Packing your family into a caravan is a great way to start a budget-friendly holiday they’ll all remember. From incredible camping sites that celebrate the heritage of our country to the opportunity to reconnect with your family members, caravan holidays offer the maximum in personalization with a minimum of fuss and expense. A huge savings can come in being able to prepare your own food, rather than eating out, and in order to keep your family healthy and happy during their holiday it’s important to consider the kinds of food you bring with you to prepare during your trip.
Types of food high in nutritional value that make for a great addition to any pre-camping shopping list include apples and oranges, other fruits and vegetables (although some things, such as fresh berries, may go off more quickly than others). Canned soups and other premade items can help cut down on food preparation time, but can also be high in preservatives and sodium – so try to keep these items to a minimum, or else opt to purchase the “healthier” versions of these foods, which feature “low fat,” “low sodium” and “diet” on the labels. For a cheap and easy meal that’s perfect for camping trips, buy cans of tomatoes, corn and kidney beans. Sprinkle on some chilli powder (and add ketchup to help moderate the flavour) and cook for a while, and you’ll have a budget- and health-friendly meal of vegetarian chilli in no time!
Depending on the location and type of trip you have planned, camping in the UK may give you the chance to fish for your food – if so, take it! Catching fresh fish not only gives your family the chance to spend time on a fun activity they can do together, but also puts healthy food on the table. Wrapped in foil, fish is a meal that’s easy to cook over an open fire or in a caravan’s kitchen area, and as a lean protein it offers a lighter and more healthful eating experience than heavier proteins like red meat or chicken. Just be careful of what accompaniments and sauces you use, since these can add a lot in the calorie department.
Make a solid plan for what you want to feed your family before you embark on your holiday, and you’ll be able to organize your menu around planned activities. Going on a hike? Meal bars may be your best bet. Sticking close to the caravan? Time to get out a saucepan and turn up the heat! Consider the kind of cooking you’ll be doing – open campfire? Caravan stove? Try to pick meals that lend themselves to being prepared in that way, so you don’t get stuck having to improvise cooking solutions. Keeping it simple is lets you make sure your holiday food preparation goes flawlessly. Grains, fibres, fruits, vegetables and proteins that will give you and your family members the energy to make the most of your holiday – so make sure to bring them along on your next UK camping trip.