I’ve made meals from many different places, from small motel rooms outside National Parks, to luxury resorts, to the back of my car on a long road trip. Through the years and a lot of trial and error, I’ve found what works for me when I want to save money and have my own meals on trips. Here is what I pack for my travel kitchen setup when I want to fix my meals on the road, along with some practical travel food ideas to get you started.
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
A Kettle That Makes Hot Water Feel Like Luxury
This kettle is the most essential piece of my cooking method. It folds into almost nothing and can be easily packed into a suitcase or food box. It heats up water quickly and auto turns off when the water starts boiling. This hot water can be used for many things – Camping meals, Oatmeal, rice noodles, tea – the possibilities are endless.
Meals That Save the Day When Options Are Limited
There are many camping meals out there, but these are my favorite. If I know I’m going to be in a situation where I’ll want to make my own meals and can’t do any grocery shopping beforehand, I usually pack one or two of these for my trip. They’re lightweight, easy to cook, and surprisingly hearty. Mountain House is my favorite brand, and the Beef Stroganoff is the one I reach for most.
Bags That Make DIY Meals Easy
Sometimes I want to bring my own meals so I can control the seasoning. These foil bags make it simple. They stand up for easy filling, seal well, and let me add hot water directly to the pouch when I’m ready to eat. I just make sure to remove the oxygen absorber first.
I find freeze dried ingredients work the best for me when cooking. I don’t have a fancy freeze dryer, so I’ve bought ingredients from many locations, including Amazon, Target, and groceries stores. I don’t have the exact measurements, but some of the meals I’ve made to pack are:
- Mexican Casserole: Freeze dried black beans, onions, green peppers, tomato powder, and cilantro with instant brown rice and nutritional yeast.
- Spaghetti: Freeze dried tomato powder, onion, garlic, and basil with brown rice noodles and nutritional yeast
- Chicken Noodle Soup/Stew: Chicken bouillon, freeze dried veggies, and brown rice noodles (Even better when you add some canned chicken)
- Fruity Oatmeal: Oatmeal with a powder made from blending freeze dried fruits
Gallon bags to Mix and Store
When I can go to a grocery store at the beginning of my trip, I often make make easy mixed salads that can go in a hotel refrigerator or cooler to eat for a couple of meals. My secret on these to bring gallon sized Ziploc bags to both mix the salad and store the leftovers. I get the ingredients then throw them all in the ziploc then shake, shake, shake my way to a delicious meal.
I have several different meals I’ve made using this method with varying degrees of difficulty. It all depends on how much prep you want to do or what you have available. Once again, I won’t put the measurements, but here are some Ziploc meals I’ve made in the past.
- Bean Salad: 2-3 Cans of different drained low sodium beans, a package of frozen green beans, chopped up bell peppers, Italian dressing
- Pesto pasta: Microwavable pasta, fresh mozzarella pearls, spinach or arugula, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas or white beans, pesto (On one adventurous trip, I even made tortellini in the microwave that was great in this.)
- Mediterranean Salad: Chickpeas, microwavable quinoa, chopped cucumber, chopped bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, Italian dressing or a lemon vinagarette
- Sesame Crunch Salad: Chopped red cabbage, shelled edamame, grated carrots, green onions, sesame or sesame ginger dressing (This is also great over the brown rice noodles if you have hot water to cook them!)
How I Eat My Food While On-the-Go
A lot of times I’ll buy paper plates and bowls with compostable cutlery to eat off when I’m cooking. My most common way to pack meals on the go from the Ziploc bags salads or kettle cooking is to buy a packages of paper coffee cups with lids at the grocery store at the beginning of a trip. I’ve been known to buy a set of those for a trip then have oatmeal in one and salad in another for a day of meals on the road.
When I get back to where I’m staying for the night, though, it’s nice to have an actual reusable bowl to eat out of sometimes. I like this silicon bowl that folds down into almost nothing then can be expanded to make a nice bowl. To clean it, I usually pack a few premade cut up sponges with soap on them. They are super easy to make and I’m always glad I’ve gone to the effort for a quick clean-up on my trip.
Road Trip Snacklebox
When I go on a road trip where I can pack food from home, I like using these as a snacklebox because they keep everything organized instead of chaotic. Each compartment seals completely, so nothing leaks or blends together, and I can pack several days’ worth of snacks at once. They’re inexpensive enough that I don’t worry if something happens to them.
A Tea Setup That Works Wherever I Wander
I’m a big hot tea drinker, and I like having it throughout the day. I first tried this setup at a friend’s house and loved how it rolled around without spilling and stayed hot for hours. Now I bring it when I have the suitcase space and know I’ll want something warm or comforting. One of my favorite treats when I go for a long drive to a remote National Park site or after a hike is to be able to take out the bottle and have a hot cup of tea from basically anywhere.
A Water Bottle That Actually Keeps Up
I’ve owned more emotional‑support water bottles than I can count, but this one has officially earned its place. I took it on a 2,000+ mile road trip through three U.S. National Parks and an 8‑night cruise to Alaska, all while it clung to life in a backpack side pocket. Through hiking, tossing it around, and everything in between, it came out more unscathed than I did. I love its durability and the sip‑and‑chug features, and the fact that it hasn’t let me down. It’s definitely a new favorite.
