DoE food recommendations, pot noodle not allowed

[Batceanera]

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?

Don’t forget the Kendal Mint Cake!

@Batceanera has yours gone this weekend too? I’m a little bit concerned about how cold it is! We have camped before in this weather but that was with proper thick coats and lots of extra blankets.

His bag is so heavy! He’s small and light for his age so it was already 25% of his body weight with just the tent, sleeping bag/mat and a change of clothes in. He possibly has too many snacks, hard to find the balance between making sure they have plenty and not weighing the bag down too much! I think he’s packed snickers, porridge bars, malt loaf, cereal bars, fruit and nut mix, pepperami, cheese strings, beef jerky, jelly babies and fudge as well as his meals and some hot chocolate! I basically made sure we had an array to choose from and I think he’s taken some of everything. At least he won’t be hungry!

Just a note when I did DofE (though many years ago ) we only had one trangea between 6 so all had to eat the same meal

We took the tiny soup pasta you can buy as it cooks in 5mins and is denser. Though you can get quick cook versions of normal pasta now.

From memory the pot noodle was due to nutrition reasons, but can't quite remember.

Things like strawberry laces were good for quick energy whilst hiking

@Batceanera

We already have hot choc powder and bacon jerky. This will be a massive learning experience but they will defo enjoy.

They have underestimated how much they eat and drink.

Don't know whether they need sun cream or a wooley hat. It's going to be a cold one.

Take both (sun cream and wooly hat).

Army Ration packs?. About £20 each but would last 2 days easily. You might not need the extras like water purification tablets etc tho

Having just complete training to be an expedition supervisor for DofE the supervisor is failing the team.

Your child should be planning his meals especially for the Silver award.
Mummy should have no input.
Completely not the point.

Why is he doing DofE? What are hey getting out of it? If you sort food for them what are they learning?

Step back

Water is the one thing supervisors are allowed to replenish for the team. Most campsites will have potable water available.

My teen is on dofe as of today also - snow is forecast. Their group sorted food between them, a random selection of stuff and I doubt it'll be enough but fingers crossed it will be. Drvit card loaded for the m4 mcdonalds stop off on the way home on Tuesday!!!!

They forgot their lunch for the first day and their water bottle. Oh well.

We had a text. They ate cold curry because there was not enough time or equipment. They don't care and are having a marvellous time.

I'm very organised, have packing cubes and mini toiletries to manage regular overnight trips with work. They are happy to lob spare pants and a t shirt in a carrier and are good to go. You can't put an old head on young shoulders they just have to find their own way.

@Batceanera
You've had a text! No reception where my teen is - we'd been pre-warned by the dofe leader. it's killing me
I'm going with no news is good news...

@YotkshireLass, no news IS good news. I wasn't expecting a text.

We had a social.media post saying the expedition had arrived and a reminder of pick up time.

@Batceanera

They forgot their lunch for the first day and their water bottle. Oh well.

We had a text. They ate cold curry because there was not enough time or equipment. They don't care and are having a marvellous time.

I'm very organised, have packing cubes and mini toiletries to manage regular overnight trips with work. They are happy to lob spare pants and a t shirt in a carrier and are good to go. You can't put an old head on young shoulders they just have to find their own way.

The irony of saying ‘they have to find their own way’ on a thread where you’ve asked how to sort out your child’s DOE food that he was meant to organise himself

A text? In my day, mobile phones were strictly verboten. The group was permitted to take one for safety purposes, stored switched off in a tamper-proof plastic bag that must be shown intact to the assessors at the end of the trip. (!) (This was considered archaic even at the time.)

Eldest DC is on expedition this weekend and they have to have their phones sealed in a tamper proof bag so they can prove they haven't used them. I am feeling very jealous of those of you getting texts. I won't have a clue how mine is doing until he's on the train home. Also means there won't be any photos as none of them own a camera other than their phone.

I'm not sure why they have their phone. It was a good night text.

If other people decide to have zero input to any planning, that's totally fine. Even if we could afford a limitless budget, that would meet all the kit requirements, we would still have a conversation.Thanks for all of the ideas and information. It was helpful to know they should have access to water and how this works.

The £26 Wayfayer selection recommended by school is expensive on top of the kit list. They are unlikely to eat this food so it would be wasted. I will mention your ideas for next time.

Our DC do not have walking boots, walking socks waterproof trousers and all of the other recommend kit beyond clothes. I want DC to have every opportunity they are interested in. We do not have spare funds for this to be possible. Ideas for budget, nutritious food that can be carried on expedition is much appreciated.

@Pommelegible your DC's snack list is impressive.

Cous cous. From Aldi. Sachets are about 40p or buy a large packet and spoon it out with some dried herbs or spices and sultanas.

DD is doing DoE. Organisers made a snotty comment about kids not having basic equipment. I pointed out that we live in an inner city flat and haven't got anywhere to store stuff nor the need for garden things.

@AWombleScorned she didn’t say she was sorting it all out for them, she asked for ideas. There’s no harm in discussing it with them and giving them alternative ideas to the ration packs suggested? There are threads on here all the time for camping food ideas or self catering holiday meal ideas, dinner party menus. Sometimes it’s nice to get ideas from a wider pool of people

Just curious- are any of those who are allowed phones doing their D of E via Scouts? Round here, it seems that the council and school run ones allow phones but Scouts don't. Might be as our Scouts are generally very strict about not allowing phones on usual camps etc.

Ours is school/Urdd run DofE and phones are discouraged.

Go Outdoors have vacuum packed food for reheating, my son took these when he did his DOE

Okay so there are 20 conditions set out by the DofE for an expedition to be assessed as a success.

1. The team must plan and organise the expedition; all members of the team should be able to describe the role they have played in planning.
2. The expedition must have an aim. The aim can be set by the Leader at Bronze level only.
3. All participants must be within the qualifying age of the programme level and at the same Award level (i.e. not have completed the same or higher level of expedition).
4. There must be between four and seven participants in a team (eight for modes of travel which have tandem).
5. The expedition should take place in the recommended environment.

Bronze: Expeditions should be in normal rural countryside – familiar and local to groups.
Silver: Expeditions should be in normal rural, open countryside or forest – unfamiliar to groups.
Gold: Expeditions should be in wild country (remote from habitation) which is unfamiliar to groups.

1. Accommodation must be by camping or other simple self-catering accommodation (e.g. camping barns or bunkhouses).
2. The expedition must be of the correct duration and meet the minimum hours of planned activity.

Bronze: A minimum of 2 days, 1 night; 6 hours planned activity each day.
Silver: A minimum of 3 days, 2 nights; 7 hours planned activity each day.
Gold: A minimum of 4 days, 3 nights; 8 hours planned activity each day.

1. All expeditions must be supervised by an adult (the Expedition Supervisor) who is able to accept responsibility for the safety of the team.
2. Assessment must be by an accredited Assessor. At Bronze level only, the Assessor may also be the Expedition Supervisor.

10. Expeditions will usually take place between the end of March and the end of October. They may take place outside this period, if so, non-camping accommodation options should be considered.

Training and practice
11. Participants must be adequately trained to safely undertake a remotely supervised expedition in the environment in which they will be operating.
Bronze: Teams must complete the required training.
Silver: Teams must complete the required training and a practice expedition of a minimum 2 days, 2 nights.
Gold: Teams must complete the required training and a practice expedition of a minimum 2 days, 2 nights.
During the expedition
12. All expeditions must be by the participants’ own physical effort, without motorised or outside assistance. Mobility aids may be used where appropriate to the needs of the participant.
13. All expeditions must be unaccompanied and self-sufficient. The team must be properly equipped, and supervision must be carried out remotely.
14. Teams must possess the necessary physical fitness, first aid and expedition skills required to complete their expedition safely.
15. Groups must adhere to a mobile phone use policy as agreed with their Expedition Supervisor and Assessor. This agreement should also include use of other electronic equipment.
16. Participants must behave responsibly with respect for their team members, Leaders, the public and animals.
17. Groups must understand and adhere to the Countryside /Scottish Outdoor Access, Highway and Water Sports Codes (as appropriate).
18. Participants must plan an appropriate expedition menu, including cooking and eating a substantial hot meal on each day. This is optional on the final day.
Post expedition
19. Participants must actively participate in a debrief with their Assessor at the end of the expedition.
20. At Silver and Gold level, a presentation must be prepared and delivered after the expedition.

If I was assessing your child's expedition as anything other than a practice they would be deferred.
They are not meeting conditions 11,13,15 and 18.