Man, that struggle is so real. Last summer we drove cross-country and my wife insisted on packing a cooler instead of eating out. Sounded great in theory, but we ended up with soggy sandwiches and warm soda after the first day, lol. We had to stop at a grocery store anyway and spent more on fresh stuff than if we'd just hit a drive-thru. Now I swear by just planning one big meal a day at a cheap diner and snacking on stuff from gas stations. It's not perfect, but it keeps the kids from melting down without breaking the bank.