Portable Picnics for Snowboard/Ski Days
Pizza pockets are portable, delicious and easy to put together with store-bought pizza dough
One of the challenges of introducing our family to snowboarding is the cost. There’s no way to get around season tickets if you’re going more than a few times. But, that’s just the beginning! There’s gear to buy. Travel to and from the coast takes gas and car upkeep. Accommodation isn’t free, even at Happy Cabin. After all of that, when I’m faced with basic lunch fare at the resort inching toward $20 a person, I start thinking of ways to cut costs.
My kids aren’t usually big eaters, but a day of snowboarding makes even the most finicky eaters ravenous. Our local resort has pretty good food that looks even better when you’re starving. How can I compete with fresh, hot French fries, steaming noodle bowls, plates of nachos, and pizza? Here are some ideas for kid-tested, portable snacks and lunches you can tuck into pockets and day packs or stash in a locker. If you have time, consider laying out a simple “meal bar” in the morning with a station for putting together the main dish (like a sandwich, wrap, or burrito station with fixings), along with a few snack and dessert options. My kids eat best when they’ve made the meal themselves—or at least had a hand in putting it together. What do you feed your family when you’re out on the mountain? Email me at happycabintahoe@gmail.com or leave your ideas in the comments.
Drinks
HYDRATION PACK OF COOL WATER
All but the littlest kids can carry their own water in a lightweight hydration pack. This is also a good place to stash lunch, snacks, dry socks, and a walkie talkie for keeping in touch. We like the Osprey Pack Kids Moki 1.5 Liter Hydration Pack.
THERMOS OF HOT WATER
It’s such a treat to enjoy a warm drink or meal on a cold day. Pack a thermos of plain, hot water if lunch involves adding hot water to instant food like instant oatmeal, chili, or soup. Stash instant hot cocoa, apple cider, tea or coffee for a warm beverage on-the-go. If you’re in the market for a leak proof hot/cold thermos, the Camel Mate is a solid choice. Some resorts, including our local resort (Northstar California) have complimentary hot water at the main lodges, making instant meals and drinks even easier.
HOT DRINKS
Fill a thermos with hot cocoa, hot apple cider, coffee, chai, or hot lemon water with ginger and honey.
JUICE/MILK BOXES
Main Course
PIZZA POCKETS
This is a filling meal you can put together the night before, or even the morning of if you’re organized. Start with a round of pizza dough (store bought is fine) about 6-inches wide. Slather on some sauce and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Add your favorite fixings like pepperoni, salami, ham, mushrooms, olives, peppers, onion, or pineapple. Fold into a half-moon, and use a fork to seal the edges. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes (until the crust is golden brown). Wrap with foil. For a slightly fancier version, try these Cheesy Roasted Veggie Pockets from Foxes Love Lemons. Pro Tip: If you are using a thermal container to keep food warm, shape the pizza pockets to fit your container.
SANDWICH / WRAP
Turkey, ham, salami, cheese, peanut butter, jam, honey, hummus, and baked tofu are all good options. Use a sturdy bread, roll, or tortilla as your base. Keep the condiments light and avoid vegetables with a high water content like tomatoes and mixed greens so that the sandwiches don’t get soggy. Wrap tightly in plastic or foil.
BURRITO
Use a sturdy tortilla as your base. We use the smaller tortillas for a compact burrito that holds together well and is easy to eat on-the-go. Black beans (seasoned slightly with salt), shredded cheese, and brown rice are our “go to” fillings, because they’re simple and keep well. As with sandwiches, keep the condiments light and avoid vegetables with a high water content so that the burritos don’t get soggy. Wrap with foil.
HOT SOUP / CHILI / PASTA
Pack a thermos with a warm main course. Homemade is great. Try this Spiced Lentil Soup from Oh She Glows. But store-bought is good too. We like the vegetarian chili and creamy tomato soup from Trader Joe’s. A simple pasta with red sauce also keeps well. Use a sturdy pasta, like penne or rigatoni cooked al dente. Don’t forget to pack a spoon.
INSTANT OATMEAL / SOUP / CHILI / RAMEN
Cups of instant food make a welcome warm snack or meal. For some delicious homemade instant soups, check out these 8 recipes for Instant Dry Soup Mixes at The Yummy Life. Don’t forget to pack a thermos of hot water and a spoon.
BAKED POTATOES
There’s the easy way and the hard way to enjoy a baked potato on the mountain. Let’s start with the easy way. Bake or microwave a russet potato. While the potato is still hot, split it open and add salt or butter. Wrap in foil. Done. If you want to get a little more fancy, after you bake your potatoes, split them carefully down the middle, and scoop the flesh out into a large bowl. Put out mashed broccoli, chives, sour cream, butter, salt, pepper, and bacon, and let people refill the potatoes themselves with the perfect fixings. Microwave (60 seconds) or bake (15 minutes at 375 degrees) the finished product. While the potato is still hot, put it back together and seal it up with foil.
Snacks
HARD BOILED EGGS
Hard boiled eggs pack well and provide a welcome punch of protein after a morning of heavy exercise
This simple, protein-packed snack packs well and tastes great on its own or with a pinch of spice. If you don’t have a favorite method for hard-boiling eggs, try this boil-and-sit method from the Food Network for perfect hard-boiled eggs in just over 10 minutes. Sprinkle some salt, pepper, garlic salt, paprika, or what have you in a baggie, add a hard-boiled egg or two, and pack. When it’s time to eat, sprinkle the spices on your peeled egg and enjoy.
SNACK BARS
There are so many delicious snack bars out there. We gravitate toward Kind Bars or the old-school Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars you can get in bulk at Costco. If you prefer homemade, these granola bars from Salted Plains are a healthy choice.
TRAIL MIX
Pre-made trail mix is an easy option if there’s one everyone likes, but my family members have very different tastes. Some like it salty (me), some like it sweet (Maris). There are the nut lovers (Eben) and the nut haters (Anaya). What works best for us is to put out the raw ingredients and let everyone pack their own bag. Our staple ingredients include a few different kinds of nuts (like salted cashews, roasted almonds, peanuts, or pistachios), a selection of dried fruit (like cranberries, raisins, or coconut flakes), and a small treat (like chocolate chips, M&Ms, or yogurt-covered raisins). For some inspiration, check out this DIY trail mix bar from Bless This Mess Please.
VEGETABLES
Rinsed and dried carrots, bell pepper strips, or snap peas keep well in baggies or plastic containers.
FRESH FRUIT
Whole apples, oranges and cuties are the least likely to get squished.
PRETZEL STICKS
CHEESE STICKS
JERKY
YOGURT
Enjoy in cups, sealed plastic containers, or pre-packaged for easy eating, like the Yogurt Squishers from Trader Joe’s.
NUTS
Dried fruit is the ultimate kid-friendly, portable snack
DRIED FRUIT
We like apricots, raisins, pineapple, cranberries, and dehydrated apples.
Dessert
COOKIES / BROWNIES
Homemade are great, but store-bought work too. If you have time to make a batch of something, try these Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies from Allrecipes.
CHOCOLATE
A few squares of chocolate (or even a whole bar to share) makes an easy, delicious treat.
Keep It Warm
If you really want to enjoy a hot meal, the best bet is to go with an instant food that re-hydrates with hot water or make something that will fit easily in a quality thermos like this Classic Insulated Food Jar from Stanley. If you want to pack a few different things, consider the CONIQ Qore Stackable Stainless Steel Insulated Food Jar with Fold-Out Spoon, with two different hot food compartments that stack together into a thermos-shaped container for easy transport.
To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.