Following day packed lunch ideas with no fridge

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

I am travelling somewhere the day before an event. I'll be staying in a hotel with no fridge or ability to heat anything other than a kettle. No food shops will be open near the hotel, and the event has no onsite or nearby catering. What can I take for a packed lunch which would be safe the following day?
Usually at this time of year im happy to leave marg, ham. cheese etc overnight in the car boot and make sandwiches . Or pork pies, pasta salad etc But I won’t have a car with me this time. plus will need to repeat the same later in the year when it would be too warm for that so need ideas for then too.
I once took one of those pasta and tuna lunch pots with a foil lid and it was vile. I considered taking a flask and pot noodles, but that’s not really something I'd normally eat. And maybe a couple of tea cakes and some marg. I’m sure marg will be fine by the window overnight but wouldn’t want to risk meat or cheese.

I will take fruit. I’d appreciate any other ideas else I can see me scoffing crisps, cake and biscuits all day as I won’t be having breakfast at the hotel.
Thank you

@Mammyloveswine

I assume the hotel has a restaurant? Can you ask if they could provide a packed lunch?

That would be a great solution but it's a travelodge or similar so I think it's unlikely.

Merchant Gourmet do pouches of cooked lentils and grains which keep at room temperature until opened. You could buy more than one and mix them.

Alpro do little pots of chocolate soya desserts which in our house are known as gloop. They taste better cold, so I keep them in the fridge, but they don't actually need refrigeration and taste fine eaten at room temperature.

Assorted nuts, or fruit/nut mixture, preferably not salted?

Oatcakes and a jar of tapenade. I don't think that would come to any great harm not being put in the fridge after opening.

I am fairly gung ho about this kind of thing, so in winter would have no qualms about taking a small pot of hummus with me. I think it would be fine out of the fridge unopened for 24 hours or so. Eat with oatcakes, crackers, breadsticks or pitta/flatbread.

A whole carrot would be absolutely fine out of the fridge, if you are OK eating them unpeeled. Carrot sticks in a little sealed tub would probably also keep well out of the fridge for a day or so. I'd be less sure about more watery things like cucumber, peppers and lettuce. Tomatoes would be fine. I don't keep tomatoes in the fridge so know they keep for a while at room temperature. Your main issue there would be transporting them in something that will keep them safe from being squashed.

Soreen malt loaf doesn't need butter (in my opinion). I like the banana version.

If you do take teacakes, I'd split and butter them at home and put them in a box or wrap in clingfilm for transport.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Merchant Gourmet do pouches of cooked lentils and grains which keep at room temperature until opened. You could buy more than one and mix them.

Alpro do little pots of chocolate soya desserts which in our house are known as gloop. They taste better cold, so I keep them in the fridge, but they don't actually need refrigeration and taste fine eaten at room temperature.

Assorted nuts, or fruit/nut mixture, preferably not salted?

Oatcakes and a jar of tapenade. I don't think that would come to any great harm not being put in the fridge after opening.

I am fairly gung ho about this kind of thing, so in winter would have no qualms about taking a small pot of hummus with me. I think it would be fine out of the fridge unopened for 24 hours or so. Eat with oatcakes, crackers, breadsticks or pitta/flatbread.

A whole carrot would be absolutely fine out of the fridge, if you are OK eating them unpeeled. Carrot sticks in a little sealed tub would probably also keep well out of the fridge for a day or so. I'd be less sure about more watery things like cucumber, peppers and lettuce. Tomatoes would be fine. I don't keep tomatoes in the fridge so know they keep for a while at room temperature. Your main issue there would be transporting them in something that will keep them safe from being squashed.

Soreen malt loaf doesn't need butter (in my opinion). I like the banana version.

If you do take teacakes, I'd split and butter them at home and put them in a box or wrap in clingfilm for transport.

Some lovely ideas thank you. I was wondering about hummus, I agree that should be ok. Tapenade also a good idea - need to go and browse the aisles I think! The grains idea appeals as it'll be a long day just to grace and something that resembles a meal would be good. I know I'm probably overthinking this and could eat crisps and cake all day with no I'll effect but I do like my food !

So do I, and actually I enjoy a challenge like this! Good luck.

Some excellent ideas!

I'd take sliced cheese, crackers and a tub of olives, could vary this for multiple days with different cheeses, pickles, chutney etc. Doritos/celery/carrot/peppers and a jar of salsa.

I'd also have no problem eating things like pork pie, sausage rolls, pasties, quiche etc. that have spent a while at room temperature.

I'd also have no problem eating things like pork pie, sausage rolls, pasties, quiche etc. that have spent a while at room temperature.

I wouldn't either if I'd taken them out of the fridge a few hours earlier, but it will be about 24 hours between taking stuff out of the fridge and eating lunch and for me that's a bit too long.

Sandwiches wrapped in foil
Fruit
Salad pots from the supermarket
A slice of cake in a Tupperware box
Protein bars
Truffles

Hummus won't last out of the fridge very safely in my opinion.

Would tinned sardines on crackers be too whiffy? They’re so portable and don’t need a can opener. Filling too.

@languagelover96

Sandwiches wrapped in foil Fruit Salad pots from the supermarket A slice of cake in a Tupperware box Protein bars Truffles

That's the sort of thing I like - but I'm not sure what sandwich filling would still taste ok and be safe after 24 hours out of the fridge?

@Totallydefeated

Would tinned sardines on crackers be too whiffy? They’re so portable and don’t need a can opener. Filling too.

I used to buy sardines when travelling as a student! Brings back memories. I do love them but I think a bit wiffy as will be around others. Would be fine on other occasions so will keep in mind, thank you.

@feliznavidad2

Hummus won't last out of the fridge very safely in my opinion.

Food safety is my primary concern so will give that a miss then!

Baby Bell cheese is fine out of the fridge for a day.
Croissants last well in a sealed plastic bag or box.
Pots of custard or rice pudding, or jelly or fruit are all available in long-life form.

I’m intrigued as to where you’re going which is simultaneously so remote that it doesn’t have any food options at all while also popular enough to merit a Travelodge!

Tin of no drain tuna and smallest tube of squeezey mayo? Pack of bread stuff of choice - bagels (get pre sliced) pitta bread, thins or wraps. All pretty easy to make there and then we take this a lot for picnics in the park to save the pre prep time

I have a permanent lunch box I always take to work as a back up it has

Flapjack or individual wrapped madeline
Almonds in a small pot
Raisins
Peanuts
Rice cakes
A drink
I add fruit too

If I forget to bring my lunch I have this bag as a catch up

@Seeline

Baby Bell cheese is fine out of the fridge for a day. Croissants last well in a sealed plastic bag or box. Pots of custard or rice pudding, or jelly or fruit are all available in long-life form.

Custard/rice pots are a great idea, thank you. Am a bit nervous about cheese out of the fridge for so long, I had serious food poisoning once and a cheese sandwich was the only thing I'd eaten that others hadn't so rightly or wrongly makes me nervous!

@SimonedeBeauvoirscat

I’m intrigued as to where you’re going which is simultaneously so remote that it doesn’t have any food options at all while also popular enough to merit a Travelodge!

Ha ha. I'm sorry it's not that intriguing, and not that remote. Issue being I won't have a car with me, and event starts before supermarkets & food outlets are open (it's on a Sunday). I've already checked all that out hence starting to think about what I might take that satisfies both my appetite and my fear of food poisoning!

Packet of tuna. Small, new jar of mayonnaise that you open onsite. Bread

I’m really perplexed at how a hotel can sustain itself somewhere with no food available in the vicinity. Also how an event can regularly occur in a location with no food.

Where on earth are you going? Are you absolutely sure there are no shops or cafes, even if not restaurants? No option to call in Just Eat?

I'd take:
A porridge pot and some blueberries
Some little oranges
Some quinoa with spring onions, beetroot and chickpeas
Nakd bar
Crisps
Hot chocolate sachets

I’m really perplexed at how a hotel can sustain itself somewhere with no food available in the vicinity.
There is, but nowhere open to buy lunch stuff at the time I need to leave the hotel on a Sunday morning.

Also how an event can regularly occur in a location with no food.
The majority of attendees will get up very early and travel on the day and bring stuff with them as food is taken little and often throughout the day. I think some venues for these events have found food provision not profitable.

And you can’t pop out for 10 mins during a break to pick something up? Or ask a fellow participant to bring you some stuff? There’s no takeaways for dinner the night before?

Even the most exotic travelodge I've been to has some sort of petrol station within a few miles, handy for all sorts of on the go snacks.

I travelled for a week at uni with no fridge glots of tinned tuna, sweetcorn, baked beans with bread or crackers - that was 20 years ago but have a look down that aisle in the supermarket - there's loads of shelf-rather-than-fridge options now.

I'd be OK with cheese left overnight. Grapes, cucumber, carrots, strawberries are all OK if kept airtight and protected. Frit bars. Cake. Bread sticks, cheese twists or crackers.

When we go on an overnight (often use Youth hostels these days) I freeze a couple of packs of fruit juice - big 1l ones, or the lunchbox size with the kids. Stick those in a cool bag, and properly insulated they take over a day to defrost, which has kept many-a day-2 picnic chilled.

I'm not sure what sandwich filling would still taste ok and be safe after 24 hours out of the fridge

Peanut butter and Marmite
Peanut or other nut butter
Marmite
Dairylea or similar, with or without Marmite or chutney/relish/pickle
Nutella or jam or honey or marmalade

Even the most exotic travelodge I've been to has some sort of petrol station within a few miles, handy for all sorts of on the go snacks

Not very handy when you're not in a car!