Why You Shouldn’t Be Eating In Your Car

With the allure of drive-throughs since the 1930s, convenience food has been ingrained firmly into the psyche of drivers the world over. From post-footy game beverages to a quick meal from your favourite fast-food chain, most drivers have experienced the joy of eating in the comfort of their cars. But, and there’s a great big ‘but’, eating in the car can cost you dearly, and in more ways than just the hip pocket. Let’s have a look.

Your car is a biohazard food trap

With everything that needs be inside a car, engineers have to typically cram a whole lot of items into a very tight space. This leaves behind a myriad of even tighter spaces — spaces that only piping-hot French fries and secret-sauce soaked slices of tomato seem to fit into. With that being said, there is no way the average adult is able to reach these rogue meal runaways.

In fact the next time you see that escapee will be when you fish it’s desiccated and mangled remains out from under the car seat along with your much-needed parking change. From cup holders stained with cola spills and fabric ceilings smeared with chocolate ice cream to handbrakes encrusted with crisp flavourings, your car is the least food-friendly location that you could ever find.

The smells linger for a long time

Hard, polished surfaces are a staple in kitchens and diners: they are easier to clean and sanitise against food spills and messes that are common in such an environment.

On the other hand, the interior of your car — specifically the seating — consists mainly of soft fabrics which traps smells and remnants of foods. So while it may have seemed like a great idea at the time for a midnight burger with the lot, the same can’t be said in the following morning when you’re on your way to work and face the unpleasant day-after stench of food.

There’s a very good reason to cry over spilt milk
Off-milk is one of the strongest, vilest and most inescapable smells to ever be introduced and released into the confines of car upholstery.

Not only that, but it takes more than one visit with a strong stomach and even stronger cleaner to remove the stains and lurking smell of rotting dairy. Most car owners will agree that the idea of having to clean a milk spillage is not the best way to start off their Saturday morning. So you may want to reconsider the next time you feel like a strawberry milkshake to finish off your meal.

It isn’t a healthy habit

Though eating in the car may be convenient, it rarely goes hand-in-hand with healthy eating. The more popular drive-through restaurants typically offer quick and easy options of handheld burgers and fried chicken, food that can be eaten mindlessly.

This mindless eating, though enjoyable, is counterintuitive to regular, more natural eating habits and so, you’re less likely to put a dent in your hunger and will instead, still grab another bite to eat at your next destination regardless. In all, it’s much better to get out of the car and eat in the restaurant, savour your meal and throw the trash away before returning to your car.

Good luck selling your car
Ground-in food is the bane of car sellers the country over. Old biscuits, crackers and chocolate bars can resist even the most powerful of vacuums to leave your otherwise pristine car looking dirty and tired.

With children the likeliest culprits to pulverise their food into their immediate surroundings, it may be wise to enforce a ‘no food’ rule in the car until you can trust them not to mash a banana into the seats.