We have been going to fast-food restaurants less and less because of the double whammy of the high cost of feeding a family of 5, and very-bad-for-you food–  and I feel all the better for it.  But!  Sometimes it is unavoidable or just plain easier to hit the drive-thru, especially on trips or when we have an especially hectic day.

Recently we went to camp 2 states away, and amidst packing all of us for a week at a rustic camp, I didn’t dream of preparing and packaging healthy snacks for the 8-hour trip.  This left us at the mercy of the quick drive-thru, and I’m sure you’ve repeatedly had the same experience as I:  Get a couple of miles from the restaurant, then realize that they forgot to put napkins or ketchup in the bag!

I try to keep extras in my glovebox: napkins, ketchup/mustard packets, plastic forks, and straws.  It gets messy, though, so recently I put everything in a vinyl pencil bag from our old stash of school supplies.  It works perfect!  I have the little packets in the see-through mesh pocket, all zipped and held in place, and the plastic utensils and straws are right there, nice and clean.  The taller straws I have to let stick out, but I just zip right up to them so they stay in place.  Nothing is flying around or getting squashed and messy in my glovebox, but I have what I need.

The few minutes it took me to stash my glovebox is well worth the lowering of my stress level… even when I have to eat on the go!