Realistic non-cooler based menu planning

[TesticleMary]

This is a godsend for a preplist for me
Thank you to all who contribute to it

[LPC]

This thread is so good it should be linked to for every survival guide.

[TinBasher]

All great ideas some of which I will borrow.

Has anyone tried pancake mix to which you just add water? Not sure what it's made of - probably some sort of petroleum product.

Also nachos and salsa - great for midnight munchies - also great when shared with new friends.

[Grumpy Otter]

I can vouch for the “just add water” pancakes. Used them a couple of years out there. The easiest is to bring the pre-measured mix in a plastic jug that you can add the water and shake until it is mixed. Then pour on the griddle and enjoy.

[Canoe]

... Has anyone tried pancake mix to which you just add water? ...

I can vouch for the “just add water” pancakes. ... The easiest is to bring the pre-measured mix in a plastic jug that you can add the water and shake until it is mixed. ...

A jug is a neat trick I can't recall seeing used before.
Makes me think of the Chinese food cardboard tubs with lid.
The playa dust has all sorts of not nice things in it, that you don't want in your food.
(note the rule of large camps needing to keep coolers up off the ground)
For canoe trips, I have pre-measured mix (of all types) into a ziplock freezer bag, sized for the volume of mix with water, then rolled up to pack before use.

[NikkiG]

The only thing I place in my soft cooler are sealed cheese sticks, Mixed salad kits, Lunch Meat, advocado cups, maybe chicken salad/shredded chicken, precooked bacon, a bag of boiled eggs, a package of hot dogs... I dont do any fish because I would have to live with the garbage odor. anything that needs to be heated I ask to use the grill or I heat them with the power of the sun...JS. Sometimes I just eat them cold... I ziplock my ice to keep the food dry plus the icemelt is drinkable.


As for dry foods I tend to save stuff from my regular groceries throughtout the year for variety and I fly out with that small amount of food in my luggage so I can save money with my grocery list. Condiment packs are obtained from local restaurants throughout the year.

For breakfast
10 gatorade packets
2-3 pop tarts
4 tea packets
3 hot chocolate packages
3-4 power/granola bars
4 instant oatmeal packages
2-3 instant grits
ziplock bags of cereal that I eat without milk
a pack of small juice bottles (cranberry juice)
5 apples/Nectarines
a couple of caramel sauce cups.

Lunch/dinner (soup, salad or sandwich wraps)
Two long packages of saltine crackers/ritz crackers
a couple of boxes of vegan soups
Quinoa premade meal kits.
flat bread
Peanutbutter and Jelly cups
apple sauce in a jar
precooked bacon
a pack of small individual wine bottles or liquor bottles.
a pack of la croix

snacks
2 boxes of movie style candy
1 big pack of gum
fruit snacks/rollups
microwave popcorn 2 bags

[Strata]

I can vouch for the “just add water” pancakes. Used them a couple of years out there. The easiest is to bring the pre-measured mix in a plastic jug that you can add the water and shake until it is mixed. Then pour on the griddle and enjoy.

I have had good luck experimenting at home with adding powdered dry milk to Kodiak pancake mix and using only water to make it. I have tried the commercial just add water pancake mixes and they are way too sweet for me, so I'm turning to my own less sweet whole grain solution with the Kodiak mix.

I've also found that powdered coconut milk and turmeric latte spice mixes go together well rehydrated with hot water. I've added a little heavy cream powder for richness. I use one of those little handheld frothers to mix it well and it works like a charm!

[Toe]

Apples are handy. They last a while unrefrigerated. I eat everything except the seeds and stem so there’s zero stinky garbage.