Part of the appeal of any recreational vehicle is the ability to cook your own meals. Yet many campers limit themselves to what can be fixed on the grill outside. There is no reason to limit yourself to hamburgers and chicken. Here are some ways you can enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals when on the road.
Menu Planning
The number one way to eat healthy on the road is to plan a menu ahead of time. You won’t have space to take extra ingredients out with you, so you need to carefully plan what will be taken along. Consider simple meals with fewer ingredients to save space and make the preparation faster.
Salad
Bagged salad goes bad fast, but heads of lettuce last for a week or more. When planning the menu, add fresh salad to at least one meal a day. Keep it interesting by topping it with grated cheese, croutons and a variety of vegetables. You can even skip the grill completely now and then by adding some cubed ham, transforming the salad into the meal. Chop the vegetables at home and store them in bags to save space and time later.
Make it Ahead of Time
Some dishes will last in the refrigerator for several days. Consider making potato salad or macaroni salad at home before you hit the road. Stored in the fridge, it’s an easy side dish to pull out at rest stops along the way.
The Right Convenience Foods
As a general rule, you should avoid the convenience foods. However, there are some that are worth packing and taking with you. Oatmeal is an easy breakfast that is healthy, nutritious and requires nothing more than hot water from the microwave. Canned soup makes a great side dish when you will be camping in cooler weather. Frozen vegetables that use steam-in bags won’t warm up the kitchen because they can be cooked in the microwave. Sauces from scratch taste great at home but can be challenging to make on the road. Opt for jars of sauce when you’re planning your camping trip.
With some careful planning and consideration, you can stay healthy when traveling. Eating fine food on the road doesn’t have to include stopping at expensive restaurants or buying all the ingredients at the last minute. Plan the menu before you head out. Choose the right convenience foods. Make what you can ahead of time so your family can enjoy healthy meals even when you’re away from home.
I already do this. However, where I have trouble is what to fix that is simple and good and doesn’t take too much time and mess. I put my cu tup veggies in plastic bags for whatever I am going to be cooking with them. I just wish I had more ideas on what to cook.