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Original poster

DoE food recommendations, pot noodle not allowed

122 replies

Batceanera · 29/03/2022 00:06

Does anyone please have any ideas for reasonably priced food which can be heated up for Duke of Edinburgh' trips. I'd rather it be vacuum packed than dried because it will be easier to cook. Meals will need to heated in boiling water (I think).

DC can be fussy and I am not worried about eating really healthily, they do that at home. They can take apples, they don't really eat crisps and will drink water.

Amazon sell chicken and rice food packs, they are very expensive. Maybe a tin of curry and a pack of rice would do for a meal?

OP posts:
SourMilkGhyll · 29/03/2022 00:19

Noodles or couscous based meal would be very quick and easy. Perhaps add in some cheese? Or soup?

SourMilkGhyll · 29/03/2022 00:21

Rice would take quite a while to cook. Tinned curry & tinned potatoes? Though would be very heavy.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 29/03/2022 00:24

You can buy vacuum packed meals.

Which stage is it for?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
BookkeeperBobby · 29/03/2022 00:27

You can get vacuum packed food to reheat in pouches in the major supermarkets. Usually near the tins though you may have to hunt for it, ime they always move things like that around. Sliced fried potatoes and bacon sort of thing, or pouches of ready made chickpea curry, beans and sausages type of thing. They're ideal for carting around in a rucksack because they're light but won't split and you don't need a tin opener.

Original poster
Batceanera · 29/03/2022 00:30

Thanks for your responses.

They are away two days and one night. The vacuum packed meals are at least £5 each, which seems really expensive for what they are.

Rice pouches could be cooked and reheated. They have been recommended dried food you add water to and boil. They will not eat them.

OP posts:
BookkeeperBobby · 29/03/2022 00:32

This kind of thing. It's in a pouch in a box - just take it out the box:

www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-bacon-onion-potato-saute/023681-11484-11485

MarmiteCoriander · 29/03/2022 00:36

You buy fish in parsley or cheese sauce which is in a bag that you boil. DC could take is frozen, wrapped in foil or cooler bag and likely defrosted by the evening to cook.

Aldi or lidl were selling vacuum bags for sealing bags and removing the air and the machine that removes the air. You could then just their favourite meal- curry/rice, stew, chicken and veg and they cook/heat it in the sealed bag once there.

Have you spoken to the leaders or other parents for advice on what people have taken in previous years?

Itsagrandoldteam · 29/03/2022 00:41

My DS and his friends took bacon, sausages and beans between them. It was really hot when they did their expedition, but the food was fine, it only had to keep from morning until around 5pm. I think the following morning they had beans again, breakfast biscuits and cookies. Not the healthiest but they survived.

alexdgr8 · 29/03/2022 00:42

i would be careful of eating re-heated or previously cooked rice.
can lead to food poisoning.
there is a specific organism re rice. was warned about it years ago.

MsInsomniac · 29/03/2022 00:42

Mines just done it. He arranged with the bigger group to bring a big bag of pasta and a jar of sauce between them which they cooked and ate together. I made him sandwiches for first day and cold pizza wrapped in foil for second, hot cross buns butter and jam individually wrapped, brunch bars, biscuits, brownies. All carbs and stodgy which they recommend to give them energy. They had pans so could fry stuff as well as boil if needed.

alexdgr8 · 29/03/2022 00:44

tins are not that heavy, for just a couple of days, with big strong lads.
the beans with little sausages in are useful, and tasty.
or tins of fish.

alexdgr8 · 29/03/2022 00:46

Marmite, thread title says pot noodle not allowed.
guess it's too easy.

BookkeeperBobby · 29/03/2022 00:51

(The meals I've linked to are £1.35/£1.75 btw.)

AdaColeman · 29/03/2022 00:52

Ocado sell the Look What We Found range, they are £3 a pack, and could be heated up in water.
John West do a range called Creations of dishes like spicy salmon & lentils that are ready to eat, they are about £2 a pack.

Another idea is a tub of Idahoan instant potato to eat with frankfurters.
Make up the potato with boiling water and heat up the frankfurters in boiling water.

Do they have to cook something as part of the test, or can they take ready to eat things like Rio Mare tuna & bean salad tubs?

MarmiteCoriander · 29/03/2022 00:55

@alexdgr8

Marmite, thread title says pot noodle not allowed. guess it's too easy.
Ahh sorry, I missed that. I wonder if the others where you add water are allowed- or just no pot noodles?
Shabtipup · 29/03/2022 01:02

When I go camping my fav meal is tinned meatballs in sauce and the packs of cooked rice

etulosba · 29/03/2022 01:04

Rice would take quite a while to cook.

The microwave stuff doesn’t. Just boil it in the bag instead.

VanillaSpiceCandle · 29/03/2022 01:09

Hot dog sausages? If they can heat them by emptying the brine and replacing with boiling water and leaving to heat.

dipdye · 29/03/2022 01:19

Just do a meal, freeze it, then take it, it'll be defrosted by the time it's being heated up? Spag bol, chilli etc

Original poster
Batceanera · 29/03/2022 01:23

Lots of good ideas Flowers

@BookkeeperBobby that's what I was hoping to find.

Great point that one the first day, food needs to be ok for 6 hours. I think tinned hotdogs and meals would be ok, I'm worried about the weight.

I'm absolutely not supposed to talk to other parents or teachers. No idea why pot noodles or quick noodles are not allowed. They don't normally eat them but would in a pinch.

OP posts:
Taytotots · 29/03/2022 02:20

Shouldn't they be planning the food themselves if it is DofE? I thought that was the point.

NewYearSoon · 29/03/2022 02:40

@Taytotots

Shouldn't they be planning the food themselves if it is DofE? I thought that was the point.
Yes, and making their own sandwiches!
sashh · 29/03/2022 02:44

Tins are not that heavy to carry a couple, meatballs, sausages and beans, all day breakfast.

Do you have an army surplus store? You can sometimes get ration packs from them, you can also get them online.

evaq8.co.uk/Ration-Packs/ration-x-self-heating-ration-pack-menu-a.html

You can also get the meals separately, so a 24 hour pack then a couple more 'wet meals' or a couple of cans.

It's not the cheapest option but the ration packs have lots of snacks in and the main meal is self heating.