Should I Buy A Cooler?

[lipreader]

My 3 1/2 year old daughter was just diagnosed as celiac, so I'm just starting to wade through these waters. I'm thinking ahead to situations where we'll have to bring food for her, and wonder if a cooler would come in handy? How many of you use one? I'm thinking it might be helpful to have a small portable one with a compartment to keep food cold as well as room temperature or warm, so that all of her food doesn't have to be cold. Are there any recommendations?

Thanks!

[jenvan]

good timing on this post for me! i have been gluten-free for about 7 mos, but am just now getting around to buying a cooler. i plan to use it on trips, ie--this weekend we are going to chicago from indianapolis, and when i go to vegas over thanksgiving. i was trying to find a cooler that was small but held a decent amt of food, and that had exterior pockets for non-cold foods. i wanted a 'soft' cooler too--not a hard plastic one. this is one of better sites as far as selection that i've found:

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i think i am going to order the red one (third down on the right). it might be nice for a child too--it has a built in 'tray' and cupholder that folds out. ck out the menu on the side of this site too--they have a ton of stuff.

these are supposed to stay cold for the better part of a day--so for me, that means transporting gluten-free food on a vacation or taking it along for a day trip or long car ride. i think it will come in really handy. good luck!

[Turtle]

I take a cooler EVERYWHERE....sometimes I get tired of lugging it everywhere but it's just one of those things you have to deal with or starve...i'd rather carry the cooler. HA!

[robbiesmom]

My son has to go to the sitter and summer preschool so I found a small softside lunchbox cooler in primary colors at Walmart. I think the brand is SchoolMates or something like that.It fits anything from a small rubbermaid container to a pudding snack. One day I put 2 cheese sticks, a bag of lays stax, trail mix, applesauce, mandarin oranges, cookies and a slice of rice crust pizza in the cooler! On the outside pocket I stuck his M&Ms and smarties, He loves carrying it around and finding out what goodies mom packed him! At school they only serve water to drink so I don't have to worry about packing a drink for him. Have fun shopping and let your child help pick it out-they will warm up to the idea of having separate food much better!

[momof2]

I have a 2 year old, and have fallen in love with our cooler/warmer/diaper bag. It is a backpack looking "diaper bag" that has compartments on each side for a cup, but in the front, it has an insulated compartment to hold warm or cold foods. I use a microwavable cool/hot "thing" that you buy in the area of the store that sells compresses, and ace bandages. Mine was $2 and I can heat it up, and throw it in the compartment with my daughters warm food. It will stay warm for a couple of hours. If I take cold things, I just throw a frozen block in the compartment with her cold foods. The large area of the bag is used for all kinds of snacks that we need, that I just keep in there. She has fruit snacks, m & m's, corn cakes, pretzels, dried cranberries, and a baggie of dry cereal. I always travel with it, if we have to stop somewhere, and there is nothing on the menu for my lil' one!

Good Luck! We are 1 year gluten free, and still learning!

[VydorScope]

I guess Im a nut case, I bought this one from walmart for $68

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heheh. BUT we are going on a long trip, over 2000 miles total driving, so ice and icepacks would have been a mess! But yes, we cart food for our son EVERYWHERE.

[jenvan]

vincent-

that is a pretty sweet cooler. it looks like a little fridge!

[VydorScope]

vincent-

that is a pretty sweet cooler.  it looks like a little fridge! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Man, I got a steal on it too.. the Coleman site lists it at 78+32 for the adapter, thats $110!!! I only paid $67.95 for it at Walmat! And I thought I was just getting any old avg price!

BTW, I put a thermometer in it, its holding at 25degress.

[tpineo]

I use a small cooler/lunch bag for every day but use a huge cooler for trips to the health food (gluten-free) store to stock up (we aren't close to much gluten-free shopping) and for vacations. Tania Greenville, Pa