Planning your grey nomad adventure? Tips for cooking on the road

Grey nomads are itching to get back on the road, with their mid-year adventures up north put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak. But with restrictions slowly easing, more Aussies are packing their bags in preparation to set off on a long-awaited holiday.

But how do you manage cooking when shared kitchen facilities are banned? While caravan parks throughout much of the country have reopened for business, social distancing and hygiene rules mean things may look a little different this time around. For those used to free camping, it won’t pose much of a problem, but for others who usually make use of shared facilities, they might need some new recipes for their caravanning adventure. There are plenty of easy options for breakfasts, lunches and dinners – all of which can be made in self-contained caravans.

Breakfast

Breakfast is the easiest meal of the day. Even when shared kitchen facilities were open, people generally wouldn’t have to make use of them for breakfast. Most of the time the same meals you eat at home can still be had while on the road such as cereal, rolled oats or toast.

But, for those who want to change things up a bit, an omelette is a delicious choice. All that’s required is two eggs, some milk, ham and tomato. Mix all the ingredients together in a zip-lock bag and drop it into a saucepan of water. In around five minutes the omelette will be ready to eat.

Lunch

Sandwiches are an easy option while on the road, but they taste even better when toasted. For those who’ve got a jaffle iron at home, and can make room in the caravan for an extra appliance, it would be wise to bring it along on the holiday. Tinned spaghetti or leftover curry is great in a jaffle, or for those who want a simple option, ham and cheese is always a winner.

For those who’re allowed to have an open fire at the campsite why not try burgers? Simply portion mincemeat into patties and cook over the flame. Then serve on a bun, which can be kept in the freezer and thawed out when needed, with salad.

Other easy options include rice cakes, boiled eggs or tuna. Anything that can keep in the cupboard for weeks without spoiling is handy, especially for those planning on travelling in more remote regions where access to supermarkets is limited.

Dinner

Planning ahead is always smart when going on a caravanning holiday, some could end up staying in the same town for weeks, while others might take a detour along the way. Whatever the reason, having some back-up meals is a good idea.

If possible, cook some spaghetti, curry and taco mince before you set off and store it in zip-lock bags in the freezer. This will make it easy to thaw out on busy nights after a long day of exploring. And any leftovers from dinner can then be used in a jaffle the next day.

Alternatively, meals such as gnocchi and risotto are easy to whip up in a small space. Packet gnocchi can be stored in the cupboard and cooked in a saucepan in just a few minutes. It tastes delicious with some tinned tuna, canned tomatoes and parmesan. Meanwhile, a vegetable risotto is delicious with canned vegetables such as asparagus, dried mushrooms and vegetable stock.