Nourishment

I want to eat and stay healthy while traveling.  I decided to fore go any refrigeration in the Prius to save space (even though we have several 5-day coolers and a 12v refrigerator).

I carry enough food for a least a week, sometimes as much as I'd need for a month.  Most of it is dehydrated.  I avoid canned foods due to the weight they add (the Prius has a 780 lb maximum payload).

Pantry box on front passenger seat.

My "pantry box" usually contains -- dry milk, quick oats, minute rice, dehydrated black beans, chicken bullion, black pepper, peanut butter, dried cranberries, walnuts, raw cashews, freeze dried veggies, tea bags, and a homemade latte/protein mix*.   (Note: I now use a duffle bag instead of a hard plastic box because it doesn't take up as much room when it's not full.)  Sometimes I have whole-grain bread or crackers, ramen noodles, cans of V8 juice, apple sauce cups, fresh bananas and apples.  Once I decide what I'm going to eat for the day, I put it all in a small lunch bag for easy access.

Small lunch bag pre-filled with the day's meals.

Those items that come packaged in a box, get repackaged into storage bags to save room.  The same goes for the vitamin supplements.  That is, I pour each out of its bottle into a labeled storage bag.  This is a big space saver, especially when bottles have only a few pills left.

Also, I find it easier if I pre-package meals.  For example, I put a single serving of oatmeal in a small storage bag, adding dried milk, cranberries, and walnuts for a complete breakfast.  Or, mix a single serving of minute rice, dehydrated black beans and freeze dried veggies with chicken bullion for a dinner meal.  To "cook" these pre-mixed meals, I put them in a bowl and add hot water.  Or, usually, I put them in a 12v mug with water and drive until fully heated.  I saved these "used" storage bag for making more pre-packaged meals.

A typical day's meals might include:  a protein latte*; oatmeal, banana; peanut butter sandwich, apple; rice and beans with veggies, and cashews. 

If driving through town, I'll sometimes stop for a fast food salad, chicken sandwich, or chili.  My weak spot are Starbucks soy lattes.  Also, when I go to the grocery store, I'll often purchase something that needs refrigeration to eat right away, for example, yogurt, cheese, sandwich spread, etc.

So that I drink enough water, I pre-fill 5 water bottles each day, filtering if necessary.   I also carry 2 additional 1-gallon water containers.

I carry a 1-burner butane stove, mostly to heat water.  (Note: I no longer carry a Kelly Kettle as I found I didn't use it.)

To clean utensils and dishes, I scrape off any remaining food immediately, spray with a vinegar-water solution (disinfects), and then wipe clean.   I typically use a 12v mug, a small tea kettle, 1 plastic bowl, paper bowls, knife, fork, spoon and the small pans that came with the Kelly Kettle.  I use a pocket knife for chopping and slicing.  I also use paper towels (instead of plates) for sandwiches and fruit.

Although I enjoy cooking when at my sticks-and-bricks home, I don't seem to miss it while on the road.


*Latte Protein Drink
     - good warm or cold
     - ingredients:
            - Optimum 100% Whey Protein (vanilla ice cream flavor),
            - dry milk powder (to make 1 cup milk per serving), and
            - Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Decaf Coffee (extra strong).
     - mixed in bulk
     - 1-gallon storage bag = 2 weeks of servings


posted 2/2011, edited 5/2013