usually cost less than those you buy in
restaurants. Packed foods save you time
because you don’t have to go to a restaurant
and wait for your food to be served. Some
people think homemade foods taste better
than foods from restaurants or vending
machines. When you make your own meal
or snack, you have more control over the
foods you eat. You can be sure it contains
the nutritious foods that you like to eat.
Preparing Meals-to-Go
Almost any food can be part of a meal
or snack to be eaten away from home. See
14-11. When you plan these meals and
snacks, keep good nutrition in mind. Try to
include foods from most of the major food
groups. Also try to make the meals and
snacks appealing. Include foods with a
variety of flavors, colors, and textures.
When packing a meal or snack-to-go,
be sure to wrap foods or pack them in
nonbreakable containers, 14-12. This helps
to keep foods tasting fresh. For instance,
you can keep salads crunchy by storing
them in a plastic bag. Add the dressing
when you’re ready to eat. Also, don’t forget
to pack napkins and any utensils you will
need. For example, you’ll need a fork for a
salad and a cup to serve a hot beverage.
Keeping Meals-to-Go Safe to Eat
Meals- and snacks-to-go should be
safe to eat, too. Safety starts at home with
clean kitchen equipment. Safety counts
after you hit the road, too. Keeping foods
safe to eat means keeping cold foods cold
and hot foods hot. You can keep cold foods
safe by chilling them well before packing
the meal or snack. Then, store cold foods
in an insulated container until you are ready
Meals-to-Go
14-11
Meal-to-go possibilities are almost Meal-to-go possibilities are almost
endless. endless.
Menu #1
Hot chili
Corn bread
Apple
Iced tea
Menu #3
Cold cheese
pizza
Tossed salad
Sparkling water
Menu #5
Tuna salad
Crackers
Celery sticks
Chocolate milk
Menu #7
Bean burrito
Cheese wedge
Tomato juice
Menu #2
Cold chicken
Biscuit
Carrot sticks
Lemonade
Menu #4
Meatloaf sandwich
Raw caulifl ower
Grapes
Milk
Menu #6
Macaroni
and cheese
Cookies
Apple juice
Menu #8
Yogurt
Banana
Muffi n
Diet soft drink
to serve them. Keep the container in a cool
place. Don’t set it next to a heater or in
sunlight. You can keep the container cold
by putting a cold pack in it. You can make
your own cold pack by putting ice cubes
in a zip-top bag or a plastic container that
seals tightly. If you can, store the insulated
container in a refrigerator until lunchtime.
272 Adventures in Food and Nutrition
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.