Family Vacation Meal Plans
When planning your family vacation it is often easy to overlook the vital area of meal plans. It would be wonderful if we could eat out for every meal but unfortunately, most of us don't have the resources for such a luxury.
With a little planning and forethought you can put together a vacation meal plan which is not only budget friendly, but will provide you with good, wholesome, energy producing food. With all the money you are saving on meals you'll be able to spend more on those special holiday attractions you really wanted to see and do. The first step is to decide how long you will be away for. If you are going away for less than a week then plan a different meal for each day you will be away for. If it is longer than a week then you can repeat your meals. Now, think about your accommodation. Will there be kitchen facilities such as a fridge, freezer, microwave and oven? If so, consider cooking some of your family's favourite casseroles prior to your vacation and freezing them. They will keep in the refrigerator and simply require reheating in an oven or microwave. Are you camping? You will need to plan meals which don't require refrigeration. Again, pre-frozen food will last for a couple of days. If there is a supermarket close by you will be able to buy fresh food each day. Don't forget the barbecue! You'll often find them in parks and camping grounds. Keep in mind food for when you are traveling. If possible, give each person their own little cooler bag to hold a water bottle, fruit, dried fruit and nuts and other favourite snack food (cookies, small packet of chips, muesli/granola bars etc.). Replenish the cooler bag whenever you travel. Here is an example of how I set out my meal plan for a week away. | | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
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| Breakfast | crumpets | cereal | cereal | cereal | cereal | cereal | pancakes | | Morning Tea | cupcakes
fruit | muesli bar
fruit | popcorn
fruit | cookies
fruit | muesli bar
fruit | cookies
fruit | dried fruit and nuts | | Lunch | salad sandwiches | sandwiches with spreads | egg with salad | salad rolls | sandwiches with spreads | tuna and salad | soup | | Afternoon Tea | fruit cake | fruit cake | cookies | dried fruit and nuts | cookies | dried fruit and nuts | muesli bars | | Evening Meal | barbecue | baked potatoes with bacon, sour cream and cheese | stir fry | spaghetti bolognaise | tacos | meatloaf | cottage pie | | Dessert | fruit and custard | s'mores | cake and custard | meringues | fruit and custard | roasted marsh-
mallows | icy poles |
Here are some ideas to get you started in organising your own vacation meal plan. Breakfast ideas - Breakfast cereal and milk
- Crumpets with butter and spreads (honey, jam, peanut butter, Vegemite)
- Croissants with ham and cheese or spreads
- Breakfast burritos (cook bacon strips and eggs on a barbecue, wrap in a tortilla with cheese and sauce)
- Pancakes with banana and maple syrup
- Fried bacon, onion and tomato on toast
- French toast (dip thick sliced bread in beaten egg and milk, fry in butter) with honey
- English muffin topped with bacon and egg
- Hot chocolate, juice
Lunch ideas - Salad (lettuce, tomato, cheese, cucumber, sprouts, tinned pineapple, peppers, carrot) Serve with your favourite cold meat (bought from the supermarket) or eggs or canned tuna
- Bread rolls or pita bread with meat and sauce
- Sandwiches with favourite spread
- Barbecue lunch
- Salad rolls
- Toasted sandwiches
- Instant cup of soup
- Water, cordial
Main meal ideas - Barbecues - Meat (chicken, beef, prawns (shrimp),rissoles, sausages, fish, kebabs), salad, vegetables, potato salad, bread rolls
- Soup (cook and freeze prior to vacation)
- Hot potatoes (cooked in a microwave or oven or boiling water) topped with chopped, cooked bacon, sour cream and grated cheese
- Favourite casseroles precooked and frozen (for example, spaghetti bolognaise, chilli, chicken casserole, cottage pie, lasagne, meatloaf) Serve with boiled rice, corn chips, thick crusty bread rolls, salad, etc.
- Cooked pasta, favourite bottled sauce, frozen or dried vegetables (cooked with pasta), chopped tinned ham or bought cooked chicken (shredded)
- Stir fried chicken or beef strips with capsicum and cabbage, served with noodles and an Asian flavoured sachet or sauce
- Tinned spaghetti or baked beans on toast
- Fried rice
Dessert ideas - Tinned fruit with bought custard
- Cake and custard
- Roasted marshmallows
- S'mores (roasted marshmallow and chocolate between two graham crackers)
- Meringue nests with hazelnut chocolate spread, sliced banana and whipped cream
- Icy pole
In between snack ideas and traveling food - Fresh fruit
- Dried fruit and nuts
- Cupcakes (made ahead of time and frozen)
- Banana cake
- Fruit cake (keeps very well)
- Muesli/granola bars
- Popcorn
- Cookies
- Plenty of water to drink
Well, my friend, I hope these ideas have given you some 'food for thought' as you begin making your own vacation meal plan. Return to top
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