Road trip food often gets a bad rap. After all, who wants to eat gas station snacks and fast food when you’re on the open road? However, the right road trip food can make all the difference in your journey. There’s no need to spend hours making complicated meals when you’re on the go. Instead, focus on easy road trip meals that everyone will enjoy. Therefore, when selecting road trip food for your campervan packing list, it’s important to choose items that are easy to eat and won’t make a mess.
This Guest Post was written by Nasir from Hiking Insights
Why is it important to care about on-the-go food?
- It helps you save money. If you pack your own snacks and meals, you’ll be less likely to stop for expensive (and unhealthy) fast food.
- You stay healthy. Road trip food doesn’t have to be all junk food. By packing healthy snacks and meals, you can help yourself stay energized and avoid getting sick while on the road.
- It adds to the adventure by trying new things, and that includes new food. Planning ahead for interesting snacks and meals can add excitement to your trip.
So next time you’re doing your road trip organization, don’t forget to give some thought to your food options. Here are some easy road trip meals and food tips to get you started.
Easy Road Trip Breakfast Ideas
No matter where you’re headed on your road trip, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Let’s start exploring the best options:
- Breakfast Burrito: Simply wrap up some eggs, cheese, and diced ham in a tortilla, and you’re good to go.
- Oatmeal Pancakes: These are easy to make ahead of time and can be popped in the toaster whenever you’re ready to eat them.
- Egg and bacon sandwich: For something a little heartier, try an egg and bacon sandwich.
- Croissants: These flaky, buttery pastries are a classic breakfast option. You can fill them with jam, Nutella, or other sweet fillings.
- Nut-Free Snack Bars: These bars are perfect for those with nut allergies or who are looking for a healthier option. They’re packed with protein and fiber, and come in a variety of flavors.
- Muffins: Muffins are a moist and flavorful breakfast option. They can be made with a variety of different mix-ins, such as chocolate chips, berries, or nuts.
- Oats: Oatmeal is a warm and filling breakfast option. It can be made with milk or water and is often topped with fruit, nuts, or honey.
- Eggs: Scrambled, fried, or hard-boiled eggs are a protein-packed breakfast option. They can be enjoyed plain or with a variety of toppings, such as cheese, salsa, or avocado.
- Fruit: Fresh fruit is a healthy and refreshing breakfast option. It can be enjoyed alone or paired with yogurt, cereal, or toast.
- Coffee: And of course, don’t forget a French Press for delicious camping coffee!
These are the best choices because they are easy, healthy, and delicious on-the-go breakfast options you can take on every campervan travel adventure. You need almost no time cooking breakfast in the morning which offers a great benefit for those who are short on time when traveling.
Easy Road Trip Lunch Ideas
Here’s a list of the best road trip lunch ideas:
- Sandwiches: For starters, sandwiches are always a classic option. You can also pack some wraps or quesadillas if you’re looking for something a little different. Get creative with your sandwich fillings – try out different meats, cheeses, and veggies to find your perfect combination.
- Pasta or Rice: Another option is to make a big batch of pasta or rice and pack it in individual containers. This can be a great way to use up leftovers from dinner the night before.
- Antipasto platter: This one is easy – just chop up some olives, salami, pepperoni, and cheese and put it on a plate with some sliced bread or crackers.
- Fried rice: Cook up some rice in advance and add in your favorite veggies and meats
- Quesadillas: Top with shredded cheese and then fold it up for a delicious quesadilla.
- Pasta salad: Cook up some pasta ahead of time and then mix it with your favorite vegetables, olive oil, and vinegar for a healthy and filling pasta salad.
- Wraps: Another easy option, just fill a tortilla with your favorite sandwich ingredients and roll it up
- Soup: If you’re traveling in cooler weather, pack a thermos of your favorite soup to warm you up at lunchtime.
- Salad: Salad is a good option, especially if you’re looking for something light and healthy.
- Fruit: Pack some fresh fruit for a refreshing and healthy lunch option.
- Grain bowl: Mix together cooked grains, vegetables, and protein for a filling and satisfying grain bowl.
Additionally, freeze-dried meals are also lightweight and easy to store, so they won’t take up too much space in your car. Mountain House has a variety of freeze-dried meals that are perfect for hitting the road. Check out the best Mountain House meals to enjoy on a road trip. Also, choose foods that won’t spoil in the heat. Hard-boiled eggs, sandwiches, and fruit are all good options. Make sure to pack enough food to keep everyone satisfied. It’s always better to have too much food than too little.
The Best Road Trip Snacks
Finally, pack some snacks as well. Granola bars, trail mix, and candy can help keep your energy up during long stretches of driving. Snacks are an important part of any traveler’s diet. Not only do they help to tide you over between meals, but they can also give you a much-needed energy boost when you’re on the go. When choosing snacks, look for foods that are high in protein and fiber to help keep you feeling full. Energy bars, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit are all good options. If you’re traveling with kids, bring along some juice boxes or individual bags of chips or pretzels.
I hope you enjoyed these tips and ideas for easy road trip meals. Feel free to comment down below with your favorite road trip food and share these tips and ideas with your friends and family who are also planning a road trip. If you’re looking for more road trip inspiration, check out these 10 European Campervan routes.
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