How Car Sunshades Saved Our Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving road trips are supposed to be about family, laughter, and way too much food, not melted mashed potatoes or lukewarm pumpkin pie sliding around in the backseat. But something similar happened to us last year, until car quality sunshades became the real hero of our Thanksgiving weekend. 

Here’s how car sunshades made our last Thanksgiving memorable. 

The Great Thanksgiving Takeaway

We had just wrapped up the yummiest Thanksgiving Dinner at my mom’s house in Dallas. The table was full of a variety of food, desserts, and at least three different types of pie that nobody could finish but everyone insisted on taking home. 

That’s when my mom packed boxes of leftovers, including turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pies, and even the container of cranberry sauce. Everything was neatly packed and placed in the backseat. Our plan was simple, i.e., drive home, reheat the food, and enjoy once again with our kids. 

But we forgot one thing, i.e., the Texas sun.

The Sunshine Sneak Attack

The bright sun in late November was quite surprising for us. I noticed the sunlight blazing through the car windows. The backseat was getting hot enough to melt pies and turn gravy into soup. 

My partner joked that if the turkey melts, we are ordering pizza tonight. 

At first, we enjoyed this joke, but when we turned back, we saw condensation forming on the inside of the containers. We were feeling bad for the pies. The worst part was that the mashed potatoes were starting to separate. I didn’t want to say it, but it was a Thanksgiving tragedy in the making. 

But what happened next was more surprising;

Thankfully, we had just bought new car sunshades a few weeks earlier to make our toddlers’ long drive comfortable. That’s when I thought these car sunshades could protect Thanksgiving leftovers from direct sunlight, too. 

So, without wasting my time, I reached back and pulled them down over the rear windows. 

And we notice an instant difference; the temperature dropped significantly. The sunshade that had been roasting our food was now blocked, and within a few minutes our car felt cooler and calmer. 

That’s when we realized a simple accessory can make a significant difference and save the day. Those sunshades not only protected our food but also saved our dinner plans, our good mood, and perhaps money (as we didn’t order pizza that night).

More Than Just Shades

After that day, we realized the real car sunshades. They not only protect kids from direct sunrays but also make travelling easy in so many small but important ways.

• Keep food and drinks cool, and you don’t need to worry about melted desserts or soggy sandwiches on a long drive.
• Protect the interior from fading and cracking, especially during long-hour road trips.
• Prevent glare, making the drive safer when the afternoon sun just hits right.
• Keep everyone comfortable, including kids and pets, so no one cries throughout the drive.
• Reduce air conditioning load, helping save fuel on long drives.

Mostly, we overlook this small car accessory, but in reality, it plays an important role in making a road trip smoother. 

The Grand Arrival

When we finally reached home, we opened the container and packed food. Everything looked fresh and smelled good. We reheated our food, made coffee, and enjoyed the leftover food (that still tasted yummm) with laughter.

We were discussing how close we’d come to losing our precious leftovers to the Texas sun. “Those sunshades paid for themselves today,” my partner said.

And trust me, he was right!

Bottom Line

Now, before every family trip,  especially around the holidays,  we make sure the car is road-trip ready: full tank, snacks, playlist, and yes, sunshades. They’ve officially joined the list of Thanksgiving essentials, right next to cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

So, before you plan your Thanksgiving drive this year, don’t forget to keep this small yet most important accessory, i.e., car sunshades, with you. They can make a huge difference. They not only block sunrays but can also save your comfort, leftovers, and holiday spirit, too. 

Sometimes the secret to a happy Thanksgiving isn’t just food, it’s the shade that keeps it safe.