Just got back from our first trip to Aruba. Traveled with another couple. Food is island expensive, but not as outrageous as St. John. The strong USD helps. We spent about $120 at Superfoods and bought: 2 tins of tuna, bread, bagels, cream cheese, sour cream, 4 baking potatoes, 18 eggs, 12 pack of root beer, cranberry juice, 2 bags of lettuce/spinach, bananas, carrots, grapes, mushrooms, 1/2 gallon milk, a small bag of chocolate bar minatures, whole garlic, tomatoes, relish, 2 limes, 2 12-packs of Balashi beer, and some American cheese slices. At the liquor store spent another $100 on Tito's vodka and 2 bottles of wine.
Brought food from home in a carry-on sized luggage: In our soft-sided cooler we put an ice pack and added (frozen) 4 1" thick ribeyes, 1.5 pounds of chicken, 2 sticks of butter. In the luggage, we brought: 1# of coffee and filters, granola bars, 2 onions, 2 6 oz. bags of tuna, spices for chicken tortilla soup, (salt, pepper, garlic, cumin, chili powder), seasoning for steaks (montreal steak seasoning), can of corn, can of crushed tomatoes, chicken bouillon, small mayo, small mustard, ketchup packets, Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix, 2 pounds of bacon, small bag of bacon bits.
So for breakfast, we had bagels, or breakfast sammies (bacon, egg, cheese on a bagel) or a granola bar. Our one breakfast out costs us about $40 per couple. So not worth it because it was basic eggs and potatoes.
We ate out most lunches as we were out and about most days.
We ate out a few dinners but had tortilla soup and grilled cheese sandwiches one night and ribeyes with mushrooms, salad, and baked potato another night. Both of those dinners were pretty much brought from home and we would have easily spent $400 on comparable meals out.
On the way home, I was able to consolidate luggage and put the carry-on luggage inside its larger sister luggage.
FYI, I use these little cannisters for packing spices. They work really well:
https://www.amazon.com/Houseables-C...=B00TT8ZNVU&psc=1&refRID=SS9H69KWPBDBTDQSKZZN
Beware: Every time I've packed food, I find a note inside my luggage that the TSA searched my luggage. Never had an issue with what they've found, but just as an FYI, food will probably trigger a search. I always clearly label what I'm bringing, including the spice jars.