A vital part of going on a long off-road trip is preparing for the event ahead. This means packing, getting the vehicle ready, and, of course, having food ready to eat along the way. Meal prep is much more important than most people realise, and it’s often tempting to just buy cheap snacks to throw into the car before heading out. But getting proper meals ready makes all the difference.
Here we will breakdown what’s needed to properly prepare for any upcoming off-road events or trips that are coming up in the future.
Water
While most trip-takers will pack tea or coffee for their trip, and of course water is necessary to take, it’s a common mistake to simply not take enough water at all. Backup water may be lifesaving when the time comes, and it should always be a priority when heading out into the outdoors, especially if it’s for an event that’s fairly gruelling, like the Dakar. It’s also a good idea to always keep water in more than a single container, in case one gets a crack or goes back for some reason.
Nutritionally-Dense Foods
There are countless stories of people travelling out in the wilderness and having their vehicle break down, and then having to survive on a meagre selection of foods that don’t really offer much in terms of nutrition. One of the best foods to take on a trip is peanut butter. Not only is it extremely high in calories, but it’s also packed with protein and fat, making it a perfect food to keep a person going when there’s not much else around. Peanut butter is also extremely cheap and can be bought in bulk to take with. Having a large jar or tub of peanut butter to take along is a great idea, and it’s one of those foods that can be invaluable to anyone stuck with a broken-down vehicle,
Take Cooking Gear
Cooking on the road will eventually become a must, especially if the trip in question happens to be over a long period of time. This is why it can help to have some cooking gear available that can be used to cook any meals necessary. The choice here is almost endless, but some of the best items to take with include a food-grade steel pan and pot, a small, butane-fuelled cooker, and some silicon crockery, perfect for sitting back and enjoying Canadian entertainment while everything cooks. It’s best to avoid plastic where possible, as well as any aluminium cookware.
Take Fresh Food
Most people going on long trips will want to take MRE and long-storage meals, but this shouldn’t be the only source of calories. It’s worth packing fresh, whole foods too so that no nutrition deficiencies occur along the way. Fruits like oranges are a great example, because these can last for months at a time, and are packed with important vitamins such as Vitamin C.