrimp tacos served here (tacos de camarón) are hands-down the best tacos I’ve ever eaten. The shrimp are fried and served hot enough to burn your mouth, which you can cool down with a Mexican Coke or Fanta.

Do like everyone else and sit on a ledge along the sidewalk, or if eating al fresco isn’t your thing, there’s an indoor seating area right behind the truck. Word to the wise: There are other taco trucks serving similar menu items, but take a close look at the truck’s name before you order so you make sure to eat these delicious tacos in LA.

-me! Catherine Ryan Gregory at the family travel blog To & Fro Fam

Petty Cash Taqueria

Photo courtesy Petty Cash Taqueria

Petty Cash is an awesome, veg friendly taqueria with a tequila friendly margarita on happy hour. Need I say more? This is a favorite amongst my L.A. friends, who are always on the search for fresh, locally sourced produce. The grilled maitake mushroom taco and crispy zucchini taco really spice up the vegetarian options! As does the dorados taco because anything with potatoes and avocado crema is something I will be coming back for.

I love having more than one option when heading out for tacos—sometimes beans and rice just doesn’t cut it! Petty Cash is super flavorful with a vibrant atmosphere and definitely on my recommendation list.

-Hannah Lee, blogger at the low-impact cooking blog Closed Loop Cooking

Sky’s Gourmet Tacos 

Photo courtesy of Sky’s Gourmet Tacos – they also cater!

Many would consider Sky’s Gourmet Tacos an LA institution. These tacos are so yummy! I promise you won’t be able to eat just one. The Authentic Mini Steak tacos are some of my favorites: just carne asada, grilled onion, cilantro and citrus juice served on two small corn tortillas. You can put additional salsas on it, but it doesn’t need it. My other favorite is the beef taco, which is ground beef with Sky’s only special blend of spices and seasonings. You’ll be licking your fingers after eating this one. You can’t go wrong with any tacos here. I’ve had just about every taco on the menu, and I’ve never been disappointed.

-Moni Boyce, international traveler at She Wanders the Globe

There you have it, friends: 9 amazing tacos in LA that you will simply have to try the next time you travel to Los Angeles. Let me know if you have any you’d add to this list!

PS – If you’re in LA with kids, definitely don’t miss my favorite place in the city when you’re traveling with littles: the LA Natural History Museum. Click on over to read my full post on dinosaur bones, outdoor splash fountains, urban garden walks and a hands-on paleontologist activity!

The post Bloggers’ favorite tacos in LA: Never eat disappointing Mexican food again appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

At my younger daughter’s recent doctor’s visit, the nurse went through the standard questions. Among them, of course, were the questions any parent of a picky child dreads: How many servings of vegetables does your child eat per day? How about fruit? Meat? Other protein? Um, does macaroni and cheese count?

No? Dang.

You see, my younger daughter in particular is a picky eater. She basically lives on bananas, peanut butter and varying combinations of carbs with cheese. Parents of picky eaters totally feel me when I say that travel with picky eaters is stressful enough to make you reconsider that weekend trip you’ve been looking forward to.

Here’s the thing, though. There are totally useful, totally doable ways to make your picky kids eat on vacation. Using a combination of these tactics has taken a huge bite out of the stress out of mealtimes when we go on family trips. They didn’t cure my daughter of her picky eating habits—I’m still hoping time will help with that—but they do ensure she doesn’t starve while we’re out of town.

#parentingwin!

So the next time you’re planning family travel, don’t forget these crucial tips to make picky kids eat on vacation. And pin this post for later so you’ll remember—and so you won’t stress during your next trip!

How to make your picky kids eat on vacation

1. Screen the restaurants

Before we eat at a new restaurant with the kids, I look at their menu online to make sure there’s at least something my kids will eat without complaint. Even if there isn’t a kid menu, I’ll scan other items to see if they can make a kid-friendly version—e.g. a mushroom-cheese panini can totally become grilled cheese.

2. Google maps the heck out of your itinerary

When we go on a family trip, first I search “restaurant with kids play area” and the best kid-friendly restaurants of our destination. Then I add the best ones to a custom google map of our family vacation.

That way, wherever we are—and in whichever neighborhood—there will be a family-friendly restaurant I’ve pre-screened nearby.

Getting the girls to try gluten-free cinnamon rolls at Kyra’s Bake Shop wasn’t a hard sell.

3. Order something familiar…

Young picky eaters are not going to suddenly decide that they’re totally down with seaweed salad if all they eat at home is plain spaghetti. So let them order something that will actually deliver the calories they need to continue living. French fries for the win!

4. …and put unfamiliar food on their plate, too

That doesn’t mean you have to eat buttered pasta, though! (Though if you want to, by all means, go for it! Vacation!!!)

So go ahead and order whatever you want to eat—then put a teeny tiny portion of your meal on your child’s plate. They may freak out and insist you get it off their plate—or they may try it. Hey, I’m an optimist.

She tried the arepas at Portland Mercado, at least!

5. Encourage adventure bites

In our family, we never require my kids to eat everything on their plate. Instead, we ask them to take an “adventure bite,” a phrase we learned when my nephew was visiting. (The fact that their cousin takes adventure bites totally helps my picky eaters branch out.)

Sometimes, though, adventure bites are too much. So to help my picky kids eat on vacation, I ask them to touch the food with their tongue instead. (I know, the lengths we parents go to. *eyeroll*) Sometimes it’s a no-go. But other times, like when my 3-year-old touched a slice of peach with her tongue, it’s a slam-dunk. “I love it!” she yelled!

6. Ketchup on everything

Kids like ketchup—it’s pretty much a universal rule. If your kid agrees, then ask for the server to bring you ketchup—even if you’re at a Japanese restaurant. (They probably don’t have it but hey, they might!) Then let your picky eaters put ketchup on whatever they want. If it helps them try teriyaki chicken, what’s the harm?

7. Order family-style

Some restaurants serve family style—Chinese restaurants with their lazy susans come to mind—and some research suggests that letting everyone serve themselves from food at the center of the table encourages kids to try more foods and develop the skills they need to become healthy eaters. Some experts suggest this is because family-style eating transfers control over mealtimes—which can be stressful for picky eaters and all of us—to the kids. They get to choose what, and how much, goes on their plate.

What’s more, family-style dining models to your kids what healthy eating looks like. They get to practice estimating serving sizes and putting a balanced mix of food on their plate.

So the next time you’re eating at a restaurant on vacation, agree as a table what you’ll order—and ask your server to place it all in the middle of the table. Then your family can choose what they’d like to sample from the center.

8. Enjoy—I mean, really enjoy—your food

Do you remember that scene in the movie What About Bob? where Bob is eating corn on the cob and enjoying the heck out of it? The kids at the table think it’s hilarious—and your kids will, too, as you “mmmmmmmmmm!” over your salad or stir fry. The over-the-top enjoyment adds a bit of silliness to the meal, and your kids might just try some—and “mmmmmmm!” over it too!

9. “Steal” bites

A while back, my family went out to dinner with some dear friends whose toddler is a gold medal-winning, A+, poster child eater. Seriously, he loves all food, which is kind of the opposite of my girls, whom we used to call “breathatarians” because they were seemingly convinced they could live on air alone.

Well, at one point in the meal, my friend picked up his son’s fork and pretended to try to “steal” a bite. His son immediately gobbled it up—and it was a hilarious game. My girls caught on, and now we sometimes try to “sneak” their food—which really, really helps my picky kids eat on vacation.

10. Introduce a new toy

On a recent trip to Seattle, I was on my own with my kids for a while, including several meals. Well, Mama planned ahead, and I brought a new toy for each kid. I’m not talking fancy, batteries-required toys; I brought a memory game and a tiny toy car. No matter: My kids were delighted. The distraction helped them wait while the restaurant made our food, and it made the meal fun. What’s more, it gave the kids something to do when I needed more time to finish my meal.

And—you guessed it—the unexpected surprise of getting a little toy at dinner made these picky eaters eat more.

11. Pre-order your food

In one of the greatest mysteries of life, hangry kids are actually less likely to eat. (Have you noticed that, too? What gives?!) So one way to make your picky kids eat on vacation is to put food in front of them before they’re absolutely starving.

One way we do this is look at a menu before arriving and deciding what everyone is going to eat. That way, when the server comes around, we don’t have to wait for them to take drink orders and come back 15 minutes later—we can order and eat in record time.

If you’re really under a time crunch and approaching hangry kid meltdowns, you can order before you even get to the restaurant. Just tell them you’ll be there in 10 or 15 minutes (depending on how far away you are, of course), and then they’ll seat you just before your food is ready. Genius.

12. Eat a little of a lot

If you travel with a picky eater, opt for some meals that serve small portions. That way, you can order a bunch of food, and chances are, your kids will like at least something.

Tapas and conveyor belt sushi are great opportunities for kids to see and taste a wide variety of foods. I take my kids to an inexpensive conveyor belt sushi place near our house during happy hour sometimes, and I let them pick anything off the belt. The catch is they have to try what they pick. Most things are a no go, but once Kiwi tried—and liked!—raw salmon! She even used chopsticks!

13. Don’t force them to sit the whole time

Kids are squirmy. That’s just reality. And it’s asking a lot of any young child—including a picky eater—to sit for an entire meal without getting up. So don’t sweat your kid getting down from the table before everyone has finished eating.

14. Pick a kid-friendly restaurant

Of course finding a kid-friendly restaurant that serves more than chicken nuggets is a plus. But beyond the menu, I’ve found that eating in kid-friendly restaurants eases a ton of the stress of eating at restaurants on vacation with kids. The staff tend to be less worried about french fries on the floor and other delightful side effects of family travel.

15. Enlist a pint-sized travel agent

Once you’ve found a handful of family-friendly restaurants, you’ll next ask your kids their opinions. Offer them two options you’ve already vetted and give them the power to choose where you’ll eat.

If your picky eaters feel like they’ve contributed and exercised some of their own control, they’re more likely to eat on vacation.

16. Decide on dessert ahead of time

It’s a giant pet peeve of mine when servers ask—in front of the kids—if we want dessert. Um, what kid is going to say no to that?! This suggestive selling makes parents the bad guys, and you probably agree that being the bad guy is no fun.

So instead of waiting until your server offers ice cream, decide and discuss as a family if you’ll  be having dessert or not. Making the decision even before you sit down lets you say, “Remember, we talked about how you had cotton candy at the fair, so we’re not going to get dessert after dinner.” In my experience, my kids are way less likely to throw a tantrum if they know a “no” is coming. (Or when a “heck yes!” is coming!)

17. Calories are calories

When I was pregnant with Kiwi and Peeper was about a year and a half, I flew solo from Detroit to Portland. While we waited for our flight to board, I needed to feed Peeper dinner. We sat down at a restaurant—and I had zero effs left to give that she ate nothing but french fries.

I sometimes channel that exhausted, who-cares attitude now when we eat at a restaurant with my kids. You see, I strive to serve my girls balanced meals when I’m at home, so I figure one meal that consists entirely of fried, salted potatoes won’t hurt. After all, even french fries can keep kids alive for a while!

18. Load up on breakfast

Generally, you have the most control over the first meal of the day. So to get picky kids to eat on vacation, load ’em up in the morning. Either check ahead of time that your hotel serves something they’ll eat, or—better yet—bring along their usual breakfast foods.

When we go on a family trip, we always bring a jar of peanut butter and bananas. Heck, I even bring a variety of sprinkles, ’cause once when my picky eaters were on a hunger strike I resorted to putting dyed sugar on their bananas and I’ve never gone back. #noshameparenting That way, I know I can get them to eat a full meal first-thing.

19. Food is a part of the adventure

When we go on a family vacation, we talk up the trip—the museums we’ll see, the hotel where we’ll stay, the hikes we’ll go on, the playgrounds we’ll visit. Why not do the same with food?

When you travel with a picky eater, especially, discuss the foods you’ll try and the restaurants you’ll visit. Getting excited about the food of your vacation—and talking about it in the same breath as the other awesome stuff you’ll do—helps your kids associate food with fun. It also prepares kids who don’t like surprises or who may have anxiety around new experiences.

20. Eat a smoothie

If your kids like smoothie, then by all means order a smoothie as an entire meal. I love taking my kids to Moberi in Portland because they both eat the green smoothie—even Kiwi, who will not touch a single vegetable.

21. Don’t eat dinner; eat happy hour

Forget brunch; happy hour is my favorite time at a restaurant, and that’s even more true now that I’m a mom. Happy hour is perfectly designed to help picky kids eat on vacation:

• Happy hour is early (so no hangry meltdowns)
• Happy hour is cheap (so you feel less bad that your kid ate only a single bite of the sliders she ordered)
• Happy hour isn’t busy (so there are fewer strangers to judge you when you give your kids a tablet so you can finish your cocktail in peace)

Happy hour menu items are also usually smaller than full plates so you can order a few extra dishes—and increase the chances your kids will try something they like.

Traveling with a picky eater—made easier

I wish I could wave a magic wand and make your kids open and excited to eating all the foods. Heck, I wish I could to that to my kids.

Until I get that magic wand, then, I’ll continue working these family travel dining hacks: I’ll strategically pick where and when to eat, give my kids some control over what they eat (and don’t), and find lots of ways to simply stress less about what goes on their plates.

I’m confident that you’ll be less anxious about traveling with a picky eater after reading these tips. And I’m fairly sure these ideas will help your picky kid eat on vacation.

Do you have tips for traveling with picky eaters? Tell me your magical (or not so magical) ways to make picky kids eat on vacation!

The post 21 tested ways to help picky kids eat on vacation—and not starve! appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Yes, it’s a bummer to forego local delicacies, and figuring out how to eat gluten-free when you travel takes extra work. But if you’re celiac, you have no choice, and if you’re just sensitive to gluten, you’ll feel much better if you stick to your regular diet.

Here’s the good news: Figuring out how to eat gluten-free when you travel isn’t as hard as you think. I’ve managed quite well in my travels, and I’m here to share my best tips on keeping your diet clean and keeping you healthy. Bon voyage, and bon appetit!

Top 11 ways to eat gluten-free when you travel

1. Research gluten-free restaurants

This sounds like a “duh” tip, but it should be your first step. Before you travel abroad, google “gluten-free restaurant” and whatever place you’re visiting. Don’t stop there, though.

Next, add those locations to a google map. Unless your itinerary is set in stone, your plans will probably change, so having these good-to-go restaurants on a map you can access will help you find a place to eat, no matter where your travels take you that day.

2. Go for gluten-friendly cuisines

Some types of food are more gluten-friendly than others. Italian cuisine, for example, is a lot tougher to eat GF than, say, Mexican. So when you’re traveling and can’t find a specifically gluten-free restaurant, look for Mexican (or other Latin American), Japanese, Thai and the like. You’ll be able to eat gluten-free when you travel with these cuisine choices.

3. Find vegetarian restaurants

Vegetarian restaurants tend to cater to more health-conscious eaters, so gluten-free choices are often marked on these menus.

4. Memorize how to say “gluten” and “wheat” in the local language

Look up—and write down—how to ask if the food has gluten in it. “Contiene trigo?” means “Does this have wheat in it?” in Spanish—a phrase I sometimes used when traveling in South America recently.

This delicious bowl from Verde Te Quiero Verde in Rosario, Argentina was so healthy and satisfying!

5. Look up local dishes

If you’re traveling in Italy, you’ll find pasta on most every menu—not exactly gluten-free friendly. But when you’re working out how to eat gluten-free when you travel, think of other signature foods in your destination—like caprese salad in Italy.

When I was in Peru, for example, I always knew I could ask for ceviche or tacu tacu, a fried rice dish, at pretty much any Peruvian restaurant. Knowing there will always be something you can eat will take out a lot of the stress of being a gluten-free traveler.

6. Ask in advance

If the group you’re traveling with has plans to go to a specific restaurant, call ahead. That way you can ask if there are gluten-free dishes and even ask for modifications. They’re much more likely to be able to work around your dietary restrictions if you ask in advance.

Chia in Cusco, Peru was an all-vegan restaurant with a ton of delicious gluten-free food.

7. Get help from the front desk

It can be hard to figure out how to eat gluten-free when you travel if you do it on your own, so ask for help! If you don’t speak the local language, enlist the help of your hotel’s concierge (or your AirBnB host). They’ll be able to communicate your needs on your behalf.

8. Seek recommendations from travel boards

Search travel message boards for location-specific tips on how to eat gluten-free when you travel. If nothing pops up that’s relevant to your destination, ask on a travel message board: Other travelers are likely to weigh in.

Isolina Taberna in Lima, Peru had a wealth of gluten-free foods. The beans were out of this world!

9. Bring snacks from home

Raise your hand if this has happened to you, too: You’re traveling abroad and you haven’t eaten anything for a while, and all of a sudden you’re hangry—and the only food around is delicious-smelling donuts some nice old lady is selling on the street. Not a good combination when you’re traveling internationally (or anywhere, for that matter).

To avoid those hangry moments, bring a supply of GF snacks from home: ones you know you like and are shelf-stable. For example, on a recent long trip to South America, I brought an entire box of Paleo Cave Man bars as well as a bunch of Lara Bars (my fave flavors are cherry and peanut butter chocolate chip). Yes, they weighed a lot, and yes, I felt semi-ridiculous importing so many snacks, but I was absolutely glad to have them. I made sure I always had a bar (or two) in my bag or purse before I left the hotel each morning. And I can’t tell you how many times those snacks saved me! (affiliate links)

10. Eat a hearty breakfast

Most hotels offer breakfast as a complementary part of your stay. Take advantage and load up on gluten-free foods. My go-to breakfast choices: eggs, fruit and oatmeal.

Depending on where you’re traveling, you might have additional options that seem unconventional to Americans but will still give you a good base for a full day of traveling. In England and much of Europe, for example, you’ll find baked beans at breakfast; in South America, I was often offered slices of ham or turkey and cheese; in Japan, you might eat salad, fish and soup first-thing.

11. Visit a local grocery store

There may be days when you simply didn’t have good luck finding gluten-free food when you travel. On those days, make sure you have GF choices back at your hotel room that are heartier than trail mix or granola bars.

One of the first things I do when I arrive at my travel destination is go to a grocery store. While I’m there, I pick out one or two gluten-free staples (on a recent trip, I bought GF granola and almond milk). Other ideas: cold cuts, peanut butter and bananas, fruit and yogurt, or veggies and avocado. Most lodging has at least a small mini-bar fridge where you can store perishable foods.

Bottom line: It’s far from impossible to eat gluten free when you travel. You can absolutely stay healthy even while exploring the world—and eating your way around the globe.

You might not be able to eat baguettes in France or alfajores in Argentina (womp-womp), but when you eat gluten-free when you travel abroad, you’ll keep your tummy happy—so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Do you have any trips on how to eat gluten-free when you travel?

The post 11 super-helpful tips to eat gluten-free when you travel abroad appeared first on To & Fro Fam.