6 days of camping and only have a cool box

[bamzooki]

(Newbie alert - am camping out of necessity, though it turns out that I quite like it.. )

So i'm a bit troubled about the fresh food storage side of things. Situation is complicated by it not being easy to get to the shops for re-supplying.
So how do you manage extended stays food-wise (ie more than just the weekend!!)

[memoo]

we have an electric cool box, and we tend to buy food fresh each day. Most campsites tend to sell the basics like bread and milk. other than that we try and get by with stuff that doens't need to be kept cool.

[bamzooki]

We won't be at a campsite - we will be in a field at the New Forest show, and am trying to avoid padding to the bacon cob van every day - for wallet and waistline reasons!
Plus we have to dismantle and move to Gatcombe on the 4th day.

It will be hard to get out to the shops, though not impossible i guess, and it's the milk, cheese, and any meat sort of things I'm wondering about.

[memoo]

you can use UHT milk, it doesn't have to go into a fridge before you open it. I thought kids would turn their noses up at it but i don't think they even noticed the differents.

Meats a tricky one really, you can always get tinned ham, cornbeef etc.

Tinned pasta, sausages, veg, you can even buy tinned stews and stuff but not sure what it tastes like though.

If all else fails just buy yourself a job lot of pot noddles

[Fennel]

We take frozen food with us, it takes about a day to unfreeze in the cool box, and keeps the chilled stuff cool. Things like veggie sausages (not meat). Cheese will be OK in a cool box, it may sweat a bit but it'll be perfectly edible.

[bamzooki]

Ok - liking the frozen food, corned beef etc ideas.

Just not sure I can bring myself to tackle UHT milk - but I guess I might have to.
I should think that there must some opportunity for restocking in transit between the 2 shows, even with pony/trailer!

If only I'd known what I was letting myself in for when I agreed to DD participating in Shetland Pony Grand National this year......

[Troutpout]

I'm taking it that it's a non-electric cool box?
If so..cook something.. ie..bolognaise sauce and then freeze it before you go..it will keep everything else cool. Freeze the milk too.
Are there any facilities at all?.Is there some way you can refreeze some extra blocks somewhere? or someone you could ask? if so..it's plain sailing.
I reckon you will fine for the first 4 days if you cook and/or freeze some items. Then maybe manage for the last 2 days after relocating with basics and eating out.

[bamzooki]

Franly I wasn't aware there were such things as electric cool boxes.

How are they powered?

[flowerfairy]

You can usually plug them into the cigarette lighter socket in your car, so they keep everything cool while driving. you can then buy an adapter to fit the lighter plug bit and then into a conventional electric socket.

We have one and it's great for camping and at christmas or special occasions when we need extra beer cooling space.

[amner]

Very brave

UHT is grim, but if the children are desperate they will drink it !

[redwino]

I freeze cartons of fruit juice and use these instead of ice packs. They stay frozen for a good while and then you can drink it!
i think tinned food would be best for longer stays though.