We’re not foodies by any stretch, but here’s a couple of van meal ideas in case you’re stuck (really stuck!). I’m trying to cut out processed food, the youngest won’t eat solid veg, the oldest doesn’t like spicy, and Dan wants as much lean protein as possible. Simples.
We regularly use the Simply Cook kits, both at home and in the van. The Korean Bulgogi was a big hit! If you fancy giving them a go, this code will get you your first box for just £1 (and it’ll bag me a freebie 😉)!
How do you like your eggs?
Eggs are the mainstay of our camping breakfast. Whether its a simple fried egg bap like Martin Dorey’s egg banjo, a fully loaded cheesy mushroom omelette, or for when we’re feeling a bit middle class it’ll be scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and smashed avocado on a toasted all butter English muffin.
Make ahead meals
If, like us, you don’t fancy spending ages chopping and faffing while you’re away, preparing a couple of nutritious meals in advance works really nicely. Something that you can pop in a container in the fridge, then heat up in one pot (or one pot plus a couple of pouches of rice) is just perfect. Ottolenghi’s Orzo with Prawns, Tomato and Marinated Feta or a Bosh Ultimate Chilli are firm faves of ours.
A sweet way to start the day
Piling a few strawberries, raspberries and cherries on top of some nutella smeared pancakes and waffles cancels out the calories right???!
Oh, and don’t forget the coffee! We have this Bialetti espresso maker – lush!
Fresh from the Sea
If you’re going to camp near the sea then it would be criminal not to take advantage of some fresh produce. We bought these prawns at the fishmonger at Widemouth Bay and tossed them on the Party Grill with copious amounts of butter and garlic. Perfect starters for what turned out to be an enormous fish supper!
Burgers and sausages
What can I say – I’m not going to win any awards for originality on this one! Perfect for a quick, fuss free tea if you rock up late to your pitch. My top tip is to fry up some onions at home before you leave and have them all lovely and caramelised ready to heat through on the party grill. Home gas somehow feels cheaper than camping gas. Tip top tip is to take a bag of quick cook frozen french fries which will have defrosted by the time you arrive, then fry them off in a big pan with a splash of oil and some seasoning.
We try and get the kids to eat our pea protein burgers but they’re not easily fooled.
Foraged Feast
I’d love to learn more about foraging for food – there’s something really satisfying about providing for your family in such a sustainable way. I prized these mussels from the rocks on Godrevy Beach in Cornwall. I carefully debearded them and then cooked them up in a pot with white wine and garlic. I didn’t get the memo about soaking them beforehand to remove any toxins but hey we’re still alive! Here’s how to do it properly!
Drinks
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate (don’t forget the marshmallows) should be kept in the van at all times. The Robinsons Squash’d Squeezy bottles are great space savers for juice for the kids, maybe not terribly eco friendly though so let me know if you have a better solution in the comments below. And don’t forget to pack a few drinks for the grown ups.
Cooking Kit
The California is fitted with a twin gas hob, but to be honest we don’t really fancy the smell of lemon sole or sea bass permeating the upholstery, so most of our cooking is done outside on our Campingaz Party Grill 400. It has a stove top, grill, griddle, plancha (I had to google it too), a lid that doubles as a wok, and importantly it packs down very compactly into its little carry bag. We bring our trusty Ridge Monkey and a cheap cooking pot, plus our Outwell Collaps kettle – sorted. We also bought a Yellowstone Steel Pac Flat BBQ – honestly – it’s terrible as a BBQ (unless you like your sausages chargrilled yet raw) but it’s a superb little firepit. It takes up literally no space at all – just take care to protect the ground underneath (#leavenotrace).
For some proper van food inspiration, get yourself a copy of Martin Dorey’s campervan cookbook or check out Van life eats
Don’t forget the marshmallows!
The VanFam4 