Most people love going on road trips during summer. This is one of the easiest ways to bring family members together to enjoy beautiful scenes, listen to music, and long talks. Being away from home means you have to buy food, which can be pretty expensive. However, you can bring some food with you and save money.
Packing your food is fun, and it tastes so different from your usual dining space. Eating your breakfast by the roadside is not your everyday experience. Your food looks different under the sunlight and the open air makes you feel fresh. Your family will love it, and you will save some dollars. Here are a few ideas on foods you can pack for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Breakfast
You can pack what you like most. If you have children with you, milk and cereals may be an essential part of your breakfast. However, you are not limited to this. Here are more foods that you can pack for breakfast.
- Banana and apple breads or muffins along with cream cheese or butter.
- Honey Buns and doughnuts are easy because you can buy them packaged. Children love them and the fact that they are packaged separately; every child will enjoy and have fun eating them.
- Bagel with jam and cream cheese; you simply mix the cream cheese and jam and pack them in a container to use away from home.
- Individually packaged milk; ensuring each person has a packet of milk makes it easier to serve breakfast while on a road trip. You also do not need to pack cups and bowls because the milk can be taken directly from the packet.
- Hard-boiled eggs are not messy and can be eaten in the car comfortably.
Another great idea for breakfast is the pre-cooked smokie sausages. They are easy to pack and can be eaten directly from the package. However, if you love them hot, you can carry some boiled water in a flask and pour it on them before eating. This will heat them, and you can enjoy eating hot smokie sausages.
Breakfast is incomplete without beverages. You can pack yogurt, boiled water in flasks to make hot chocolate or coffee and lemonade tea.
Lunch and dinner ideas
Sandwiches
Sandwiches are great for lunches and dinners. You can use regular bread to make the sandwiches or for hoagie buns to have something special for your meals. They also do not crush easily like bread. You can also have some peanut butter if you have children. However, for adults, put tomato and lettuce on the sandwiches. They are nutritious, but most kids do not like veggies in their sandwiches.
Ham or chicken
Chicken and ham are rich in proteins and delicious to include in your lunch or dinner. The best thing is that they can be eaten hot or cold.
Hot dogs
Just like with smokie sausages, you can warm your hot dogs using hot water. They cook perfectly and ready for consumption. They become so easier to make delicious hot dogs.
Salads
The ideal salads to make for a road trip include pasta salad and potato salad. You should keep them in a cooler.
Baked beans
The best way to pack your baked beans is in a flask. They enrich your dinner or lunch, and they are easy to pack and prepare.
Veggies and fruits
Pack your favourite fruits such as oranges, apples, bananas, and other firm fruits. Your vegetables should include cauliflower, celery, carrot sticks, cauliflower, and broccoli, among others.
Desserts
Some of the best desserts you can pack include muffins, brownies, cookies, and quick bread.
Beverages
You can pack iced tea and juices in bottles and fill hot water to make hot drinks that you can take after your meals. You can also freeze some drinks, especially during summer when the temperatures are usually high. Also, remember to pack plenty of water to drink and clean.
Snacks
Apart from planning your three meals in a day, you should have some snacks to eat in between. This will prevent your or other family members from eating food meant for lunch or dinner before time. Some of the snacks you should pack include chips, cookies, cheese, and peanut butter among many others. If you are keen on weight maintenance, go for healthy snacks including arrot sticks, nuts and fruits.
Tips on How to Bring Food on A Road Trip
Make your car as comfortable as you can. Bring some pillows for the children and a lot of snacks for them to enjoy during the trip.
Try to pack food for each person separately. This comes in handy if you will be eating while driving. Also, let each person know they are responsible for cleaning up. They should put away the food wrappers back in the box to tidy up the car.
Pack things such as sugar, salt, mustard, and pepper to spice your meals. Remember also to pack plastic knives, spoons, forks, and napkins to ease your mealtimes.
If you are on a tight budget, you can go for affordable but straightforward meals. Even eating foods such as chips, bread sandwiches, and drinks such as homemade juices can still be memorable.
If possible, buy a plug-in gadget that you can use in the car to boil water. This will help you make instant coffee, hot chocolate, and oatmeal. However, make sure you only use it when the vehicle is running to prevent your vehicle’s battery from going down.
Use convenience foods to ease the process of packing food. This is cheaper compared to eating in restaurants or buying packaged foods from fast food cafes.
Conclusion – Saving Money on Food for a Road Trip
If you are looking for a way to plan a road trip without spending a fortune, start by choosing the foods to pack. This will enable you to enjoy plenty of time together with your loved ones. With the right foods, you can drive for hours without spending a dime on food. However, if your budget allows, you can also choose to pack some food and buy some along the way.