This thread is inspired by a comment from @mdarden1x on another thread, mentioning that some grocery stores will sell a precise quantity of spices so you don’t have to buy a whole bottle to make one dish. Despite decades of cooking I never came across this and was thrilled at the prospect! Looking for the recommended stores will inspire me to cook more and eat sandwiches less.
It occurred to me that with all the sitters out there it would be fun to start a thread of cooking and dining tips and tricks for sitters (I did search for such a thread first, but could not find one). Please make these tips POSITIVE, fun, enjoyable, tasty ideas that make your sits more comfortable and enjoyable and save complaints, worries, etc. for other threads.
I’ll start: One of my tips is to always travel with a days’ worth of “backpacker” meals.
You know, those freeze-dried things that weigh almost nothing but provide a full meal just by adding boiling water. I also carry an immersion heater and a lightweight mug for heating water. I rarely have to use these but they have saved my behind on more than one occasion: When trapped in an airport with a flight cancellation and all concessions are closed, or when arriving at a sit in a remote area and I need time to get my bearings before lining up groceries. I particularly like the breakfast things, like oatmeal, and the stew-type packets for a heartier meal.
These are freeze dried and vacuum packed so last for years. Since they are so lightweight and compact they have a permanent spot in my suitcase. In the unlikely event I do have to use them up I just order a replenishment to be sent to my next sit (or stop by an outdoorsy store to pick up a replacement).
How about all you sitters out there - what are some tips and tricks you’ve learned to ensure you are well nourished but not weighed down when moving from place to place?
(stock image added by Forum team so we can add this discussion to our Featured Topics )
We always arrive by car and do our grocery shopping beforehand, so we’re well stocked from the beginning. We cook a lot, because food — especially healthy food — is important to us.
As we mostly travel by car we have the luxury of carrying a cooler in the car so we stock that up with home made bacon, pastrami, smoked goodies and various stews that I cook before we leave and vacuum pack in meal sized servings. This saves us quite a bit as buying sandwich meats can be quite expensive. We also take our own spices, condiments and even my sous vide (#cookingtragic)
With TH I drive to the sits. I have retired in a state other than my hometown so it is exciting seeing the many areas in my new state and surrounding states. I know many won’t travel to the US now but if you are know there is a market called Fresh Choice. What you can get there is similar to what you get in delivery meal delivery services. My go to is arriving to the sit and getting these kits. My favorite is fresh salmon with two pieces for two meals. Comes with a vegetable which is usually asparagus and either rice or mashed potatoes. It comes with a small package of olive oil to put on the bottom of your pan. Comes with seasoning packets for the fish and vegetables. It is quite delicious. They also have chicken and meat kits. These are not frozen but made fresh daily by the fish and meat department. This way I don’t have to use the PP spices or olive oil. I even bring the baking pan as I like a small one to put in the fridge if I don’t finish one portion now giving me three meals from it.
This sounds so great! I looked up “Fresh Choice” and it seems to be only in Michigan? Regardless, your post inspired me to look for similar things in other states. For example, I searched, “Meal Preparation Services” and the city of my next sit and found dozens of options (it is in a major city).
This could even be a fun way to try out some of the local specialties; I searched the town of my last sit and found out there was a little deli/restaurant, just two miles away from the sit, that offered a weekly “meal plan” that you could pick up at their store on Monday afternoons. It was a set menu for the week, enough for two, and had lots of regional specialties. Cost-wise it was somewhere between home cooking and a sit-down restaurant, and hassle-wise it certainly would have been an easier way to food prep versus finding my way around an unfamiliar kitchen. Most of the meals were either “heat and eat” or required minor prep like pan frying.
I had a senior moment with my original post. It is called Fresh Market and they are in 22 states. Fresh Choice I mistakenly called it is a frozen not so healthy diet dinner. The power of advertising so that came to mind first, ha. Fresh Market is known as a healthier market. Food post Covid in the states is very expensive. They cost $19.99 a box kit. Supposed to be for two meals but for me it is 4. Enough fish and veggies for three meals. I save the rice and have rice and beans (beans inexpensive) with diced tomatoes for a lunch. This a a really good topic. Always liked to see or hear how people eat on the road or at sits.
If I’m coming off a late-ish flight, I buy food at the airport to go. That’s to avoid ending up say at a hotel, Airbnb or sit home and things nearby are closed or I’m too tired to venture out. If I end up not needing that food, I can always put it in the fridge, but I have it.
I usually order groceries delivered, but I check the host’s fridge and freezer first, to see what space is available. For deliveries, I have a regular shopping list and use a previous order to rebuy on a grocery delivery app, just adding or subtracting as mood strikes.
I usually get the address at the outset and check delivery apps, so I have an idea of what’s available restaurants wise. Even if I didn’t order from them, I’d be able to quickly see what’s near or near-ish.
I’ve gotten in the habit of packing a few packets of instant oatmeal. That way, I always have backup food in a pinch. The packets weigh next to nothing and come in various flavors.
Such a simple and great idea. I confess I typically walk right by the airport food because it is so expensive but you are absolutely right that it is better than having no food at all when you arrive at your destination. I once arrived in the middle of nowhere for a sit only to discover there was some random holiday in that destination, and ALL the stores were closed - even convenience stores. I survived on pretzels for two days. Airport food would have been such a blessing!
We mostly fly when sitting. Rarely do we drive to a sit, so this is complicated for us especially as we eat a predominantly plant-based diet.
If the sit is a long one, we have often ordered items upon arrival to be delivered.
I always travel with a set of flexible cutting boards that weigh almost nothing.
I also travel with my favorite taco seasoning and sometimes a bottle of herbs de Provence.
I used to travel with my favorite Cutco chef’s knife (in my checked bag) until it was confiscated at the train station in Spain
I will sometimes still travel with a paring knife if I’m not taking the train in Spain.
My husband will sometimes take his steel cut oatmeal with him.
The hardest thing for us is to find really good fresh produce (fruit and veggies, especially lettuce for large salads) - something we can’t take with us!
I also found an instant coffee that is actually not terrible. It’s a Starbucks instant and saves me if none is available upon arrival.
I travel by car, so I grocery shop. And request fridge and freezer space upon arrival. I rarely eat out when traveling. Unless there is something particular. Like in New Orleans. Or when I was on the gulf coast and wanted to try the local fish tacos. If cold, i have made a lot of soup, freeze containers and take those with me sometimes on a few sits.
What a fantastic topic @KittySitter I hope you don’t mind but I added a stock image so that I could include your post in our “Featured Topics” and give it some more visibility!
It’s no good. I saw this thread yesterday and a thought’s been niggling ever since: What is a NEGATIVE cooking or dining tip?
“I made this recipe last week and it’s disgusting. You may want to try it” ? … “Here’s a picture of the pan I always carry with me, after its handle fell off”… “It’s hard to get water to boil 20000 Leagues Under the Sea..” …?
Well, I was trying to avoid a litany of complaints about how hard it is to cook in a strange kitchen, or stories about arriving to a pantry devoid of even salt and pepper, etc. But learning how to boil water 20000 Leagues Under the Sea…now THAT would be cool
I don’t know where you are located, but in the USA, supermarkets which sell spices in bulk include Winco and Sprouts.
Trader Joe’s is a great place to shop if you are cooking for only 1-2 people as things come in smaller packages.
I always carry nuts for urgent food cravings, and we bring our own ground coffee and collapsible silicone drip cones and filters, so all we need is hot water to make coffee.
There are a couple of food blogs that I love as they provide weekly menus with shopping lists. We shop once and this feeds us for 1-2 weeks since most of the dinners are designed to feed 4 people (and we are only 2 people):
Skinny Taste is completely free. My favorite; lots of variety.
Budget Bytes has monthly menus broken down into weeks with shopping lists and they charge a small amount, I think $12 USD. They offer omnivore and vegetarian menus.
yes to silicone cone and filters for coffee. Then I don’t have to deal with any fancy coffee makers. Have my own kettle too since one sit did not have one and I ended up ruining a pot with plastic on its handles. Not sure what I will do if I travel by plane and don’t have my stuff.
The little immersion heaters are great and cost only about $15- typically available dual voltage (so can be used all over the world), and take up almost no space. The KEY is to NEVER - not ever - heat it in a dry cup; it will short out. And be sure to get the kind intended for tea or coffee. There are some large ones available intended for bathtubs or farm watering equipment! You definitely do not need one of those, which would likely short out all the power in the HOs home. I’ve gotten looks of envy from fellow travelers when I heat up some water for tea while waiting for a delayed flight (I would offer to share but I’m not excited about the possible germ transmission since it is immersed it in the cup after all…)
I’m with you one this one. If I’m driving to the sit, my favorite coffee, Melitta cone and filters plus foamer and kettle come with me. I dislike the waste of Keurigs and am afraid I’ll screw up others’ coffee makers. If I’m flying I just take the Melitta cone and filters.
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I hope you don’t mind but I added a stock image so that I could include your post in our “Featured Topics” and give it some more visibility!
I’ve gotten looks of envy from fellow travelers when I heat up some water for tea while waiting for a delayed flight (I would offer to share but I’m not excited about the possible germ transmission since it is immersed it in the cup after all…)