HI Gang,

I got a GOOD problem. I need lunch and dinner ideas /mechanisms to withstand 100 + degree heat. 

I got a trainer skater position for an qualifying synchro team!  The problems are: I will be skating at my "home rink"  from 11-1 during the day. The home rink does not allow us to bring outside food in. Their food is icky fried fast food. So I will be leaving lunch in my car.

Then I hop in the car and drive to richmond to be there for skating practice.

I DONT want to fall into a "protein bar" habit just because it is hot out.  I dont want to get into a fast food habit either.  

Ideally, do you think an icechest/cheapy thermo lunch bag if loaded with ice/freezer packs can keep protein shakes, hard boiled eggs, chicken breast, tuna salad, veggies and hummus reasonably cold for 6-7 hours?  

I dont want to food poison myself.  

Can those premade shakes (e.g. EAS/atkins) withstand the heat of a hot car? Not day after day, just for 7 hours or so.

Thanks for helping me out with this weird problem.

I've never had a problem with an insulated lunch bag with one of those large rectangular ice blocks on top of the food since the cold travels down. In your situation I might put a larger cooler in the car and pack 3-4 of the ice blocks around the food. Or even start with the food frozen? 

And congrats!

Thank you!

I will give 3 and 4 blocks a try. It cant hurt!

The brand Yeti is supposed to be the premium in coolers- supposed to keep items very cold. I don't have one, but a friend who is a competitive bar b quer swears by them.  I live in Texas so that says something. I know they're expensive but may be worth the investment.  

Have fun!

Looked these things up online. They are like 200 bucks!  I think I will need to just steal one!

;)

Won't they let you bring your packed lunch thermal type bag in the rink?  Even just sitting in a corner someplace should be a better temp than the car...

I agree! However, the sign says "No outside food and drink permitted."

The general manager is a Russian so I am scared to anger her or call attention to myself by "asking". She is quite literal.  Nice...but literal.

But it would make things so much easier. 

I really think I am going to sneak stuff in (and out uneaten) unseen in a duffel bag.

I think if you are putting your insulated lunch bag with lots of freezer packs in a your duffle bag and not getting the food out and eating it while there you should be safe! If you have to leave in your car, maybe put the insulated lunch bag down inside a hard cooler. I would make sure I placed down in the floor board of the care with maybe a blanket over it to keep from the sun also! You should be fine doing that.

Yea, just take the pack in a duffle bag. Don't call attention to it, and nobody will know what's in the bag.

Use a lunch bag that has the silver lining, they stay cold longer and with several ice packs. I agree that keeping a hard-sided cooler in the car as a second layer of protection isn't a bad idea. I drink the Premier protein warm in the car all the time, but haven't in the heat of the summer... No reason it wouldn't be fine in a cooler.