Travel Food Recipes?

ranmalih

I'm going away for a week and won't have access to a microwave or fridge, any ideas for foods that won't spoil? All i can think of are breakfast bars and fruit, and i don't want to get tempted into eating out all the time.

foreverslim1111

Are you going camping? Can you take a cooler that you can stock or restock with ice

foreverslim1111

If so, you have many more options. If not, take pre-prepped veggies like carrots and celery, fruit like apples and oranges, pears. Individual packets of tuna salad spread on whole wheat crackers, peanut butter.

foreverslim1111

This is stupid to answer this type of post, as the OP never responds. Lesson learned.

ranmalih

Hi @foreverslim1111 , and thanks for your advice. I do actually reply, as you can see, but i don't make a habit of constantly checking my phone during work. Apologies if there is a time limit to replying on discussions, I'm new to the community and was not aware of this.

smh_cliff

What sort of "away" is it? Hotel based? Will there be a kettle in the room? (or even if camping, a stove?)

Canned foods if you have a stove would work. If not, canned fruit still would -in juice not syrup (although a lot of fresh would last a few days too if you can transport it without it getting squashed!), low cal crackers, dried pasta or noodle pots aren't all too horrendous for cals.

It will be harder to keep to a good deficit without the equipment and food you are used to, but you can always do a week of maintaining to help you resist a blow out and going even further over.

ranmalih

Yes i was planning to visit a supermarket once i get there and stock up on ready meals/snacks. I'll be staying at a motel but the room doesn't have a fridge or microwave. Pretty sure they have a kettle. The annoying part about buying food is not knowing what exactly went into it.
Good idea about maintaining. I'll definitely try that rather than the blow out meal!

Tried30UserNames

Assuming no refrigeration, but with a way to heat water:

Breakfast: oatmeal packets and boxes of raisins/other dried fruit/nuts. You can add a scoop of protein powder to it. Add hot water.

Lunch/dinner items:
cans/packages of tuna, shrimp, crab, oysters, sardines, clams, chicken. Soy sauce or hot sauce flavors these nicely and doesn't need to be refrigerated.

Packages of Tasty Bite or similar brand Indian meals served with packages of pre-made rice. Heat water in tea kettle or coffee pot. Immerse the package of food until warm. If the package won't fit in the tea kettle, fill your sink with the hot water and put the packages in there. You may need to change the water a time or two as it cools.

Shelf stable meals such as brands from Hormel. Cans of soup. You can heat these in hot water the same as the Indian meals.

Buy canned or fresh vegetables. Fresh fruit. Applesauce and canned peaches/pears/mandarin oranges. Bread or crackers. Peanut or other nut butter. Those little red wax covered cheeses. Shelf stable juice or milk boxes. Hard boiled eggs. Cup a noodles.

The motel likely has an ice machine. Bring a cooler or insulated lunch container to fill up with ice. Or fill the room's trash can with ice (line with plastic bag first) or the sink. You can buy things like yogurt, juice, cheese, etc to keep cold. You'll usually only need to refill the ice once a day.

If you want to heat food, use the room's iron and a foil pan. Lay a hotel coat hanger on the room's trashcan. Balance the iron in the middle of the hanger with the iron plate facing upward and the handle laying down through the space in the middle of the hanger. Plug in and turn on the iron. Place a foil tin on the iron and put your food in the pan. Heat your food, turning or stirring often, paying careful attention that the whole think doesn't slip and either dump your food on the floor or set the room on fire. The iron, for safety reasons, may turn itself off every minute or so. Just unplug it and plug it back in. I have a friend who claimed she packed a fry pan, eggs and bacon, and successfully used the iron to cook them. I'm not sure I believe her, but it works great for heating up leftovers.

Don't forget to bring plates, bowls, eating utensils, can opener, salt, pepper, paper towels or napkins. A lot of hotels can provide you with a mini fridge if you ask.

ranmalih

That's amazing, thanks!!

Tried30UserNames

I once lost 35 lbs while traveling and staying in hotels 18-22 days a month. Hotel room cooking isn't exciting, but it's cheaper and more controllable than restaurants.