Road Trip For Beginners: What Kind Of Food Should You Prepare?

Road trips are fun and exciting. In fact, it will be the most popular type of travel this summer for the majority of Americans. When road tripping, it doesn't matter where you are headed or how far you go. However, all adventures require planning (and perhaps a backup plan, just in case.) 

Meal planning is one of the things you need to consider when going on a road trip. Plan all three meals but consider trying out a couple of restaurants too. And while you don't need to pack everything ahead of time, it helps to have the right tools so you can cook almost anything. 

In this article, we'll talk about what kind of food to bring on a road trip and whether or not you should bring a mini-fridge or a portable oven. 

Meal Planning Like a Pro

Eating is part of your road trip adventure; it's something everyone looks forward to when taking a break. While bringing a cooler can help you store road trip food, that might not be the best option, especially when you're going on a long trip. 

What we recommend for road trip beginners is to bring a mini-fridge AND a portable oven? Why? You have more road trip food options with these two devices.

A mini-fridge allows you to bring healthy food and snacks while out on the road for extended hours, while a portable oven allows you to heat and cook food. You'll feel more at home with these two devices, and you have control over what you consume during the entire trip. However, do make sure that you have a reliable power station to power up your devices. 

Road trip food ideas:

You can store and cook almost any kind of food with a fridge and oven. Below are healthy food options you can take with you on a road trip:

Fruits - They are not only delicious; fruits are packed with antioxidants and fiber. Fruits also kind keep you energized. Consider bringing bananas, oranges and apples, and store them in the mini-fridge. 

Peanut butter and protein bars - Do you need an energy boost? Both can help stave off your hunger. Peanut butter is excellent when you're packing bread or bananas. They are also ideal snacks, especially when taking your little ones with you. 

While you can get store-bought protein bars, you may want to prepare healthy bliss balls excellent for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They're pretty healthy, and you can keep them for a week in the fridge. 

Nuts - Nuts are good sources of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Pack some almonds, walnuts, pecans, and cashews with you. Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are also good options. 

Vegetables - It can be easy to forget your veggies when going on a road trip. But if you have a fridge, you can have some fresh veggies. For example, baby carrots are excellent for snacking. Consider filling up your air-tight containers with bite-sized vegetables for a healthier option on your trip. 

Sandwiches - These are easy to prepare. You can make peanut butter sandwiches, egg & cheese, tortilla wraps, or guacamole and hummus. 

Want hot meals on your road trip? You can prepare taco meat and heat it in the portable oven. Pack cheese and tortilla, and you're good to go. 

Consider making some breakfast burritos and heat them in the oven. It may take a while to heat them, though, when frozen. 

You can also buy frozen meals like orange chicken and pasta. Store them in the fridge and heat them in your oven. 

Breakfast options:

• Dry cereal
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Bagels
• Muffins
• Yogurt
• Donuts
• Pop-tarts
• Breakfast bars
• Croissants
• Overnight oats
• Chia Pudding
• Instant oatmeal
• Yogurt pouches
• Ham and cheese
• Granola parfaits

Lunch options:

• Premade sandwiches
• Pita pockets
• Energy bars
• Cold pizza
• Chicken wraps
• Pasta salad
• Premade salad in a jar

Dinner options:

• Cold rotisserie chicken
• Premade pasta salad
• Pickled veggies
• Greek salad
• Pizza cupcakes
• Quesadilla

Planning your meals won't only let you save money. It also enables you to choose healthy food options for your entire family. 

Road Trip Food Tips

1. Avoid buying bottled water while traveling. Bring refillable mugs and bottles instead. You can fill them up when you're at your hotel. 

2. If you're cooking, don't forget to bring food thermometers to ensure food is cooked to the proper temperature. You need this when you're cooking meat and poultry. 

3. You can bring comfort food too! Chocolates, chips, and cookies are all-time favorites. Consider getting these, especially when you're traveling with your children. 

4. Pack a lunch box for your kiddos. Include bite-sized vegetables, fruits, and mini sandwiches for them. 

5. Leave room for eating out. Research a couple of restaurants that serve your favorite food. 

Don't Forget to Pack a Portable Power Station

Going on a road trip is an adventure. Who doesn't want to see new places and even meet other road trip enthusiasts? However, planning is important when going on a road trip. While making an itinerary is essential, it's just as important to also plan what you need to bring. In addition to meal planning, we suggest that you also consider bringing the right tools and equipment.

Do you intend to bring a mini-fridge and a portable oven on your road trip? Then you need a power station to use these devices! And that's where our Oupes Portable Power Stations come in. You can power almost any appliance with our power station, and full recharging is only within three and half hours. If you're looking for a trusted and reliable power station then you need these. Contact us for more information!