MUST: Prepare Your Food Before Hitting the Road

A little
planning ahead of time can go a long way toward making your road trip more
enjoyable. Eating a varied cuisine on the road can be a challenge – but the
fact that you’re away from all the conveniences of your own kitchen, doesn’t
mean you have to settle for eating freeze dried meals, canned entrees and
“just add hot water “ foods like ramen and oatmeal.

Don’t
be afraid to go beyond the standard staples like
cereal, cold cuts or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and, of course,
hamburgers and hot dogs. Although these foods are reliable standbys, they
should complement your meal plans, not be your only choices. It’s easy to
enjoy a wide variety of foods on the road, as long as you are
prepared.

The real trick to enjoying great meals on the
road is to do as much prep work at home as
possible before you leave so you can make sure mealtime isn’t
boring or predictable. Doing your prep work in advance will also help you cut
down on the handling of raw foods and help you minimize the hassle and mess
of cooking when you’re on the road.

Here are a
few more helpful tips and shortcuts:

Before
You Leave Home

• Stock up on zip
  top bags (preferably the freezer type – they’re tougher), heavy-duty aluminum
  foil and recyclable aluminum containers, since they’re lightweight to carry
  and limit the number of dishes you have to wash. Plus, foil allows the
  flavors of the food to blend, and you won’t have to worry about anything
  dripping into the grill. Clean meats at home to avoid having food scraps that
  might attract animals or rot and create a foul
  order.
• Precut cantaloupe, watermelon, cheeses, and
  vegetables for quick snacks and easy use. Apples, grapes, string cheese,
  granola bars, dried fruit, raisins and nuts also make great snacks and are
  no-fuss.
• Frozen veggies, dried or frozen pasta with jar
  sauce, meatballs and fried chicken are good “go-to’s” for fast, easy meals
  when you’re pressed for time.
• Don’t forget the essential
  condiments: mayo, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, salad dressings, salt, pepper,
  garlic and other seasonings you like. Also be sure to pack coffee, tea and
  hot chocolate packets as well as any powdered drink mixes you and your family
  enjoy.
• Prepare your favorite dishes at home and freeze
  them for quick, easy on-the-road meals. Since you freeze them at home,
  they’ll also do double duty as “ice blocks” to help keep your food and drinks
  cold. These meals will defrost slowly, so they will keep fresh for days.
  Getting ready for a meal is hassle-free with no pots or pans to
  clean.