I got a lot of messages when I shared what I was doing to prep and pack food for our weekend away with both boys.

We headed to Niagara for a hockey tournament and stayed in a hotel for two nights, which meant a good amount of meals away from home. Whenever we are going away or even going to the cottage for the weekend, I prepare like this so I know what we’ll be eating and what I need to pack. It helps me get a handle on what we need, what I need to prep ahead of time and what our meals will look like so it’s one less thing off my plate.

I was also feeling increased anxiety about the hotel stay and the sleep situation, so I knew that having solid, nutritious food for everyone would help. Also…eating out for all our meals would have been expensive, inconvenient and set us up for potentially more meltdowns.

Oh right, did I mention it was Daylight Savings? Yes…another curve ball.

Stable blood sugars for the win.

Here are some key considerations when packing for a weekend away.

Things to Consider:

Where are meals going to be eaten?
In the car? On the go? In the hotel? Picnic?
What do your kids normally eat?
Weekends away are not the time to introduce new foods. I will still offer veggies or other items that I know he may not eat, but I’m not bringing something out of the ordinary and banking on him trying it. It’s better to stick with classics that you know they’ll eat, with tried and true recipes.
Do you have somewhere to store food? aka is there a refrigerator or a microwave?
These factors will play a huge role in what you are able to pack and bring. Most hotels come with a fridge, but not all of them include a microwave. The benefit with kids is they typically eat their meals so slowly that they are used to cold food, so some things don’t even need to be reheated!

All of these things are important considerations when you start to list out what food or snacks you might want to bring with you.

how I get started:

Start with a list

List the meals you are going to be away for
Look ahead at your plan and be realistic about what your time and meals will look like

Start to plug in the meals that you won’t be bringing with you
- Eating out, visiting family, etc.
- Yes…I fully plan for pizza or a quick dinner on Saturday night
Add in the meal and snack ideas that you can make ahead or bring with you

My priorities:

Protein & Healthy Fats

These options are going to stabilize those blood sugars and reduce the amount of meltdowns that are more likely when you are in a new environment and getting less sleep.

Think things like:

Nuts & seeds
Nut butters
Hemp hearts
Greek yogurt
Cheese
Chicken
Cottage cheese
Protein muffins
Energy bites

What’s next:

Then I look at what I have available already and what I realistically have time to make. You don’t have to spend the whole week prepping ahead, but you can pick a couple dishes or easy recipes to prepare ahead of time to save yourself more stress when you’re away.

Some of my favourites:

Tuscan Tortellini Salad - https://www.delish.com/cooking/videos/a47835/tuscan-tortellini-salad/

Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad - https://app.thatcleanlife.com/shares/8acbcb6b-ae74-4708-817d-ad547da76389

These two salads can be made ahead, eaten cold and don’t take long to make. They are great travel companions for a lunch or dinner option.

I almost always have pancakes, waffles & protein muffins in the freezer that are loaded up with nutrients to keep those blood sugars stable. These are a must when we’re away so we’re not grabbing empty carb sources from Tim’s or the arena that cause more issues for toddler moods.

Then I start two lists:

“To Bring”

And

“To Buy”

Here I list everything that we need. Having one centralized checklist makes packing much easier and decreases the likelihood of forgetting something.

The “To Bring” list has a wide variety of things. From veggies, fruit and granola bars to utensils and plates to booster seats and bibs. Whatever you need, put it here.

The “To Buy” list is typically my grocery list specific to the weekend away. If there’s anything I need for the dishes I’m making ahead of time or any specific items we want.

Coming Home from the Weekend

We don’t always rely on TV for our kids, but when we do, it’s after a weekend away.

Once we get home, we get everything inside and throw on a show for the kids while they unwind, settle back home and we can unpack in a semi-peaceful environment.

We also bank on an easy supper this night. Whether that’s pasta, tortellini, quesadillas or toast with almond butter, I know I won’t be cooking an elaborate dinner. I might even serve leftovers from the weekend if there are some available.

Planning ahead and being realistic about what your weekend looks like and what you can accomplish makes a huge difference in your mentality for the weekend. You can set yourself up for success, give yourself and your kids grace while away and know that things are going to be out of your norm for a few days.

If you have any questions, drop them below so we can chat!

Britt

How to pack & feed your family for a weekend away