The 10 Messiest Foods To Stop Eating In Your Car & 10 That Are Spill-Proof
Eating on the Road Without Regretting It
Eating in your car is sometimes unavoidable, especially if you're constantly rushing between appointments, taking long road trips, or trying to find time to eat during busy workdays. It can be annoying eating in a cramped space without a table, worrying that every bite is going to leave behind a mess, so we're here to help. If you want to eat in your car but keep things clean, here are 10 messy foods to avoid and 10 spill-proof options you can enjoy without concern.
1. Tacos
Just because you can hold a taco in one hand doesn't make it suitable for eating in your car. As you likely know, one bite is all it takes for it to quickly fall apart, with all the shredded lettuce, cheese, salsa, and meat instantly escaping from the shell. Tacos might be considered handheld, but it's definitely better eaten on a plate.
2. Powdered Donuts
Powdered donuts are hard to resist, especially on the drive to work with a coffee on hand, but all that white sugar is going to leave a mess in your car the moment you take a bite. Not only will your nose and mouth be covered in powder, but it'll likely fall on your clothes, stick to your hands, and land on your car seat and steering wheel too.
3. Spaghetti
Eating pasta in your car is definitely a recipe for disaster; after all, few meals require more coordination than ones featuring long noodles coated in sauce that's bound to fly everywhere! The noodles will likely drag sauce across the container, potentially landing on your clothes and anything else earby. And sadly, tomato sauce has a habit of leaving stubborn stains if its reaches anything fabric.
4. Nachos
Nachos might seem pretty safe, but because they come with several toppings that always seem determined to separate from the chip before reaching your mouth, that puts them in the messy category. Not to mention, melted cheese can stretch and drip, and all the sauces might just find their way onto your clothes or seat.
5. Ice Cream Cones
Yes, you can eat an ice cream cone one-handed without a bowl, but every minute it spends outside the freezer puts your car in danger. Don't even think about jumping into your warm car in the summer - your ice cream will melt the moment it enters that hot zone! It doesn't help that the cone itself might leave behind crumbs everywhere you look.
6. Saucy Chicken Wings
Let's just say saucy foods and clean cars don't go together. Chicken wings easily leave your fingers coated in barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce, or sticky glazes that quickly become a problem when you need to touch your phone, cup, gear selector, or steering wheel. Dealing with the hassle of leftover bones also presents an annoying problem.
7. Burritos With Too Much Filling
A tightly wrapped burrito can be fairly manageable for your car, but an overloaded one is a completely different story. Rice, beans, meat, cheese, and sauce are all prone to spilling from the open end as soon as you take a few bites, and a torn tortilla might just become the nightmare you dreaded.
8. Flaky Pastries
Croissants, turnovers, and other flaky pastries are definitely delicious, but they also tend to produce more crumbs than most baked goods. Small pieces of pastry can land on your clothes, stick to the seat, and settle into the gaps around the console. And if they're filled, these pastries can also leak jam, cream, or chocolate.
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9. Chili
It doesn't matter if you're sitting in the passenger seat or parked, eating chili in your car leaves very little room for error. A single bump and voila, a spoonful of meat, beans, and sauce will leave a memorable stain in your car. Anything with a more soupy base definitely needs to be eaten at a sturdy table.
10. Loaded Burgers
Burgers might seem like the ultimate portable food for your car, given that drive-thrus and fast food are such a big thing, but it's important to consider what kind of burger you're eating. Basic ones like a McDonald's cheeseburger can be safe, but heavily loaded ones quickly become difficult to control. Toppings might fall out from the edges, and sauces might drip without you even noticing.
1. Granola Bars
Granola bars are among the simplest foods to keep in your car for busy days. Most come individually wrapped and all the ingredients are nicely glued together, reducing your fear of crumbs which makes this a great, hassle-free and mess-free food.
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2. String Cheese
String cheese isn't just for kids! This simple snack is easy to carry, portioned for one person, and most importantly, highly unlikely to create a mess. You can peel it gradually or eat it in bites without worrying about sauce, grease, or crumbs getting on the interior.
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3. Grapes
Not just a simple, mess-free snack to enjoy in your car, but grapes are also healthy for you too! If you put in a bit of effort to wash and remove the stems beforehand, you can get to snacking a lot more quickly. There's no peel or core to dispose of after each bite, making this an ideal fruit to snack on.
4. Apple Slices
Another excellent healthy snack that won't create any problems for your car are apple slices. When you have the time to remove the core and cut them into bite-sized pieces beforehand, it makes your snacking experience all the more smoother.
5. Pretzel Sticks
If you love a crunchy snack, pretzels sticks are a great option because they're fun to munch on, yet don't provide as much of a mess as seasoned chips. Their shape is easy to grip, there's no worry about getting powder all over your fingers, and they don't produce as many crumbs.
6. Baby Carrots
Baby carrots require almost no effort to eat and don't come with wrappers, sauces, or loose toppings. Their firm texture keeps them from breaking apart easily, meaning you don't have to worry about clean-up duty after enjoying your snack.
7. Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups
If you need something a bit more filling and hefty, a great snack you can pre-make are turkey and cheese roll-ups. High in protein, these will keep you full for longer while still keeping your car nice and clean. Wrapping slices of turkey and cheese together tightly ensures that there won't be any crumbs or potential fall out to worry about.
8. Dried Fruit
Dried fruit gives you something sweet without having to worry about the dripping juice that can come from softer fresh fruit like peaches and oranges. Raisins, dried cranberries, apricots, and similar choices are all tasty and can be portioned into a small resealable bag for easy access and snacking.
9. Mini Sandwiches
Sometimes, a few small bites just won't cut it. If you're planning on having an actual meal in your car, building mini sandwiches is a smart way to go if you care about keeping things clean. When the ingredients stay simple, it helps prevent meat, cheese, and vegetables from sliding out while you eat. You can also wrap each sandwich individually so most crumbs remain contained until you're ready for the next one.
10. Plain Crackers With Cheese Cubes
Easy to portion and snack on, cheese cubes and plain crackers are a straightforward snack that's easy for on-the-go folks. You don't need any utensils and because everything can be enjoyed in a bite or two, you can reduce the potential of crumbs falling everywhere. Stick with crackers that aren't coated in seasoning to keep your fingers clean!
