Dealing with food while living in a van
I travel alone for the most part so stocking the shelves with food is a selfish process. I only need think of my own wants and needs. At times my son is with me though he tends to eat the same foods as I do. Perpetually skinny, I am also not a big eater so the quantities I buy may be much smaller than most. Unfortunately, I am allergic to most things natural (fresh fruits and veggies) which does limit me some.
While I do have a small 12v fridge in the van it is only a few cubic feet of space and is always on my mind as it consumes battery power. I could buy more batteries and solar panels to offset this problem, but I have found that the little fridge is not as necessary as I once thought it was. When I need items cooled, I simply use a small ice-chest (it fits in the fridge) and some ice. It is super cheap ($2 a week in ice) and consumes no battery power.
I have been turning more and more to dry and/or canned foods and moving further away from foods that require a freezer or refrigerator. I truly enjoy the ‘struggle’ my body and mind go through when lacking those luxury foods. It makes them much more pleasing when you do get to them. The first burger after a week without fresh-cooked beef is oh so good!
Obviously, you have to eat but we do not have to eat “out” every day. Dining at restaurants or fast food places can get very expensive very fast, and unhealthy too. I choose to grocery-shop just as I would if I lived in an apartment or house. The only major change is to focus on;
Quantity
We do not have the ability to carry hundreds of pounds of food, or multiple boxes of any type of food. Focus on those smaller packages. Even though they may cost a bit less in bulk, space is just as valuable when living… and eating… in a van.
Storage
As stated above, space is a premium when in a van. While a larger RV can carry all the food you want plus some, we usually only have a few small cabinets that we need to put everything into; clothing, bathroom supplies, and food. Removing bags of foods from box-containers, or repacking into zip-lock bags can save a lot of space as well as offer more freedom in where each item is stored. Just clearly mark each bag and you are safe to travel…
Here is a list of non-refrigeration food ideas
