There’s no better feeling than finishing work after a long week and grabbing a bite to eat on your drive home. But while you might be starving, eating on the go is tricky, with limited space to balance food and drinks in your car, not to mention dangerous while navigating the roads.
So, if you really can’t wait, park up and try some of these ingenious TikTok hacks that could spare your seats from a spillage or two.
With nearly four million views for #eatingincar and other similar hashtags, James Armstrong, CEO of temporary car insurers Veygo, shares his favourite hacks that might just make dining ‘alfres-car’ that little bit easier.
- Balancing containers on top of a cup
Several TikTok users have discovered that it is possible to balance a fast-food container on top of a drink.
Well-known brands, such as McDonald’s, sell their food in packaging that when unfolded, has two compartments that can separate fries and a second food item of choice.
You can use your finger to poke a small hole in the middle of the two compartments, ensuring that they remain connected, which is the perfect size for a straw to fit through.
The container can then balance on top of a drink, freeing up a hand to hold something else.
However, this can be a precarious hack when using a paper straw, which can soften during use and become less stable.
The best way to combat this is to use a reusable straw made of more solid material, such as stainless steel.
- Parcel shelf as a makeshift table
Perhaps the biggest frustration of eating in your car is the inability to spread out your food.
One clever user shared her favourite hack for eating in her car – removing the parcel shelf from the boot and laying it across her lap as a table.
Not only is this an easy hack to try, but it’s also convenient for stopping spillages and spreading your food out more.
This is not only perfect for two people eating in the front seats but also a great way to minimise mess for children eating in the back.
- Glove compartment as a tray table
An alternative to a parcel shelf, glove compartments can also be a helpful place to balance food.
As shared by one user, glove compartments are typically the perfect size and depth for holding fast food containers and dipping sauces.
This hack is great for freeing up your hands and minimising spillage, but it is only usable for front-seat passengers.
- Keep food warm with heated seats
Included in popular hashtags, such as #carhacksandtips, as well as #takeouthack and #deliveryhacks, keeping food warm using heated seats is suggested as a hack for both regular food consumers and delivery drivers.
This is perfect if you’re eating in the car alone or transporting food as a delivery driver, as the front passenger seat can become a personal heater.
And to prevent grease stains, place a towel or blanket on the seat before setting the food down.
- Invest in clip-on sauce trays
If you are notorious for dropping sauce pots or spilling them – this is the perfect solution for you.
#sauceholderforcar has taken TikTok by storm and currently has 949,000 views.
The hack shows several users purchasing mini pots from Amazon and Etsy that clip onto the air vents in the front of your car for a stress-free dipping experience
But remember, safety first!
While it’s not illegal to eat and drive, anything distracting you from driving could land you a hefty fine of up to £5000.
And if snacking is the cause of losing control of your vehicle, you could face a police prosecution for section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for careless driving.
The distraction of eating while driving is a key cause of car accidents every year, so if you’re feeling hungry on the road, always pull over to eat and drink.
Additionally, it is always good to take a break from driving on long journeys to prevent accidents, and what better way to do so than picking up your favourite fast food to enjoy off the road.