Van Edition
We always find ourselves asking each other what to do for lunch/dinner as we were not prepared. When we travelled just the two of us we could easily get away with quick unhealthy options (I do love a crisp sandwich) but we are not in our twenties anymore and we also have two little mouths to feed which need more nourishment.
The old saying “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail” stands true and we feel like being prepared is the best way to stay relatively healthy on the road. This means planning meals weekly and meal prepping when possible. We still eat out and enjoy ourselves but this also helps us stick to a budget.
What’s the number one priority for us? Have easy to prepare meals. Here are our tips ⬇️
1 – 🏡 Prepare some meals at home before you leave on your trip.
Then they just need warming in a pan. We make meals such as chilli con carne, pasta sauces, cottage pie, the list is endless. Simply warm the meal when you want to eat it. We have the luxury of a fridge which makes this much easier.
2 – 🥪 If you have a long travel day, prepare your lunch in the morning.
You can then stop somewhere nice at lunch, stretch your legs and just enjoy your day. It cuts out the stress of having to decide what you are having as it is already made. Or spend more time playing with the kids to tire them out so you can continue on the road.
3 – 🥘One pot meals are definitely more convenient and means less washing up!
I hate having to wash lots of dishes. I hate it at home let alone in a smaller space like a van. Cooking your meal in one pan/pot makes like much easier, at least for us. Meals like Stews, Casseroles, pasta, Paella etc. keep the washing to a minimum.
4 – 🥫Have tinned food for those days you just want an easy meal (it’s ok to have baked beans if you want!)
Who doesn’t like baked beans, we usually stock up before we go on our trip as they are always handy to have. We also buy the odd pot noodle (don’t judge) and instant noodles for when you are just feeling lazy. These are mainly for ourselves as we try our hardest to give the kids something more substantial.
5 – Collapsable Tupperware
With all the cooking you will be doing you willl need somewhere to store it. we have collapsable pots which fit nicely in our draws and do not take up much space. If we need to take a meal away or meal prep we can use them to store the food. There are many options to choose from on Amazon.
Here are some of our go to dinners on the road:
🍝Pasta – bacon and chorizo in a tomato sauce can be done in one pan!
🌯Fajita’s- again a one pan meal and super tasty and easy to do.
🍳Omelettes, scrambled eggs and fried eggs – all really easy to make and can be bulked up with cheese and meats if wanted.
