It can be difficult to determine what food to pack for a road trip. This is a compiled list of things that I personally found difficult or easy to store without a running refrigerator, but rather, a cooler & ice.
Make sure you have a fridge thermometer in use at all times & throw out anything that looks or smells concerning. Keep your cooler under 40 degrees for food safety.
EASY TO STORE & EAT
FRUIT
- Apples
- Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime
- Banana
- Tomato
- Avocado
- Blueberries
- Berries
VEGGIES
- Carrot
- Celery
- Spinach
DRY GOODS
- Nuts
- Cereal
- Trail mix
- Granola bars/ Protein Bars
- Oats
- Lentils, beans, rice
- Pasta/Ramen
- Canned Meat/Beans/Soup/Fruit
- Dried Fruit/Nuts/Trail Mix
- Dry cereal/oatmeal/granola
- Crackers/ bread/tortillas/bagels
- Fruit in plastic cups
- Nut butters/honey
- Boxed mashed potato
- Spices (my biggest issue with spices has been storage space)
Cold
- Milk – will store well if the temperature is consistent
- Yogurt – eat within 2-3 days
Frozen:
These items will last for a day or 2 max, but will help keep your other items cold rather than using ice
- Spinach
- Corn
- Broccoli
- Fruit
If you’re concerned about the temperature, you can wrap your cooler in bedding during the day.
DIFFICULT TO STORE & EAT
- Melons: prepare to eat them in one sitting OUTSIDE the van. (Thank me when your van is not sticky)
- Watermelon (get seedless)
- Cucumber (will shrivel within 2 days if in a cooler w/water)
- Bread: find somewhere to store where it won’t get smashed & eat within a couple of days.
- Eggs: you’re asking for a disaster
- Fresh Meat: eat deli meat within 2 days max & try to use any bacteria-hosting foods immediately
Most likely, you’ll be visiting the store often if you’re traveling a lot (if only for the restroom) You will likely need to replace your ice every 24-48 hours depending on the temperature.
MORE RESOURCES for your food and road trip needs
Non-Perishable Foods For Van Life and How To Store Them – SimplyVanLife.com
Food for Thought – The Best Food for Vanlife – Off Track Travel
The Ultimate Guide to Vanlife Cooking: Recipes, Tips & More – Chasing The Wild Goose
Can You Put A Mini Fridge In A Van? – Van Camping Life
How to Live Without a Fridge –
Best dry food storage ideas for Sprinter conversion vans – Van Living 101
