Minimalist approach to eating while traveling

  Spending little money on food while traveling is like the call to battle for my minimalist mindset . I actually get excited about finding the more nutrients and nightly meals you almost want to take photos of.  It's when you can find out how valuable planning around what you have and where you are able to experience flavor in nature, and even have dessert.

   Consider these things for preparation 

  Planning based on location. Taking in the area and access to stores as well as parks with grills to use. You can put together charcoal and beef at a seaside location and experience a cheeseburger in paradise. Knowing how much you can keep cool for a day or more. Basics of knowing your nearby options of refueling needs.

   Having an fire isn't the same as propane stove cooking. However you can make some savory meals in the wilderness with a stove. I consider my camp stove an essential part of travel experience. Either way have basic cooking gear and you will have endless possibilities of great meals with amazing views. One pot, pan, plate, cup ECT. Having a can opener, some utensils for cooking, spices. It does not take more than a milk crate of storage  to keep a kitchen set up.
 
   Fuel your activities. Planning based on what you are doing. Hiking all day or just cloud watching on a beach has different fuel costs. This is when you get to know what your body needs through experience, aka the classic cycle of trial and error. However it is obvious that a 20 mile hike will result in a difference in need to recover than a day of cloud watching. So plan accordingly to your energy expenditure. Making that some thing to be aware with will set up a good practice for you to find what us optimal for you.

  Having a good cooler. This can vary widely for what you enjoy and how much space you have. Some times having two small coolers makes more sense. Hard cooler for bulk of ice and a soft cooler for other things is a good option. Having a dry cooler for storage that could be used if need be.

   Food staples, survival fuel economy 

  I highly suggest always having at least a 3 day emergency supply of food and water. Always having peanut butter and coconut oil in stock as my go to minimal intake maximum calories, good healthy fats and protein. Having protein powder to mix in get allow you your daily needs with no cooking require. Even doing this once a day will help any one with fuel economy.

   Beans, and endless possibilities of protein. I definitely am a fan of black beans, and can get a can to be six soft tacos. Cooked up or raw onions, peppers, tomatoes as option to enhance. These ingredients go with other recipes or a canned salsa. Chick peas, white beans, pinto, chili. Hearty meals based on a can of beans.

 Meats/ cheeses/ eggs. The race of time with high reward. If you are cooking meat or cheese take careful consideration in regards to keeping cold enough. Alas, a half pound cheeseburger can be had hours later from a store. This is when knowing what you have access to helps. I will often hard boil eggs and keep in a Ziploc over ice and can judge some time left out. You can also prepare scramble with some onions and peppers ready for skillet in a Ziploc.

  Greens/ fruits . Keeping produce does require alot in regards to ice and storage, but you can prep and freeze some things to get a bit more time with vegtatables for stir fry, or fruit for a dessert. Since I have an inverter I can plug in my blender for high nutrient sense protein shakes. This simplicity helps get in slot and is great on a cool day. I can keep salad toppings in Ziploc bags and have kale, romaine,  or spinach over ice for a good full course evening meal. Keeping fruits, vary. A bag of gala apples I dip in peanut butter or cook with cinnamon and butter for warm dessert. Lemons or lines keep well and nice to add to water or many recipes.

   Rice/ potatoes/ pasta.  Good to go a long way, but often storage of food isn't a goal when out. These take longer to cook, or involve more preparation.  I don't tend to do much of these, but would be very beneficial for a small group. Cooking up a cup of rice then frying in coconut oil to mix with stir fry veggies and a few eggs is a loaded easy meal in a skillet. Sweet potatoes can be kept in foil after awhile over fire or charcoal, or mixed pineapple and brown sugar in a mash from stove. Pasta can be done for cold salads as well as chicken parmesan on the stove under the stars.

  The more you experiment the better you get, and continue to find ways to enjoy good food where ever you are.

Turning my SUV into a minimal RV

  You already have what you need 

     Having an SUV, truck, or van can create endless possibilities for a minimal RV conversion or set up. Having the same open road adventures as a full RV, but with much better gas mileage and easier to maintain. Having access to more places with an SUV allows me to sleep right on the beach,  at a trail head, or ingocnito if need be. Being able to provide shelter, a bed, food, water, and no yard work. You may already have what you need to hit the road. Basic essentials and organization have been the key things that I found after living out of my Honda Pilot for a couple of months.

   Essentials and functions

    Viewing the space I have I thought of tiny homes extreme, with the goal being to replicate living areas rather than mimick a smaller RV. Having 3 rows of seats that fold down gives me many options of space and different set ups.

   Front patio/ home office/ dining room. Sitting in my passenger seat with a great window view was like a front porch. Windows down, fresh air, cup holders, accessible snacks,  Having a large counsel area to store things also gives a small table top area that has been like my dining room table as well as desk and can fit my laptop. The rotation of views from the front porch are amazing, no more yard work looks good every where.

  Living room/ kitchen/ pantry/ laundry. With the second row of seating up there is a couch to lay down with a book and breeze, or watch something. A pillow or 2 and lean back with your feet up with all window view. Your hands in reach of the kitchen. I keep a cooler, several gallons of water, food and storage on floor board. Behind each seat there are pockets for storage as well. One holds cutting board, utensils, can oper, and various kitchen supplies. The other mostly hygiene and survival items. I also have a converter for plug in electric option, and a jump kit battery. Under seats for any needed hidden items. I have since gotten a campstove, it definitely opens many options of food and could be set up on a small portable table, or just any where outside. I keep buckets that can be used for hand wash laundry and nightly clean off before bed.

  Bedroom/ back porch. I use a twin size air mattress for a bed, and it also makes a great chase lounge with the back open. The bed is behind my driver seat side. It is easy to set up and store away. I have 2 pillows in which I fold sheets and blankets into and use as coushins for other spots. I have the single seat behind passenger up which is just like having that chair in bedroom. When the bed is away and the second row couch is in place I have the back porch with back open. I store my clothes on passenger side in the back. It creates an end table use, also on each side is small storage space from vehicle. I store lighting, batterys, rain gear, and preperation items. Many meals are had here. This makes a good spot for setting up to cook outside. Complete back porch feel.

   Rooftop patio. It took me about two weeks to realize my quest for tiny home amenities includes the roof top patio. I don't weigh much, and would not recommend this for every one in regards to safety. It was a good spot for me. Sunsets,  bright stars, full moon, a meditation area. Sitting for sunrise and thinking every thing I need is right here.

   Every item has a function, and a place it belongs. Being organized makes a big difference and allows you to enjoy the simplicity rather than be challenged. Knowing where every thing is because it has a place saves time. Every one will find what works for them as they go. Like having black bags stored in doors for window covers. A dollar tree trip can get you a good minimal start. Folding storage bins, great for storing clothes like drawers of a dresser.

   Treating your space like a tiny home includes cleaning, and with way less space it should not be a problem. Staying on top of this helps make it more enjoyable, it's just more comfortable with out clutter.  I wiped every thing down with a box of wipe all's. Throw away shop rags. I use vinegar in a spray bottle and learned that you can just clean the outside with this and not need water. Once a week or so I get to a vacuum. I keep a basket with plastic bags on the floor of my passenger seat and empty it any time I stop any where.

    There are so many amazing vehicle conversions videos and examples out there. I do want a 15 passenger van to do so with in the future. For now, I still have every thing I need already.  So I highly recommend trying to get creative with what you have and get on road.

 
   

Adventure for the weekend warriors

   Travel doesn't have to be an all or nothing option to enjoy. Consider the classic idea of a weekend getaway, the Sunday drive, even the hit and miss sense of adventure of field trips.
 
   Making time for what you enjoy will greatly increase your chances of enjoying life. Take on the challenge of finding somewhere new to go once a month. Despite where you live there are hidden gems of amazing sunsets yet to be found, a free camping spot with just the right view, and a place that you can get fresh apple danishes in the morning when you get gas. Memories of personal connection between you and the environment around you will only be found by experience. You can make this a monthly practice, and often on one tank of gas. Using a minimal approach to needs of amenities immediately opens your options. Spending as little as possible and getting as much as possible in regards to enjoying the moment. Gets you to think, what do you really need to enjoy a moment.You can give yourself different amounts of money to work with for weekend or day trips. I promise you want to see how much adventure you can get in a day for  $10, that you will have good times and endless possibilities of memories to be made in just that. See what $50 for a weekend can get, or how long can it get you. Think about the idea of my $20 weekend.

    Being resourceful is key to finding places to explore. Most of our destination choices are based around the activities we like to do, and the amenities we require. Those two factors are what really limit or free you, and are completely different for each person. You can have a year dedicated to hostels, couch surfing, dispersed camping, and know the options are endless. Look at what you like to do and there in itself offers a wide variety of ideas. Plan your lodging/ camping/ sleeping arrangements as well as your food options according to your level of comfort needed. Either way, be prepared and you can get far.

     Learning options near you. I always recommend checking out your state parks, forest land, city parks. I also like to pull up Google maps for ideas, or even better use a traditional atlas. I use freecampsites.net as my first reference as I will most always be camping out of Honda. You can check forest lands for free camping. It is completely worth planning ahead getting low cost camp sites with amenities while supporting park systems. You can also use hostels or one of my favorite sites, couchsurfing.org. Stay with hosts, just friends you haven't met yet. They also have meet ups and ways to connect with other travelers. It's nice to have some one you know next time you go some where. I have made some of my best friends from this site.

   So take on the challenge of what you can do in a weekend or a day. Encourage your friends and coworkers and share your experience with comments. Create space for enjoying the simple things.