As you know, this is the day to click around to the Works for Me Wednesday Crowd, a genius idea from Shannon of Rocks in My Dryer. (Go there to see who has stopped by her site to claim participation!)
Minor Disclaimer: This particular post isn’t for everyone. Some moms might think my tips distinctly less than helpful, and downright wrong. That’s ok.
Tips for Kid-Friendly Fast Food Eating In The Car
(Why YES! I am an expert on this!)
1. Never get ‘dipping sauces,’ syrup, yogurt, or ketchup. Check the bags to see if some helpful person has placed any of these items inside BEFORE handing them to kids. Very important. And while you’re looking, be sure to take out any little salt packets. Those can be highly entertaining to children, and I mean that in a bad, bad way. ("Look! It’s snooooooowing!")
2. Always de-paper the straw for your kids, so little straw papers are not everywhere.
3. Before handing any child any drink of any sort, GLARE like you mean it and say, "Do NOT take off the lid. NO MATTER WHAT."
4. If you have a child who likes to change his order WHILE you’re placing the order, do the following:
step A: right before you approach the drive through menu, summarize Indecisive Child’s order.
step B: once you get a head nod of agreement or anything else – immediately, QUICKLY say "Great, excellent choice, that’s your final answer and there will be no more changes."
step C: Step on the gas and order before Indecisive Child has a chance to strike again.
(I’m especially proud of this final tip)
5. When you receive food that is too hot for immediate consumption by children, simply turn up the a/c, stick the food in front of your air vent for few seconds and voila! Ready. Ethan-6yr likes his food cooler than anyone else, so his whole bag is directed at one vent, then I can cool Caden-2yr’s for a shorter period of time, and it’s all done and customized to temperature preferences in less than 30 seconds. Because sometimes even fast food just isn’t fast enough.
Bonus Tips for the Lactating Crowd:
Need to give your baby "fast food" in the car – and why not? (breastmilk is best, they say) Remember not to park near cars that are housing bored teenage males. Suddenly they’re not bored anymore, but that’s an education that’s not ‘free with the meal.’
Remember to look for those helpful signs in parking lots that read: "You are being monitored by security cameras."
Remember that if you ever see anyone wearing a button like the black one with the rose (and that’s what it is, and they’re $2 somewhere), RUN. And please, if you see me, don’t ask ME about breastfeeding unless your child is about to pass out and it’s that kind of emergency. I believe in it fully, I just don’t talk about it, ‘kay?
Two-tone neck gives it away. Antlers are...
11:13 pm
Who knew eating fast food in the car could be so enjoyable? I’m impressed!
11:15 pm
Wow. You have that down to a science. I am totally impressed.
Love that air vent thing! What do you do in the winter? I’m imagining happy meal boxes held aloft out the window.
Once I figure out how to translate all this info to health food restaurants, I know my life is going to be cleaner, quicker, neater, cooler, easier and more decisive.
12:06 am
Hey, the a/c trick works for lattes too. Just so you know
12:29 am
The AC trick is not just for kids. I’m 38 and do it.
BTW another quick tip. If your child is lactose sensitive do NOT give them hotdogs. One hotdog has as much lactose as a 12 ounce glass of whole milk. I learned this the hardway.
12:44 am
I never get dipping sauces either.
And how funny you should post about NOT talking about nursing. I mean, seeing what I just posted over at my place….
Fun post.
Mary
12:50 am
Ok, do you have a seat in my van that I’m not aware of?? My husband just declared your post ‘freaky’accurate to us. LOL
Only, I taught my kids how to blow those straw papers off the straws. I might be faced with a revolt should I not allow them the pleasure.
Those A/C vents hold single french fries quite well. This works to get one ready for the almost 2 year-old who is screaming because his siblings have food and he doesn’t.
2:10 am
I second #2. I de-paper the straw for my kids all the time now, I used to not do it. My 5-yr old would tear the paper half off and blow the half at me. My own fault for doing it to him first.
7:22 am
Hi
I’m not a mom, but love reading your blog!! It’s like research for the future.
7:44 am
Thanks for the tips! I whole-heartedly agree with the breastfeeding tips…but since my only son is 8 months old, I’ll store away the other information for later!
8:10 am
hey holymama, how do i become a groupie for works for me wednesdays?
i have ideas to share
8:10 am
too funny…my 4 y/o is just learning that he can change his mind AFTER the food comes…of course I never go back!
and the bf stuff…too cute! i’m sure that i’ve been on plenty of security cameras and have given lots of teenagers many laughs!
good post!
8:36 am
Next weeks tips can be what products to use while cleaning the car of the ‘um accidents!! ;D
9:13 am
Great tips!! I have actually seen a lady wearing that button somewhere before. It just cracks me up how seriously people take it : )
11:10 am
Oh, MY.WORD — You are making me choke on my water! You crack me up so much. It’s always fun to come to holymama land!
I’ll have to remember these tips for when my son can actually “chew” food, and sadly, I was only able to breast feed for 5 sad, puney little weeks before my meager milk supply disapeared. But I’ll remember this tip for the next time!
11:15 am
You are so hilarious, Kelsey! I am still giggling over this whole post. I’ve employed some of your ideas already, and I love the attitude toward breastfeeding. Never wore the button myself either. Hee Hee!
11:26 am
Love your post, we’ve also had to learn a few tricks about Fast Food eating in the car.
Unfortunately for me though, my husband taught the kids to blow the paper off the straws so there’s ALWAYS those laying around until we get home.
Love your blog, you always crack me up and remind me so much of myself, it’s scary. LOL
Thanks for dropping by mine yesterday, loved hearing from you
12:00 pm
ummm decision making is not just for kids. I have to remind my husband that he knows what is at every fastfood restaurant, why does he have to tell the cashier “hang on a second.” come on!! good wfmw, mine’s up
12:56 pm
I *understand* the reason for no dipping sauces, but oh my goodness, just can’t picture ordering chicken nuggets with no sauce! How fortunate that I am past this stage of my life. When I take the grandbabies for fast food, we usually end up spending about an hour, inside the “restaurant”, while they play, instead of eating in the car on the go.
12:56 pm
You crack me up! I ditto on the dippy sauce thing. The AC trick is brilliant. I’ll have to try it. And breastfeeding in front of security cameras? I once did it hunched over on the spiral stairs heading up to the statue of liberty’s head. (There isn’t enough room to walk upright) After standing in line all day, I wasn’t about to find a secluded spot to sit down. And heaven know’s where I would’ve found a way to warm a bottle. I’m glad I did, as you no longer can visit the inside of her head. I’m sure it gave the security guys something to talk about, though!
12:57 pm
Lol! I loved the tip on the Indecisive Child! I have one who will change his mind fifty times before I finally just give up and order him something he usually likes and hope he’ll eat it!
1:04 pm
Bwahahaha!! Those are some great ideas which I haven’t thought of myself!
And, you reminded me of my tip, which I had thought I had forgotten! Thanks a bunch!
1:27 pm
Great ideas! I can still use them with my five year old.
1:27 pm
I vagley remember going through a drive-thru and just eating my food once upon a time…no sharing it, no stopping to hand things out, no looks and words that have anything to do about throwing food or spitting out drinks…
Maybe that day will come again, until then,
Thanks for the laugh!
You summed up our drive-thru meals including the look and the air conditioner (no matter how cold it is out side it comes on when the food is too hot!
1:27 pm
You forgot tip #6 – hold the prize for ransom until the meal is completed with no major mishaps or drama.
OSHEE, I thought I was the only one that has stuck fries in the vent to cool them off.
2:18 pm
My kids don’t get a choice….it’s corn dogs everytime and plain too! Mua ha ha ha! And they’re always too hot so as we drive down the road I have corn dogs hangin out the window! Hubby loooves that! Especially since we live in the town he grew up in! I like your style on the “works for me wed.”! Nice and funny just the way I like it! How’s the vacation plans?
3:10 pm
First of all, let me agree with Cheeriobutt that you’re a very nice mom for giving your kids a choice. I’m of the “take-it-or-leave-it” persuasion.
And the cooling off thing? I totally do that too! If I’m in a real hurry I sometimes actually stick the french fries in the vent so I can let go of them and pull forward. A little freon never hurt anyone, right?
3:45 pm
You make it sound so easy
He really don’t make a lot of mess when he eats, but still he makes some.. sigh.
My son do demand ketchup on his hot dogs, and no, not the smart kind under the hot dog hidden inside the bread. No, no, he has to have it on top so he can see it
3:53 pm
Last time the girls and I drove through McD’s to get a drink–and only a drink–my oldest yelled from the back of the van that she wanted a happy meal. The order guy of course heard her, and not me, and put that on the screen. I took me a second to realized why my total for two drinks was $9!
5:29 pm
Holymama, my sister recently told me about your blog and I visited today,for the first time, literally minutes after I got home from a quick errand which had to have McD’s tagged onto it. I was laughing so hard at your suggestions! I could’ve used the advice about the indecisive child as my 2nd born changed her mind after I ordered and the order man was laughing his head off as we discussed how she couldn’t have hotfudge on TOP of her icecream CONE and she had to stick with her original order! Argh! Then my almost 2 yr old wanted her fries NOW and they were too hot! You would’ve thought it was the end of the world! I’ll try the a.c.next time! Thanks for giving me something to laugh about at the end of a long day! – sarah
9:10 pm
hehe great tips!!
10:07 am
And always always ALWAYS ask for extra extra EXTRA napkins!
3:55 pm
Linked to you in my post today about bloggin’ buddies. I’m so thankful for you!
12:28 pm
First visit and VERY cute to read. Thanks for the sweetness that comes through on this.
Fun to read today.
12:44 pm
Great tips for moms in the fast food lane. You are hoot
4:13 pm
Awww thanks for sharing this with me…I’ll have to do the “Works for Me Wednesday” on my blog as well!
I just found your blog…if you stop by mine anytime soon…you’ll see my kids in the adventure of planting their very first vegetable garden!!! LOL
(you will need to 1. register (FREE), on the right side of my site before you post…this is just to make your visits more personalized, etc. and then 2. click “Leave Your Comments” back at the regular part of my site on any comments that interests you, and then 3. “Post Reply” once the comments page comes up and type your comment).
Hope that you can find the time to come by my blog site and please post a comment when you do…I like for those who visit my site to let me know they’ve been there
I’ll try to visit your site regularly and hope that you visit mine as well!
God Bless! 
9:38 pm
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