Food and other helpful items to pack

[LilyPond]

I thought I’d start a thread about helpful things to pack for any vacation to any destination and would love to see your suggestions!

I like to bring food items with me when vacationing regardless of whether I travel by plane or car, except when going to all-inclusive resorts. Going by plane these days means airlines may have max weight restrictions per checked bag and checking luggage may cost you extra, something to consider when thinking about what to pack.

I really enjoy exploring the local food when I travel and taking a break from preparing meals, and I partner that with prepping meals 'at home'. There are a lot of reasons why I’ve found bringing food along is helpful:
- The location you are going to is very expensive (i.e., Hawaii)
- You arrive and are unable to find the brands and/or products you want and I experience this most often with international travel
- You arrive and have to purchase a whole jar of something (i.e., jam, mayo, bottle of oil) when you only need a few servings for the week(s)
- You prefer to avoid using the salt, pepper, etc. left in the unit by others
- You want to minimize the time spent grocery shopping once you arrive

**A key item I’ve learned to pack is Ziploc bags, both gallon size and quart size because any destination can have roaches, especially Hawaii . I put EVERYTHING in a Ziploc bag because it keeps roaches from climbing directly on your food container – trust me, you really, really want to do this because roaches don’t care that you are staying at the Hilton or Wyndham or Marriott or Outrigger or Vistana or Disney or whatever rental. Many of these places may have effective pest control ... I’ve found a few times that this was not the case and now I put everything in a bag so I don't have to worry about it.

To minimize space and weight I pack pre-measured amounts of things, I’ll pack say 2 bowls worth of cereal per person to cover 2 days of breakfasts instead of packing the whole box. For something like pancake mix, I measure out 1 breakfast worth of mix and put it in a Ziploc then write on the bag the remaining needed ingredients like "1 Cup Water" and "2 eggs" and so on. If I'm planning for pancakes for 3 breakfasts then I'll have 3 separate bags, all pre-measured making it super easy and all marked with what needs to be added. Here is a general list to give you ideas:

• Cereal / oatmeal
• Coffee
• Condiment packets (your home grocery store may have variety packs of these, I know Amazon sells them and you might check Wal-Mart, too). It’s amazing what comes in a packet size these days and these are great for packed lunches and camping, too!
• Hot chocolate
• Jam – Smuckers has single serving sizes
• Nutrition bars – gomacro brand is my favorite
• Oil and vinegar (see http://starfinefoods.com/product/singles/ )
• Pancake mix
• Pasta
• Powdered drink mixes
• Powdered marinades like McCormicks
• Powdered mix packets for tacos, spaghetti sauce, gravy, etc.
• Rice
• Salt, pepper, sugar/sweetener - you can find these as condiment packets
• Soup – dehydrated
• Tea

If I am driving and my destination is a few hours away from home then I'll consider more elaborate planning like making a pan of lasagna ahead of time to take on the trip, or a pot of chili that I freeze and then drive up with it frozen so it contributes to keeping the cooler cold.

Even though furnished units come with furnished kitchens I still bring a few of my own items like a corkscrew, spatula, tongs, and my own can-opener because mine cuts the can from the side and does not create iron shavings that can fall into the food. I’ll even pack one baking pan for brownies, muffins, and/or cake because you just don’t know what is provided until you get there and I always make a pan of brownies when I am on vacation lol!

Enjoy!

 

[clifffaith]

We can travel 3 weeks in Europe with a roll aboard and personal item each. 4 days in a timeshare a three hour drive from us, I bring everything that isn't nailed down. Hate grocery shopping the first few days of vacation unless we flew and need to go get breakfast stuff.

For air travel we always bring ziplock bags, instant coffee for Cliff, decaf tea bags for me, and a few granola bars because no one wants to be anywhere near me if I am hungry and circumstances keep us from eating right away. When we were eating oatmeal regular for breakfast I did bring the individual packets from home if we were headed to Hawaii.

For car travel we have a box that has Saran wrap, tin foil, grilling spices, napkins etc. It is SUPPOSED to have a bottle of vegetable oil in it, but apparently I thought it needed to be rotated out and didn't put a new in so we came up short a couple weeks ago. And then I have bags and bags of stuff from the pantry -- never know when you might want soup and crackers for dinner instead of going out, after all!

 

[Finntastic]

Our last trip to our timeshare was a 19 hour drive with 2 overnight stops. We brought all our non perishables. When we got to Hilton Head we spent about 1 hr and 15 min grocery shopping for everything else. My SIL had mad a detailed list with absolutely every item we needed. I like to grocery shop on vacation because some US chains carry different stuff than what we have. It's nice to pack what we can from home though because I collected stuff over a 2 month period and didn't miss the money

We brought Chips, cereal, juices, crackers, cheese(kept fine in the cooler for 2 days) pasta, homemade cookie dough(3 types) which was a big hit, crackers, nuts, coffee, tea, and chocolate.

Our next trip we are flying and going on cruise so only need to pack a few granola bars. Looking forward to that!!

 

[Lydlady]

Thank you for the thread and suggestions. We are leaving on a road trip, six hours away, this Friday. i know I'll bring some Montreal seasoning. I don't know about water and soda because we can probably get those cheaper where we're going.

 

[VegasBella]

First, I want to remind people that for some destinations it's not wise to travel with food. I was searched after arriving in Australia and they took all my food and threw it away. Also, there's a checkpoint between Vegas and LA/San Diego where they don't want people bringing in produce. They want to protect California farmers from pests. I drive that route all the time and I've never had a problem but one time I had to show them my food.

We used to bring all kinds of food along with things like a rice cooker and pressure cooker. But now we just bring enough for the next day in case we can't go grocery shopping. So coffee is a must

I always google beforehand to find the things we want: Whole Foods, Starbucks, vegan restaurants, Trader Joes, etc. That way, I know exactly how far away the stuff we want is so I can plan it into our trip.

 

[spirits]

Some of my odds and ends

I have a rubbermaid container that does not get emptied just added to (; It stays downstairs like an old friend anc comes up when we hit the road to our timeshare. I like to pack a good teflon frying pan because the ones in the units are often pretty beat up. Also a really good serrated knife. Over the years I have added to it as our needs got finessed (; Now I have different spices (Hungarian chicken spice) for example that came from our trip to Victoria BC and that is a type of reminder of a great meal we had and only get when we travel (; A culinary postcard as you will.

I used to travel with favorite easy recipes that I would find over the years in a magazine or newspaper and throw that in the carryall. But now I have adapted with the times and have a special section on my laptop that has recipes that would be nice in the timeshare. Instead of odd pieces of paper and dvds and books....now a laptop suffices Woe to the timeshare without wifi but if all fails and we have to rough it....the local library have computers and my file is accessible from any device (;

I also pack little tupperware containers with margarine, mayo etc and my husband just added "remember to take your wallet". Yup that should cover it. Looking forward to what others have done

 

[mdurette]

When we drive.....we bring a lot because I don't want to go grocery shopping while we are there. For a week vacation I typically will have everything I need to eat all breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners, snack and drink. Never need to grocery shop.

When we fly.....I have a Rubbermaid container that holds an assortment of small packs of condiments, Splenda, coffee, filters, spices. I will take advantage and use a grocery delivery service if available in the area. If not...all well, we are off to the grocery store at some point. (But....boy do I ALWAYS buy too much when this happens!)

On a similar note: Over the summer I used the meal service HelloFresh (there are others like Blue Apron, Home Chef, etc). I think these would be great for drive to vacations. Everything you need for 3 or 4 meals, already packaged and ready to go, cook in about 30 minutes.

 

[amycurl]

We actually have a whole "timeshare box'' that is filled with things that we've needed a one time or another while on vacation. This includes things like the Ziploc bags mentioned above, along with aluminium foil (great for covering leftovers, use on a grill, or baking needs) and cheap, Chinese-takeout type plastic containers. (We find that most timeshares have *horrible* options for storing leftovers of any type.) We also bring a good non-stick griddle and plastic spatula, and my favorite Cutco knife.

We also tend to bring things like measuring cups (the standard Pyrex glass measure cup provided doesn't really do well for dry ingredients) and measuring spoons. We also bring things like spice packet and condiment packets. Universal, reusbale coffee filter for coffee machines. And a hand mixer. (One of our favorite desserts requires the use of one.)

When I got married, I got a "campground kitchen" kit from LL Bean, that is like a soft-sided tri-fold tolietries kit, but for kitchen supplies. It contains small bottles for things like spices, oil, soy sauce, etc., as well as a pouch that contains another small cutting board, washcloth, small spatula, etc. That lives in the timeshare box as well.

We usually only take the whole box when we drive to places, but if we fly, we might raid it for the things that are easily packable.

I will also say that we like to explore grocery stores, and, especially, farmer's markets when we travel. Our family joke is that you're not really on vacation unless you go to the grocery store every day. We *loved* all of the farmer's markets we found in Hawaii, and had a great job cooking with them. We also like the creativity of what can you cook with what you have, how you incorporate restaurant leftovers in the meal planning, etc. Cooking is something that my mother, my daughter, and I all like to do, and vacations give us an opportunity to do so in a different way than is normally available to us in our daily, busy lives.

I *love* the idea of Blue Apron, etc., for vacations! I had never thought about that, but may do so in the future. (But, again, see above about grocery stores/farmer's markets.)

 

[theo]

We don't pack food / condiment items, likely readily available at our destination during (...hopefully very few) grocery store runs.
We too like farmer's markets a lot and try to patronize any and every one we encounter when travelling.

We always pack a high quality, sharp, 8" chef's knife (well secured within a protective sheath) and a non-glass cutting board. We have learned over the years that the knives in timeshares (and in most rentals) are usually junk --- and cutting on a glass surface with a dull, crummy knife is nothing short of outright dangerous, IMnsHO.

 

[WinniWoman]

We have a couple of timeshare boxes as well with some condiments and tea and coffee and paper items and barbecue utensils, laundry detergent, etc. The week before we leave, we shop a bit and pack up all the items we need that do not require refrigeration- like cereal and canned goods and snack and booze and mixes, salad dressing, bread- Have a whole list we keep on the computer, as well as a shopping list for when we get up there.

I do put some mayo and maple syrup, etc. in small canning jars and throw those in a small hand held cooler to take up so we don't have to bother with purchasing those on vacation. I'll usually also throw in our mustard jar from our fridge.

Then on the way- about 45 minutes out when we pass the grocery store we head in to purchase all the fruits and meat and frozen and refrigerated items like milk and butter and fish and ice cream and cold cuts, eggs- whatever.

We cook very simply as we are on vacation and I am not interested in making gourmet meals. We eat out for those.

If we are flying we don't take any food- we shop when there. Might take a collapsible cooler that fits in checked luggage if the supermarket is far away from the resort.

But mostly we only use carry ons to travel and next trip by plane we are planning to stay at a Hilton Homewood Suite so breakfast is included as well as a happy hour with food which will make things easier all around.

 

[Sandy]

Travel spice kit

I used to put my different spices into snack sized zip lock bags. That is until I found this travel spice kit:

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/travel-spice-kit.do

I see the recent price at half off and I was ready to get several as gifts until I saw unavailable. Bummer.

It was available on Amazon, but I bought it at World market at full price several years ago. I always take it and refill the little containers.

I panicked recently when I couldn't find it, but it was with the timeshare stuff still in a suitcase!! I treasure this, especially now that it is not so readily available.

Keep an eye out for it.

Edit: just found another one: http://www.uncommongoods.com/produc...B2M9dVqdHWllWC5m3id9l0ilmrxizPKjh0aAlCZ8P8HAQ

and one at World Market with more exotic selections: http://www.worldmarket.com/category...PJ6taOQ6RtQ87oZfBS_Hp2Ed6y2_Wn5QTMaAqz18P8HAQ

 

[x3 skier]

As I used to remind my wife, we're not going to Antarctica. They do have stores there if you really need something. If there's something special you can't live without, bring it but for me, I enjoy experiencing the place I'm visiting so I bring clothes, electronic thingies like phone, chargers, Kindle with books and that's it

Cheers

 

[Big Matt]

I bring a Tupperware container with herbs and spices. These are expensive and you don't want to buy a bunch of them when you have them at home.

I also bring a good wine opener.

For car trips I bring my "good" knife set (in a travel case), a box of zip lock bags, saran wrap, and foil. I also bring a lot of other things from my pantry that are light weight and that I don't want to buy including napkins (no timeshare has them), non-perishable condiments, etc. I basically can just buy fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, bakery items, and dairy when I get there.

 

[linsj]

A few things that haven't been mentioned:
--Small packets of tuna (for salads) and tuna salad (for sandwiches). I buy these on sale and with coupons, so it's much cheaper to take them. Plus the tuna salad and bread or bagel gives me a protein meal for the few times I'm not flying in first class.
--Bag clips in a variety of sizes
--Sugarfree syrup when going to Hawaii (for banana mac nut pancakes)--put in a small, spill-proof bottle. I usually only eat this breakfast out once and have leftovers, so a small bottle is enough for two meals.
--Protein bars and other snacks for my hypoglycemia, another item that I stock up on when they're on sale since they are expensive and often hard to find in the brands I like.

Plus I always take Ziploc bags in a variety of sizes, 2-3 plastic containers with lids (the size that lunchmeat comes in), napkins, and Purex laundry sheets.

 

[Luanne]

We used to travel with food, liquor, spices, etc., etc. We stopped awhile ago. The only thing we bring now is a sharp knife.

 

[dioxide45]

As I used to remind my wife, we're not going to Antarctica. They do have stores there if you really need something. If there's something special you can't live without, bring it but for me, I enjoy experiencing the place I'm visiting so I bring clothes, electronic thingies like phone, chargers, Kindle with books and that's it

Cheers

This is us for the most part. We do bring along some Sweet'n'Low so we don't have to buy a huge box for only a few packets. Other than that, we pretty much just buy stuff when we get wherever we are going. I am not in to exotic or creative cooking while on vacation, so salt and pepper is about all the spices I need.

 

[normab]

We don't pack food / condiment items, likely readily available at our destination during (...hopefully very few) grocery store runs.

We don't typically take condiments either, but when in the Caribbean one year we couldn't find Heinz ketchup (not sure if it was Cayman or st Kitts.) We do not like the other tomato saucy stuff. We seriously considered taking some after that but decided we can live without it since we don't cook too much while out of the country.

You are right that you can find what you need in the US, but sometimes when outside the US you gotta take what you can't live without.

 

[silentg]

We don't typically take condiments either, but when in the Caribbean one year we couldn't find Heinz ketchup (not sure if it was Cayman or st Kitts.) We do not like the other tomato saucy stuff. We seriously considered taking some after that but decided we can live without it since we don't cook too much while out of the country.

You are right that you can find what you need in the US, but sometimes when outside the US you gotta take what you can't live without.

When the kids were home, we used to take a cooler full of food. Everything stayed cold we used to drive to destinations or our annual trip to visit family.
Now it's just the two of us mostly,we still take a cooler if we drive, but much smaller. When we go to Europe we just bring condiments. when we went to Hawaii we just brought our clothes. We shop, the first night we are at a timeshare after we have gone out to dinner. That way we don't over shop . Mostly breakfast foods. Part of going to a new place is to try local restaurants.
The past few times we have brought food for the grill when we go to timeshares that are 3 hours away. DH likes to grill and we stayed with friends and vice versa and had nice dinners. I'm glad a lot of resorts have grills now. Much more relaxing to cook that way. We also like happy hours at some bars, good prices on food and drink. Also we are golfers and the clubhouses offer good food and drinks too!
Silentg

 

[Passepartout]

I have a small container that goes when we fly. Coffee & filters. My own spice kit. A sharp knife. Tongs. A few packets of ketchup, mayo, mustard, hot sauce. Zip lock bags.

If we are driving, the list can get significantly larger.

Jim