Zoo trip...

[rachelMcK]

So a trip to the toronto zoo is not very frugal. Admission and parking is $48. We promised my sister a while back that we would take her for her birthday, and I've already got $30 saved. So`thats no big deal, but eating there is a different story. It costs almost $15 each for a meal at Harveys!!! Not to mention water or pop to drink. It's outrageous!

So I need ideas for something to pack for a tasty meal that won't go bad in the heat, sorta like a frugal picnic!! This is only for two as I'm sure my sisters boyfriend and friends will probably buy their food!

Thanks!!

[LexTysMommy]

I am not sure what you are thinking as storage wise. But with no cooler I have made pasta salad that holds up good in heat. No mayo..use honey and olive oil as base. Add veggies and pasta and keep in tupperware. Also any veggies cut up are a good snack.

If you are bringing a cooler I would say bring pitas or bread and some lunch meat. Lettuce or brussel sprouts do well in cool places. Along with the pasta salad it is lunch enough for me.

Good luck. Have fun! Bring water or juice in containers so the urge to buy soda/water there wont be there.

[itsahumanzoo]

Peant Butter and Jelly sandwiches are always good for picnics. We have zoo passes to the zoo here, so it's free to get in, but the food prices are outrageous! If you bring one of those soft lunch box coolers you can bring some lunch meats for sandwiches or a pasta salad. And instead of putting one of those freezer things, just freeze a water bottle and it will keep the food cool AND you can drink it.

[celina]

at the to zoo can can leave the park and have a picnic lunch...and if i remember correctly, dh left and got the cooler out of the car and we had a picnic INSIDE the park....

also look for coupons....we stayed at a hotel for 65$ i think with a pool and free breakfast and we got 4 tickets to the zoo for free..so made a nice weekend (even if you live in toronto)

[emily_hope]

When we go to the zoo here, we always take a picnic. You can leave the park and then come back inside. We take a cooler and you can take pretty much anything that way. Lunch meats, mayo, mustard, PB & J.

[themartins903]

Eat a healthy breakfast before you go. If your not a breakfast eater, that day you are. "IF" you have a cooler... Put oranges (peeled and sectioned) in a ziploc baggie with a couple of apples too. WATER WATER WATER. Lunchables (Oscar Mayer) for the kids and sandwiches for the adults.

Do you "have" to eat inside the Zoo???? Here in Texas, the zoo's offer picnic tables.

What I find frustrating is the prices for the lemon ice's and treats but it's the same at the grocery store. Vendors put candy at the checkout counter, so go figure.

I hope it all turns out great. Zoo's ARE expensive, but it takes $$$$ to pay the hired help. I hope you have a GREAT time with your sister.

[peanut]

We use an insulated "Beer cooler" that is just big enough for a six-pack, and store food in there to keep it cool. Picked it up at Superstore for about $5 one summer. We wear backpacks into the zoo and carry everything in them.

When my kids were young, we went to the Calgary Zoo a lot. We parked someplace cheap and took the rapid transit system to the zoo. Then we ate at picnic tables in the zoo. We had annual passes to get in.

I agree, the big thing to take is pick-me-up food. Things like oranges, grapes and chocolate. Stuff that keeps people from being cranky. Course, you could carry the orange and grape in juice form, but it's heavier, and usually laden with unhealthy sugar.

We also took buns and cheese to make bunwiches. I've also taken pb and j sandwiches. We also try to take those little sesame snack things of honey and sesame seeds. And veggie sticks with a bit of dip. Another good snack or trail food for energy is havla...a middle Eastern food. You can check the Internet for various recipes.

Hope that helps.

Jean