Tonight we're starting a new adventure -- swim team. I could use some ideas for dinner that we can eat on the road. PB&J four times a week could get old LOL and for nutritional and financial reasons, I don't want to eat out all the time. What do you do?

I, too, am on the hunt for things that can be made ahead and transported so we can avoid the expense and poorer nutrition of fast food.

When I make mac/cheese, I make at least 2 batches. I amke it from scratch. I often have at least one pan in the freezer. One day we had Joey soccer from 5:30 - 6:30 and girls from 6:30 - 7:30. Not at the same place, but about 5-7 minutes away from each other.

I popped the frozen pan in the oven about 3:30. When it was hot, I put mac/cheese in the Lands End stainless thermos thingies we have. They are like Funtainers. I also cooked some Costco taquitos. Wrapped them, 2 each, in aluminum foil. Had little bags of baby carrots, also purchased at Costco.

Girls ate on a blanket during Joey's practice. Joey ate during the girls'. It wasn't the healthiest dinner, but I figure it was a good notch above fast food in the nutrition department and substantially less expensive.

Another thing I've done is take hotdogs in a large plastic thermos/water bottle. Heat the dogs, then put them and the water in the thermos. They'll stay hot for a long time. Just let the water cool a bit before pouring, or try to find stainless. I warped my plastic a bit. I buy the "healthier" hot dogs from Costco so, again, a small notch above fastfood.

I think you could put spaghetti w/ meatballs in the Funtainers.

I've also made a "box" lunch for the kids when I had to pick up from school and they had to eat in the van. Make deli wraps and add other "go with" to one of those 8 cup plastic throw away Glad containers. It's like a lap lunch and they have a place to put their food.

There is a woman that shows up at Joey's soccer practices with dinner jsut about every time. I think they are there for back-to-back practices and they have a lot of kids. While the dad is practicing with a team and a kid, the mom is at home assembling dinner. She gets to the field and carries her metal cookie sheet with food on it. They all have a nice dinner, I guess. I should ask her what things she brings.

Once I met a friend at a park around dinner time and she showed up with a cookie sheet full of tuna melts on English muffins. The park is only a few minutes from both our houses. NOt sure how that would travel to the pool, but might inspire you.

Oh, and one night at choir practice, a little girl was eating a chicken and noodles thing in a tupperware. Mom cooked it in the crock pot. Then just slopped it in the plasticware and put all the containers in an insulated bag. It was just right when they arrived at choir. The little sister rehearsed and the big one ate. Then the older one went to her rehearsal and teh younger one ate. PERFECT! We are in this same position this year, with the kids in 2 choirs that rehearse back-to-back and too far to go home in between. I plan to do a lot of that.

Thanks! That gives me a lot of food for thought (har de har)!