My five year old son is going out of state with his dad next weekend for four days. He has never been with him for more than 12 or so hours at a time and I am concerned about him being fed during meal times. I want to send some things with him that he can grab and eat if he gets hungry and everyone is still sleeping. It needs to be food that is not refrigerated. Do you have any ideas?
I guess I should explain a little better...we are divorced and have been separated for a couple of years. During this time he has never had the responsibility of feeding him for more than one meal and has never had him a whole weekend. In the past, we have made the same trip and everyone being visited including his dad are extremely late sleepers. I am not trying to send my son any sort of negative message about his dad (I try to avoid that at all costs), I just want to make sure that he is fed at a reasonable time and has options. Thank you everybody!
Peanut butter crackers are always great to put in a suitcase. They are filling and good for you in a rush. Kids can grab them easily also. Cereal bars also come to mind ... Nutrigrain, Special K ... etc., have wonderful fruit flavors and also quick to grab.
I think that this is a good opportunity for you to show your son that you trust his father to take good care of him. By sending food (for meals) with your son you may also be sending the message that you do not believe his father is equipped to properly care for him. That being said, I see no harm in letting him pick out ONE box of granola bars or something like them (individually wrapped, no need for refrigeration) to put in his backpack for 'the trip', as long as you make it clear that he is only allowed to eat them when he is allowed by his father (Dad may not want him to have a snack if he is planning a big breakfast/meal soon.)
Ask dad if it is ok if you send along some snack items (I am guessing you are seperated since you said his dad so asking is best). If he says no then respect that, if he says sure/whatever let son pick a few of his favorite "healthy" snack foods.
juice boxes
fruit bars/granola bars
rasins
dried fruit
nuts
various cereals in those small boxes
How about Nutrigrain bars?
My husband is awful at feeding the kids on time, but they always remind him. Don't worry about him starving, they live despite what dad's do to them. LOL It's only 4 days, breathe and enjoy some time to yourself.
Is there a reason that you don't think dad is capable of feeding his own son? That's wierd. Granola bars. But, I still think it's kind of wrong that you can't trust him or your son to figure this out between them. Sounds like it's time to let go a little bit. Let dad step up and son grow up. (all of this advice is b ased on what you wrote, which says nothing about this guy being a bad dad. If he sucks, it would be different!)
- Handi-snack cheese and crackers
- Hostess mini muffins
- travel size cereals
- breakfast bars
- juice boxes
You don't explain why you have this fear.
The most you might want to do is if they are on a road trip, send healthy good road trip snacks for both of them but to tell him in front of dad that he must ask Dad when it is appropriate for snacktime as dad will be choosing mealtimes. Apples, grapes, protein bars, nuts, cheese crackers. Artificiallly sweetened gum to stall an appetite when the next roadstop is an hour away.
If dad skips his own meals, then ask him to be sure to feed the son every ___ hours.
Try some Nutri-Grain bars, trail mix, beef jerky, string cheese, cheese and crackers (packaged), peanut butter and crackers (packaged), pretzels, SunChips, Wheat Thins, Triscuits, etc. and some Capri Sun packets!
