kids lunch bags that stay cold image
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I'm going to be at college for 12hrs, plus another 2hrs driving time.
If I were to keep some food in an insulated bag, APPROXIMATELY (to your best knowledge) how many hours max would it stay fresh for if:
-the food was reallly hot or frozen?
-it was just sorta cold?
Thanks.
Answer
I found this for you. Hope it helps!
Lunch Bags & Boxes
The first thing you will need is a container in which to pack the lunch. It doesn't need to cost a lot of money. For adults a small cooler makes a great lunch box. Fred uses a medium sized cooler. He is usually gone for 24 to 48 hours, so he needs alot of food to keep him going. For children and teenagers, you can usually find inexpensive lunch boxes and insulated lunch bags at yard sales and thrift stores.
Small children often prefer a plastic lunch box with cartoon characters on the side. I suggest you buy these as cheaply as possible. They only last for a year or two before the children drop them or the latch breaks. At $6 to $10 a piece, buying brand new boxes has never been a good investment for me. I have purchased them new when I desperately needed the thermoses that came with them. After the plastic lunch box broke, I purchased replacements from my local Goodwill. I continue to use the same thermos year after year.
If the art work on an older lunch box is shabby, you can easily replace it. Use rubber cement to glue down a new picture (cut to size) and then cover the picture with clear contact paper. I've done this, and it lasted almost 2 years, until the lunch box cracked and became unusable. Amy D. describes the process in detail in the first book of The Tightwad Gazette.
For older children insulated lunch bags work best. They don't have the juvenile connotations of plastic boxes with matching thermoses, so older kids usually don't object to carrying them. I like them because they don't break when they get drop-kicked across the livingroom by a budding football player. Since they have soft sides, it is easier to fit more food and odd-shaped containers in them too. They usually have zipper closing and shoulder straps for carrying them. I buy the largest ones I can find because I find them easier to fill. Many modern insulated bags have several extra zipper pockets and sections on the outside to carry little extras like napkins, spoons and salt or pepper packets. My boys like these but they aren't really necessary. Purchased brand-new, insulated lunch bags cost between $5 and $15. If you wait until back-to-school-sales you may find them cheaper. Over the summer they can often be found at yard sales. Insulated lunch bags usually do not come with their own thermos, so you will have to use some you already have or buy them separately.
I found this for you. Hope it helps!
Lunch Bags & Boxes
The first thing you will need is a container in which to pack the lunch. It doesn't need to cost a lot of money. For adults a small cooler makes a great lunch box. Fred uses a medium sized cooler. He is usually gone for 24 to 48 hours, so he needs alot of food to keep him going. For children and teenagers, you can usually find inexpensive lunch boxes and insulated lunch bags at yard sales and thrift stores.
Small children often prefer a plastic lunch box with cartoon characters on the side. I suggest you buy these as cheaply as possible. They only last for a year or two before the children drop them or the latch breaks. At $6 to $10 a piece, buying brand new boxes has never been a good investment for me. I have purchased them new when I desperately needed the thermoses that came with them. After the plastic lunch box broke, I purchased replacements from my local Goodwill. I continue to use the same thermos year after year.
If the art work on an older lunch box is shabby, you can easily replace it. Use rubber cement to glue down a new picture (cut to size) and then cover the picture with clear contact paper. I've done this, and it lasted almost 2 years, until the lunch box cracked and became unusable. Amy D. describes the process in detail in the first book of The Tightwad Gazette.
For older children insulated lunch bags work best. They don't have the juvenile connotations of plastic boxes with matching thermoses, so older kids usually don't object to carrying them. I like them because they don't break when they get drop-kicked across the livingroom by a budding football player. Since they have soft sides, it is easier to fit more food and odd-shaped containers in them too. They usually have zipper closing and shoulder straps for carrying them. I buy the largest ones I can find because I find them easier to fill. Many modern insulated bags have several extra zipper pockets and sections on the outside to carry little extras like napkins, spoons and salt or pepper packets. My boys like these but they aren't really necessary. Purchased brand-new, insulated lunch bags cost between $5 and $15. If you wait until back-to-school-sales you may find them cheaper. Over the summer they can often be found at yard sales. Insulated lunch bags usually do not come with their own thermos, so you will have to use some you already have or buy them separately.
What would you buy for a week's worth of groceries, staying under $125?
a person
For 2 adults and 2 kids, 5 and 6.
I need dinner for 5 nights, things for packed lunches, snacks and drinks.
Please help me make a list. I suck at grocery shopping. I always run out of food before the week's over. I'll be shopping at Walmart.
Thanks!
Answer
These are some quick meals that are pretty cheap but still good.
Chicken Alfredo
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 jar of Alfredo sauce
Spaghetti noodles
This is a pretty quick recipe so start boiling the noodles first.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Cook in olive oil or margarine/butter until done. Add Alfredo sauce and heat thoroughly. When noodles are done, drain them and serve alfredo sauce on top.
**If you want you can add some fresh garlic, salt, or parmesan cheese to boost the flavor a bit.
Pizza casserole:
1 lb ground meat
1 (15oz) jar of pizza sauce
1 (12 oz) bag of egg noddles
1 (8oz) bag of mozzarella cheese
Brown the meat and drain. Boil the noodles, drain well. Put the meat and noodles in a large mixing bowl (or back in the pan you boiled the noodles in to save on dishes) and add pizza sauce and 1/2 bag of cheese. Mix well and pour into a greased 9x13 ( I use Pam spray) Top with the rest of the cheese and bake it in a 350* oven for 20- 25 minutes. Serve
Poor Mans Stroganoff (this isn't really a casserole but it is cheap and good)
1 lb or so ground meat
8 oz container of sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom condensed soup (we use cream of chicken cause we don't like mushrooms)
Brown the meat and drain off grease. Add sour cream and condensed soup (no milk) heat thoroughly and serve over cooked noodles or rice.
Tator Tot casserole
1 lb ground beef
1 can green beans ( we use corn)
1 can cream of chicken OR cream of mushroom
1 can water or milk (we use milk)
Tator-tots to cover the top of dish
shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Brown the beef, drain and put into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Combine green beans or corn, cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup, and the water or milk in a medium bowl. Pour the mixture over the beef. Put Tator-tots on top to completely cover the mixture.
Bake in a 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes, or until Tator-tots are lightly browned and crisp. Sprinkle shredded cheese if desired over the top and bake for 5 more minutes.
Someone posted this link on another question and the site looks awesome. It's Kraft foods but they have a page called 1 bag, 5 dinners:
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/dinner/1bag5dinners/1bag5dinnerslanding.aspx
This is also a good site. You can click on the ingredient option at the top of the page and enter ingredients you want and don't want then it brings up recipes for you:
allrecipes.com
Packed Lunch ideas:
Snack bars
Hard boiled eggs
Muffins
Quick breads
string cheese
cheese chunks and chunks of salami or other meat (the kids get sick of lunch meat in a sandwich but they don't mind eating it as cubes)
cottage cheese
fresh fruits
fresh veggies/pickles/olives
Salads??
Deli salads (many do not have mayo)
snack pack pudding or jello
make your own snack mixes with dried fruits, unsalted nuts, pretzels etc
There used to be and maybe still are soups in the cans that you can twist them and they heat up. Otherwise invest in a thermos to keep foods warm/cold
You can do leftovers for lunches too. Sandwiches can be boring but maybe try to change them up a bit like using pita bread, rolls, tortilla shells
If you like flavored water...it is way cheaper to buy the little packets that you can add to each bottle. Frozen juice is good to keep on hand too.
Keep a pizza or two in the freezer so when you are stuck for ideas or don't want to run to the store, you can pop in a pizza.
When you are cooking, make larger amounts and freeze the rest. If you do that for a week, you will have another week of food waiting in the freezer for you later on. :)
Keep PB on hand for the kids for snacks. Also fresh or canned fruit, yogurt, cheese and crackers, cottage cheese, snack paks, fresh vegs/dip
Finally, here is a site for a printable grocery list that should help when you shop. Hang it on your fridge and check things off as you need or think of them:
http://www.freeprintablegrocerylist.com/
These are some quick meals that are pretty cheap but still good.
Chicken Alfredo
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 jar of Alfredo sauce
Spaghetti noodles
This is a pretty quick recipe so start boiling the noodles first.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Cook in olive oil or margarine/butter until done. Add Alfredo sauce and heat thoroughly. When noodles are done, drain them and serve alfredo sauce on top.
**If you want you can add some fresh garlic, salt, or parmesan cheese to boost the flavor a bit.
Pizza casserole:
1 lb ground meat
1 (15oz) jar of pizza sauce
1 (12 oz) bag of egg noddles
1 (8oz) bag of mozzarella cheese
Brown the meat and drain. Boil the noodles, drain well. Put the meat and noodles in a large mixing bowl (or back in the pan you boiled the noodles in to save on dishes) and add pizza sauce and 1/2 bag of cheese. Mix well and pour into a greased 9x13 ( I use Pam spray) Top with the rest of the cheese and bake it in a 350* oven for 20- 25 minutes. Serve
Poor Mans Stroganoff (this isn't really a casserole but it is cheap and good)
1 lb or so ground meat
8 oz container of sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom condensed soup (we use cream of chicken cause we don't like mushrooms)
Brown the meat and drain off grease. Add sour cream and condensed soup (no milk) heat thoroughly and serve over cooked noodles or rice.
Tator Tot casserole
1 lb ground beef
1 can green beans ( we use corn)
1 can cream of chicken OR cream of mushroom
1 can water or milk (we use milk)
Tator-tots to cover the top of dish
shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Brown the beef, drain and put into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Combine green beans or corn, cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup, and the water or milk in a medium bowl. Pour the mixture over the beef. Put Tator-tots on top to completely cover the mixture.
Bake in a 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes, or until Tator-tots are lightly browned and crisp. Sprinkle shredded cheese if desired over the top and bake for 5 more minutes.
Someone posted this link on another question and the site looks awesome. It's Kraft foods but they have a page called 1 bag, 5 dinners:
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/dinner/1bag5dinners/1bag5dinnerslanding.aspx
This is also a good site. You can click on the ingredient option at the top of the page and enter ingredients you want and don't want then it brings up recipes for you:
allrecipes.com
Packed Lunch ideas:
Snack bars
Hard boiled eggs
Muffins
Quick breads
string cheese
cheese chunks and chunks of salami or other meat (the kids get sick of lunch meat in a sandwich but they don't mind eating it as cubes)
cottage cheese
fresh fruits
fresh veggies/pickles/olives
Salads??
Deli salads (many do not have mayo)
snack pack pudding or jello
make your own snack mixes with dried fruits, unsalted nuts, pretzels etc
There used to be and maybe still are soups in the cans that you can twist them and they heat up. Otherwise invest in a thermos to keep foods warm/cold
You can do leftovers for lunches too. Sandwiches can be boring but maybe try to change them up a bit like using pita bread, rolls, tortilla shells
If you like flavored water...it is way cheaper to buy the little packets that you can add to each bottle. Frozen juice is good to keep on hand too.
Keep a pizza or two in the freezer so when you are stuck for ideas or don't want to run to the store, you can pop in a pizza.
When you are cooking, make larger amounts and freeze the rest. If you do that for a week, you will have another week of food waiting in the freezer for you later on. :)
Keep PB on hand for the kids for snacks. Also fresh or canned fruit, yogurt, cheese and crackers, cottage cheese, snack paks, fresh vegs/dip
Finally, here is a site for a printable grocery list that should help when you shop. Hang it on your fridge and check things off as you need or think of them:
http://www.freeprintablegrocerylist.com/
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Title Post: How long does an insulated bag work for?
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Rating: 97% based on 9832 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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