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…

Some ideas:
will the family drink UHT milk? Because you could bring bottles of shelf stable milk to store in a cupboard and then only need the currently open and 1 more cooling down bottle in the fridge at one time.

Can you do any kind of awning using a tarp, a pole or 2, and maybe the van as an extra anchor point? Then you could use the BBQ regardless of weather.

and bbq doesn’t just mean expensive steaks etc - you could cook a whole chicken (look up beer can chicken or spatchcock chicken). You can make tin foil packets to cook veggies, or put chunks of veg on skewers (with chunks of chicken or lamb as the meat option among the veg). Burgers and a salad.

I need to do more thinking (and have a family event today) but will come back to you with anything else I randomly think of.

Or use tin foil trays, like ones you’d use to freeze meals, to cook things in a sauce or need some frying rather than direct bbq’ing, IYKWIM

Take 1x250g packet rice per person, these don't need refrigerating and travel well. Take a couple of packets of chorizo. 6 or 7 tablespoons chilli powder, dried parsley, thyme, oregano, lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin and salt and pepper & 2 tins of mixed vegetables. When you get to your caravan, chop up the chorizo finely put all of the ingredients in to a heat-proof bowl, mix well and microwave for around 7 mintues, stirring well around half way through. Serve with toasted flatbread. Voila, happy camping!