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Tip Store: Travel: Food

​Free Use of Microwave in Shopping Centre

When my daughter was a baby I used to use the Parent Rooms at the local shopping centre a fair bit for feeds and changes. However she has grown and we still use them every so often for the use of the microwave in the rooms. Basically there is often a microwave installed for the convenience of parents to reheat food. I now take our lunch or snacks and use the microwave to heat them when out. For example, today we went to the movies as a treat but I hate paying almost $15 for a drink and popcorn. So I took a bottle of water and a microwave popcorn pack from home and heated it in the parents room just before going into the cinema. Now there is no excuse to not pack lunch when going out to shopping centre.
​ Contributed by Jenna Kenney, 21st April 2013

​Saving with a Travelling Thermos

Approximate $ Savings: $100

Buy a big Thermos! My husband and I recently travelled around Tasmania with a new BIG thermos - filled every morning with boiling water. We stopped wherever we liked and had our piping hot tea and coffee. Hot drinks cost at least $3 each and with our 2 litre thermos we had 4 cups each on every day for 7 days - that's a saving of around $100. We're taking our thermos to NZ next week too!
​- Contributed by Maryrose Hocken, 3rd December 2011

​Travel Meals on the Cheap

Approximate $ Savings: $74 each day at least

On a bus tour of New Zealand my husband and l couldn't afford the tour cost of breakfast at $22 each and dinner at $41 each. So we opted for no meals dramatically reducing the tour cost. We took an electric skillet plus other necessary equipment and cooked our own food in the motel room every night. We did the same for breakfast. For lunch we made it as well. When we shopped (each night or second night, we had a thermal bag to put cold food such as yoghurt, juice etc. Everyone else on that tour paid for their meals and bought their lunch and morning/afternoon tea. We never did. New Zealand is not cheap and we searched the supermarkets for bargains. We eat very healthy and did not compromise this whilst in New Zealand. We had our fruit, nuts, etc every day. You had to be very regimented as we often left at 7am so had to cook early or put the skillet and other equipment in a bag that went on the bus with us.
​- Contributed by Janis Hine

​Vacuum Pack for Camping

Ask the butcher/borrow our use a machine at home to vacuum pack your raw meat if you don't cook meals in advance. This way, red meat will last in a car fridge for up to 3 weeks and chicken for 2 weeks. Any blood is contained in the bag (not into the esky). We found butchers will do this for free when you purchase the meat - we even asked to split up bulk packs into smaller lots with no problem.
​- Contributed by Michelle Pratt, 16th August 2010

​Tinned Meals Add Variety on a Budget

As keeping food fresh is an issue, try buying cans of ravioli, butter chicken, chunky soups etc when on special, they cost about $3.50. Giving him a container of rice to cook to bulk up the meal will help with the cost also. With frozen meals to use at the beginning of the week, these cans can be kept till the end of the week.
​- Contributed by Fran Green, 28th June 2010

​Frozen Ready-to-Eat Meals Thaw Slowly

Lean Cuisine has several types of meals available from the supermarket. If you place this frozen into the refrigerator it will thaw and can be ready to use the next day or two. To prepare your husband only needs to boil the water and add contents enclosed within the bag. These are very easily prepared if you wish to do this, with your own selection of vegetables etc and freeze them. Frozen prepared lasagne is a great and very easy meal with any combination of vegetables etc. A small electric oven to prepare will be required to cook. Another great idea is the sandwich maker; egg, cheese, bacon, any filling can be used if you have an electric connection. Frozen sandwiches are also helpful and ready the next day.
​- Contributed by Joanne Romano, 28th June 2010

​Vacuum Packed Food Great for Travelling

Try vacuum packaging your foods (eliminating all air). It can extend food by three - five times the length. Steak and stews (all hearty meals) are ready at hand and just need to be heated. Even sliced fruit and vegies are kept fresh.
​ - Contributed by Natalie Farrell, 28th June 2010

Cryovac Foods Last Well

Have you thought about investing in a home cryovac packaging machine? They will make prepared home meals last much longer in the fridge than will Tupperware type containers, so your cyrovaced meals will easily last a week in the fridge. With his camp stove he can easily reheat casseroles or veggies and even fry himself a steak that you packed on Sunday on the Friday he returns. I have seen these items in places like Aldi and Costco for around $100.00. Given that buying six breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners on the road would probably cost $100.00 more than packing them from home, it would only take a week to pay for itself. I find making my own trail mixes with dried fruits and nuts a cost effective and healthy option to keep with me when on the road, as it does not need to be kept in fridge.
​- Contributed by Dolly d'Arling, 27th June 2010

​Research Outback Cooking

What about purchasing some dry ice, no freezer required, just perhaps a foam box as an esky? I have found that purchasing cans of braised steak and onions or similar meals can work excellently to fill up your man for around $2.50 a can. Also, try dehydrated foods like noodles and onion flakes etc, to keep foods fresher longer and tastier too. Also, you could try the Malcolm Douglas website for camp cooking ideas. He has made some awesome, cheap, healthy meals en-route! He gets by using a lot of canned food and things like egg powder, milk powder, custard powder etc. Perhaps research outback cooking or think back to pre-icebox days, they survived by eating pickled/heavily salted things to preserve them. Perhaps some modern day techniques could be applied to make this style of preservation healthier (instead of too much salt or especially too many chemical preservatives). Perhaps advertise on Facebook for a dehydrating machine or look on eBay/sales? PS: just make sure he has some fresh fruit/tomato, cucumbers at least 3 days a week to keep things more balanced.
​- Contributed by Olivia Mills, 27th June 2010

​Buy Meat Already Vacuum Sealed

When buying fresh meat, find a butcher that can cryovac meat, as it will keep the meat fresh longer without freezing.
​- Contributed by Tracy Ashley, 26th June 2010

​Dried Foods Travel Well

My son loves to take his family camping and he also loves to cook. He sources many ingredients from camping stores like dehydrated vegs, powdered milk etc., ingredients that do not need refrigeration. There are also cook books for campers with recipes that may be useful to you Ruth. Good luck with your quest. Wendy James.
​- Contributed by Wendy James, 26th June 2010

​Scrolls for Snacks Keep a Few Days

You could make ham and cheese or pizza scrolls for snacks. A way to keep things fresh for him is to vacuum pack his food it will then keep in a fridge for weeks instead of days. A vacuum sealer can be as cheap as $50 - $70 dollars and works wonders.
​- Contributed by Kylie Colyer, 26th June 2010

​A Vacuum Sealer and Long Lasting Ice

Pre cooked meals are often vac sealed for people out on boats, Alternatively, there is an ice block material that our Harvest Maid distributor sells that I believe keeps frozen for up to a week- ish, people take this stuff on camping a fishing trips. The two would rapidly pay for themselves with the saving on meals.
- Contributed by Belinda Nye-Chart, 26th June 2010
Website: www.ezidri.net.au/Techni Ice.html

​ Editors Note: Try fishing and camping shops for Techni Ice too. Remember, shop around for the best price before you buy. It is really good, lasts ages, depending of course on how many times the kids open the esky. Cath

​A Quick Snack for Meals on the Run

This is a very quick dessert or snack. In a plastic container you can combine about half a cup of cous cous with about a couple of teaspoons of sugar, and throw in some raisins or sultanas with a handful of crushed walnuts or anything that's similar that you like. Then all he has to do is get a cup of boiled water from a service station, which should be free, and add it to the cous cous. Let it sit after being stirred and you will be surprised how delicious and filling it is not to mention how quick it is to make. But remember you can put whatever you like and think that goes with it. It's very versatile. Enjoy!
​- Contributed by Violeta Lozanovska, 25th June 2010

​Use Frozen Meals that Thaw While Travelling

In reply to Ruth's question I suggest that during the week she can prepare foods that can be frozen. Put them in the portable fridge in the frozen state. They will take some time to thaw so will last quite a few days. Soup is suitable, also meatballs, chicken and beef schnitzels, single serves of risotto or lasagne or macaroni cheese. The latter two would require a heavy bottomed saucepan with a lid to heat up on low heat otherwise they might burn. In the other pot your husband could simmer some pears in red wine, have half hot for dessert the first night, the other half as a cold dessert the following night. Corned beef lasts quite a long time if kept covered in the fridge. Send along eggs, these make easy but nutritious meals, boiled, scrambled or fried. If he is a little interested in cooking omelettes are lovely. Some vegetables can be prepared a few days ahead - carrots and beans in airtight containers in the fridge. Raw vegetables for salads don't take much preparation, just washing and slicing. Homemade dressing is much nicer and much cheaper that bought stuff; your husband can keep a week's supply in the fridge. Just mix a dressing and put it in a pop top bottle. If your husband is happy to buy steak but is sick of plain steak, put a bottle of homemade or bought marinade to sprinkle on food as it is cooking.
​- Contributed by Iva Steinke, 25th June 2010

​Quick and Easy for on the Road

Couscous is a quick and easy side dish to prepare "on the road". You could make some yummy casseroles and freeze them into individual portions, they will last in the tuckerbox for a few days, and hubby can warm them up and add the couscous in a flash.
​- Contributed by Tania Gaunt, 25th June 2010

​Toasted Sandwiches are Great

I you can find an adapter to run some power you could get a sandwich maker. Ideas for fillings are numerous and some ingredients don't require refrigeration. Plus, toasted sandwiches are great. If power for a sandwich maker is not an option, you could make the sandwiches at home. They can be kept in the fridge and still taste great.
​- Contributed by Michelle Grey, 25th June 2010

​Frozen Leftovers Reheated on Camp Stove

My suggestion is to freeze leftovers into one meal portions and then on Sunday night before leaving pop them into the fridge. Depending on what they are and how often the fridge is opened they should defrost over the next few days and if still frozen can be reheated on the camp stove. Anything you would normally freeze for another night at home could be used for on the road. My friends do this when they go camping so they only have to heat and serve.
​- Contributed by Rachele Reynolds, 25th June 2010

​Frozen Tea Towels Act as Ice Bricks

You could make sausage rolls, pasties, and mini quiches and freeze them, giving them a longer storage time. Also if you make and freeze soup, pasta and stew and freeze these, they act as ice blocks keeping the other food fresh longer. If you wet a tea towel and freeze it, then place over the food in the portable fridge it will keep things cold longer.
​- Contributed by Wendy Nicholls, 25th June 2010

​Cheap, Tasty, Filling Meal for Travellers

We do a lot of camping so I have the same dilemma after we've used up all our fresh ingredients from the esky. I'll often make tuna pasta, which I simply bring a saucepan of water, powdered milk, and a packet of dry pasta and sauce to the boil (pasta carbonara flavour works well) Once thickened, add a can of plain tuna and heat through. You could also add in any leftovers from the week like tomato, ham, or cheese etc. It's an easy, cheap, filling, and tasty meal to get us through the final days of our trip.
​- Contributed by Emma Black, 25th June 2010

​Carry Dehydrated and Canned Meals for Convenience

I would suggest packets of dehydrated rice and vegetables into which he can add a small tin of baked beans; or tuna; or sardines. There are also now available in major supermarkets tins of chick peas and vegetables - add dehydrated mashed potato to this to 'bulk it up'.
​- Contributed by Trish Levido, 25th June 2010

​Frozen Single Serves in Margarine Containers

Before I go away camping I always cook meals like spag bol, fried rice etc and fill empty margarine containers with the leftovers then freeze them. By doing this I have ready to reheat meals that taste great and add variety.
​- Contributed by Ross Cairns, 25th June 2010

​Store Food Longer with a Food Saver

We bought a vacuum food saver for when we go camping. I pre-make meals, vacuum pack them and they last up to two weeks in the fridge! The unit will pay for itself many times over. I make casseroles, cooked vegies, pasta bakes, anything!! All he'll have to do is take them out the bag for the micro, or just reheat in bag on the stove. Get him to save the bags if possible to re-use after a thorough washing).
​- Contributed by Tracy Jones, 25th June 2010

​Wrapped in Newspaper, Frozen Foods Last Longer

When I am going away for more than a couple of days I freeze casseroles, mince etc. Before leaving I wrap them well in newspaper and put them in the chilly bin. They take a few days to thaw properly so I use fresh food the first couple of days then the frozen meals fill in later in the week.
​- Contributed by Jean Wing, 25th June 2010

​Single Serve Portions and Metal Camp Dishes Save Heaps on Food

You could make up batches of lasagne, spaghetti bolognaise, curry, casseroles etc and freeze them in single serve portions. You can buy metal camping dishes with lids that can be just dropped in a pan of water to be reheated. Or buy a little microwave and pop them in there. On the Sunday they could all just go in the truck fridge and they would still be OK by the Friday. We do this in our caravan if we go away for a long weekend and it saves heaps on food.
​- Contributed by Chris Scambler, 25th June 2010

​Plan in Advance and Have a Fantastic Holiday on a Budget

When planning a holiday my aunty and uncle, who are on a pension, plan well in advance and each week they buy one or two extra non perishable items (like toilet paper, a jar of coffee, sugar, long life milk, pasta or rice sachets) and put them aside in the holiday box. They also freeze portions of bolognaise sauce and homemade soup to take away for ready meals. As they stay in cabin accommodation they do not have to pay out much at all for groceries for the six weeks they are away and the extra money goes towards their accommodation and little extra holiday activities like bait for fishing (the fish they catch is frozen to eat throughout the year). The added bonus is having the packing already done when its time to head off. They go away twice a year for six weeks each time and therefore always have something to look forward too and a reward for their thrifty spending throughout the rest of the year. They also save their aluminium cans and cash them in and use the money to put towards their petrol for the trip. I think that they are clever as they are always moving forward towards an end goal which they love.
​-Contributed by Annmaree, 25th February 2009

​Portable Ice Chest That Keeps Food Frozen!

Approximate $ Savings: $10 or more per camping trip per esky.

We discovered this by pure accident on our camping trip last week. We'd bought our meat the evening before leaving and put it all in a chiller bag (the cheap ones that Coles and Safeway sell with their names plastered all over them), then put this bag in the freezer. This was done for a two reasons: 1) to freeze the meat. 2) to ensure we collected all the meat out of the freezer and not forget any (also saving us from having to buy replacements whilst away). When we left for our camping trip, we put the chiller bag straight into the esky, then on the way to our camp site, filled the esky with ice. That ice was mostly gone the next day, so we had to do an ice run (a good 30 minute round trip in the car). This time, we unzipped the chiller bag, and filled it with ice. Drinks, milk etc were in the rest of the esky and ice got thrown in around them too. Even 3 days later, the ice in the chiller bag had barely thawed. For some reason, the ice in the rest of the esky took longer to thaw also. Had I not bought the ice from the same place, I would have put it down to having been because the ice was different, but it came from the same service station. We'll be using this trick from now on. Because it had been kept at the right temperature all weekend, our unused meat went in the fridge when we got home instead of having to be cooked up as soon as we got home or being thrown out.
​- Contributed by Ally, Cranbourne West, 31st January 2009

​Give the Chef a Break Too

Approximate $ Savings: $200-$300

When going on holidays, I cook 2-3 meals before leaving and freeze them,(spaghetti bolognaise, casseroles etc.). We place them in our esky so it serves a double purpose by keeping other items cold as well. All I have to do is cook pasta or rice to go with the mains, so I have a holiday from cooking as well! We usually have these meals when we've been out at the beach or theme parks all day, as those are the days we're most tempted to get take away! With 2 hungry teenage boys this is a great saving for us and we don't feel so guilty when we do have dinner out! We also take as much food with us as possible, as holiday supermarkets can be very pricey!
​- Contributed by Karyn, Ruse, 22nd August 2009

​Cheap Holiday Meals at the RSL

When on holidays recently we became tired of paying the high prices for meals in restaurants. Somebody suggested the local RSL, it was great! Most meals were between $8 and $14, they were delicious and hubby was happy with $3 beers. We now intend to check out the RSL everywhere we go!
​- Contributed by Deanna, Semaphore South, 3rd September 2009

​It Pays to Be Prepared

Approximate $ Savings: $13/mth $156/year

I like to buy potato crisps/chips for my kids as a treat in the car on the odd occasion, however as the family increased (now 6 children under 12) it was getting very expensive to buy individual packets ($2.50/small packet). I now buy a pack of 100 brown paper lunch bags and keep them in the car (99c, Homebrand). When we stop (unplanned) I can often buy 1 large packet of our favourite chips for $2.00 and I put a generous handful in each bag. They all get their own amount in their own bag, everyone is happy. If we did this once a month it is a saving of $150+ dollars (helps with school shoes etc). My kids think I am clever having thought of it, I think it was because of your website!
​- Contributed by Janine, Bentleigh, 11th January 2008