Tinned ‘meals’ are SO expensive..

[Bubbless31]

So what on earth do you take camping?!

We have a campervan and go away for 10 days with 6 of us in the summer. We try to avoid shops as much as possible, to just enjoy the break, so historically we have made dinner from tins e.g.

Curry meal
Tinned curry x4
Pouch rice x4
Poppadoms
Naan
Mango chutney

Creamy chicken
Creamy chicken tin x4
Packet rice x4
Mushroom tin x2
Chicken stock cube

Spag Bol
Pasta 100g per person
mushrooms x1
carrots x1
Mince tin x2
Chopped tomatoes x2
Garlic granules

BUT THE MEAT TINS ARE SO SO EXPENSIVE. It’s stupid as they aren’t even that nice.

So what’s the alternative? Because I really feel like I’m missing something…

OP cant get to the shops! Why cant you read her posts?

Asda noodles start at 23p a packet. Soak in a little hot water for a few minutes.

Mattesons pork sausage (cupboard storage) - currently £1.74 (160g, enough for at least two)

Tin of beans and sausages - 56p.

Tin of ravioli - 84p

Tin of chicken meatballs and gravy - currently 98p

Tin of hotdogs - from 70p

Tin of tuna - 72p, sardines - 35p

Also see cheaper own brand lines of tinned tomatoes, soup, spaghetti, beans, sweetcorn, peas, potatoes, and green beans; and packets of rice, cous cous, mashed potato and cup-a-soups.

It's not everyone's cup of tea by any means but it brings costs right down, especially if you carry favourite condiments and seasonings with you in the car boot for familiar flavour, familiarity and feel.

Also, I know you say you don’t move the van some days, but is there a day you move it and could get even to a convenience store for some fresh bits or a bag of ice to help keep the cool box cool?

or get a camping solar panel to recharge a power bank that you could then use to plug in the cooler from time to time?

To add to my earlier post about organising a grocery delivery to the actual camp site. Where do you buy your tins of meat from? Here are some tinned meaty things/store cupboard ideas:

Chicken in White Sauce | ALDI UK
Minced Beef & Onion | ALDI UK
Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni | ALDI UK This tortellini doesn't need refrigeration. They are also have a 3 cheese flavour. Would they eat this if combined with a jar of Bolognese sauce?
https://groceries.asda.com/product/pies/fray-bentos-minced-beef-onion/910001110797
https://groceries.asda.com/product/tinned-meals/just-essentials-by-asda-chicken-veg-curry/1000383113916

Keep means as simple as possible. Eggs, tinned fish and cheese are stable and easy to store compared to meat, as is tinned refried beans etc.

I freeze everything that isn't stable, wrap up in a towel with freezerblocks before it goes in the cool bag.

You have to leave room for a little unfrozen milk, as a big bottle doesn't defrost for days using this method.

Maybe you could let us know what you have available - is there no fridge in the camper, and you only have a plugin cool box that drains the battery? Or do you have some form of fridge or a decent cool box (powered or not) that can keep some things chilled.

What cooking facilities do you have? 1 ring camping gas stove, 2 ring hob, 4 ring hob, oven, kettle, bbq or cadac, etc?

And apart from needing meat to make it an evening meal, do you have other restrictions? Any allergies? Any other refusals or must haves? So would salad with bbq’d meat work 1 night? Or are you restricted to the meals, or very similar ones, to your OP? Or are some of those special specifically because you are on holidays so you need to produce them? (Have some SENs in the family too..trying to clarify limitations, not criticise).

ChatGPT is definitely your friend here if you put in your requirements and ask it for meal plan ideas!

When we camp we have a really good cool box (not a plug in one) which keeps things frozen for over 24 hours and fridge cold for at least 2 days, usually a bit more so investing in a really good quality one probably is a good idea if you go away regularly. You could then make some frozen meals to take with you to cover day 1 and 2 to keep the cost down.

I am very lazy when it comes to camping and am happy to eat simply so things like:

Porridge or cereal with fresh milk (I'd take UHT as a back up if you can't get to a shop.)

Eggs. Either scrambled egg in a wrap, egg on toast or combine with tinned potatoes and chopped onion for a cheap tortilla.

I don't mind tinned chilli con carne with packet rice but agree it's become really expensive!

Hot dogs from a jar

Bacon sandwiches the first couple of days if living out of the cool box.

Baguette or crackers, cheese, salami, olives, grapes, apple etc

Nachos. Bag of tortilla chips, grated cheese, jar of salsa, jar of jalapenos etc. Whatever you want on them really!

Tuna pasta as some dried pasta, tins of tuna and tinned sweetcorn will all be relatively cheap.

The shelf stable gnocchi or tortelloni with a jar of pesto or pasta sauce would likely be a lot cheaper than tinned meat.

Thanks for so many replies- I will try and respond to as many comments as possible!

AI is a really good idea, I’m not sure why I didn’t think of it… I might have a tinker.

Family size- 2 adults, a 19 year old, a 17 year old, a 12 year old and an 11 year old. All with healthy appetites after a day at the beach! So basically 4 adults and 2 pre- teens. Unfortunately the quantities were correct, as I copied and pasted them from my notes page I use for planning!! There would be outrage if there wasn’t enough food- as a hiking/ beach digging/ wide game playing active family, you don’t really want to skimp on dinner if everyone’s hungry after a busy day.

We have a mini fridge in the van, and take a plug in cool box. We typically have a lot of fresh salad veg that we store in the cool box for lunches. And the fridge has things like milk and sandwich meats. But we could look at reworking it.

We have a 2 ring gas hob (which is tricky when feeding as many as we are.. a blended family now using the van that was purchased for 1 adult and the younger 2 children!!) we also have a kettle, bbq for days when possible (mainly meaning we have made it to the shop a good drive away and bought some eye wateringly overpriced bbq food!) and a sink, if that’s any use!

The van has solar power and a leisure battery, but when it’s cloudy it struggles to keep up with a fridge, an electric cool box, the lights and phone charging! No electric hook up available- or I would happily just get another electric cool box!!

We avoid constipation with a lot of salad veg at lunch, and lots of ambient fruit!!

No shops or pubs. I’m not sure Jesus is weeping about our catering for a holiday! It’s a remote field on the Welsh cliff path. 2 minute walk to a remote sandy beach, no one as far as the eye can see.. well worth the lack of pubs and shops!

Dairy free (for 1, can occasionally make different for them if meal is dairy!) meat needed for dinners, no baked beans, everyone hates tinned potatoes- that’s about it for dietary restrictions.

So many brilliant ideas of food here- thank you. Deffo going to experiment at home with how long the electric cool box will keep pre frozen food edible for, I honestly hadn’t really considered that as an option. I’ve been making a list of the other food/ recipe suggestions, and will road test them at home and roll out the successful ones. Thank you all.

I have no idea on cost but (tinned) corned beef mixed with mash and branston pickle then fried make the corned beef equivalent of fish cakes! I guess if you wanted to reduce the number of pans required you could make mash with dehydrated potato (Smash). Im not sure on the price but they often have a good range of tins in B&M and Home Bargains.

If you have a really good cool box, you could buy dry ice. Google for tips as to how to get the best use of it.

Eat in a pub?

That’s a great suggestion for someone feeding six people who is finding tinned meals too expensive. Eating out will definitely be cheaper. You’re a genius @SnowFrogJelly

Notoriously cheaper than tinned curry, yes.

If you have electric hook up take a slow cooker and just pop stuff in and turn it on every morning

As others have said, pre make and freeze a curry / chilli etc and reheat. You won't even need to freeze the day one meal - just have it in a cool box. We used to camp loads and would do exactly this.

We'd also treat ourselves to a pub meal out or fish and chips once or twice even when we didn't have much money, because camping was such a relatively cheap holiday.

If I'm going away on holiday the last thing I want to be doing is eating worse food than at home!

As per the post from OP which is about 5 above yours, she doesn’t have an electric hookup, otherwise there wouldn’t be an issue.

Lots of good tips here!

For 3-4 days camping with a decent gas stove and a basic cool bag, I tend to pack frozen meats eg sausages, kebabs, some milk, butter and cheese. Feta and Halloumi both hold up well. Also take UHT milk for day 2 onwards.

Some tins of chickpeas or other beans, tinned fish, precook grain pouches, pitta breads.

Veg that can be enjoyed cooked or raw or that cook quickly like courgettes, red onions over white.

Garlic, lemons, olive oil, couple of herb/spice mixes.

And as others have said would buy local produce, eggs etc to top up if needed.

For snacks we take fruit, nuts, cereal bars, crisps etc.

I find it easier to do this than fully planned meals, but would us ingredients that go off quicker first.

Buying rice in packs is costing you a lot. Buy a bigger bag and cook a large portion for all of you.

Have a trip to an Indian supermarket / grocery shop for poppadoms and curry and chutney.

I have a vacuum packer, I use it for portions of meat before freezing but they do extend the life of fresh food by 3 to 5 times the normal, I think it cost £20 or £25 and obviously you need to buy the bags / roll but I think it might be worth the investment.

I like to make home made pickles and chutneys, I have to admit I have only ever 'canned' fruit and veg but I know you can do so with meat. Obviously you would have to spend time in the kitchen ahead of your trip and buy the jars but you would get better quality meat / meals.

Reduce the draw on your solar panels by taking power blocks with you. They can charge a phone a couple of times on one charge. I give them as Christmas presents to teens. (Though the tinned food may be cheaper!)

Also you can get solar powered lanterns. See if Aldi do theirs again this year.

Can you divide and conquer with meals?

If NT members of the family will eat something else cheaper, but just as tasty and quick, and save the more expensive stuff for the ones that can't?

Both mine are autistic with different dietary needs. ones just changed and I am going to have to rethink meals for holidays. (How to transport dozens of eggs?)

Agree - I really wouldn’t bother with pouch rice, must be way more expensive than buying normal rice. If you cook with absorption method it’s very suitable for camping and easy to add nice spices / herbs / flavours etc eg just add a stock cube to the water, or lemon juice / herbs etc.

I hadn’t actually considered just cooking rice as I would at home, I don’t think it would be that big a gas issue on the hob either.

I do think some of this is that I’m so used to camping with my children, the younger 2, by myself that actually it was no bother a few years ago cooking a tin or two- it’s escalated rapidly and I haven’t managed to keep up!

I promise I’m a very competent cook at home 😂

Cooking rice is easy. Rinse, bring to the boil, stir and take off the heat. It will cook on its outside quite happily. Cover it with a towel or blankets for added insulating if you feel the need. I use the knuckle method to measure water.

https://www.seriouseats.com/how-does-knuckle-method-for-rice-work-8721408

The AI menus on the first page are absolutely grim.

I take sausages camping also had a roast pork last time 😊

If the camper is a bit small for you all anyway; take an extra car, that someone can use to get to the shops? You wouldn't need to go often, but you'd have fresh food and enough for everyone to not feel hungry.