Eating out can sometimes be the most expensive part of any trip, so this week I’m sharing some easy vegetarian meals that you can cook while traveling. Taking a few breaks from eating out on your next trip can save you money while ensuring your dietary needs are met throughout you trip. After all, no one wants to feel sluggish and tired while they’re traveling if they can avoid it!
The best cooking advice I’ve ever gotten was from a friend’s mom. She was a notoriously great cook, and she told me that the secret to cooking is to take a recipe and add more of all of the good stuff. For example, if you’re making chocolate chip cookies, follow the recipe but add a few extra chocolate chips. If you’re making a caprese salad, add in some extra basil and mozzarella. It doesn’t take much to make a big difference!
How can I eat healthy and cheap while traveling?
The key to eating healthy and cheap while traveling is to plan ahead as much as possible. Be sure that you’re staying somewhere with a well equipped kitchen, make some time while you’re traveling to stop at a grocery store, and familiarize yourself with basic cooking techniques.
What is “healthy” and “cheap” will vary from destination to destination, but in general you’ll want to be sure you’re eating enough vegetables, proteins, and nuts/seeds. I’ve included meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as some of my favorite snacks to help you in your preparation.
Why you should cook your own meals while traveling
There are two main reasons that I suggest you cook some of your own meals while traveling. First, it’ll allow you to stick to your travel budget, as eating out can quickly add up in most destinations. Second, it’ll allow you to balance out your diet, if needed.
I’ve been to Italy twice, and both times my entire group was fiending for vegetables by the third or fourth day because we ate almost exclusively carbs for every meal. We used meals at home to sneak in some extra veggies and give ourselves a break from the pizzas, pastas, and pastries we had throughout the day.
Whether you’ll need to balance out your diet is entirely personal and dependent on where you’re traveling. If, after a few days, you’re still feeling great from the food you’ve been eating, you probably don’t need to cook at home to make a dietary adjustment.
Likewise, there are some places you’ll visit where it’s cheaper and easier to eat out than to cook in your hostel. This probably won’t be the case in Europe, but it might apply to your next trip to Thailand. Always be adjusting to your body, your surroundings, and your budgetary needs while traveling.
What are the best foods to eat while traveling?
The best foods to eat while traveling are ones that will fuel your travels and allow you to have the best possible experience. I always try to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and nuts when I travel because I’ve found that they help me to have enough energy to enjoy my adventures. Try to balance this with sampling the local cuisine, as you’ll want to be sure to eat pasta in Italy and croissants in Paris.
My rule of thumb is that you’ll want to enjoy the local food anytime you feel excited about it or interested in trying it. If you’re feeling a bit fatigued with pizzas after a few days in Naples, you might want to spend a night or two eating in so that you can make a big fresh salad or veggie-packed pasta dish.
Some destinations will have more plentiful healthy options than others; that’s ok, just do your best wherever you go. Your goal as a World Traveler is to experience the destination and the journey as much as possible, so don’t worry too much about whether you’re doing it right.
Where you can cook when you’re traveling
Sometimes when you’re traveling, the hardest part is knowing where you can cook. If you’re staying somewhere like a hostel or an Airbnb, the answer is typically going to be “in the kitchen.” If you’re ever in a pinch, just use the desk or whatever flat surface you can find. Use a cutting board, paper plates, or even cardboard to prepare your food, taking care not cut yourself (if using a sharp knife) or damage the surface underneath.
Can I cook in my hostel?
Generally speaking, it’s perfectly acceptable for you to cook in your hostel. Most hostels will have a communal kitchen where you can make meals, and they’ll often have cooking basics such as knives, pots and pans, and basic oils and spices from previous guests who have left them behind.
If you’re planning to cook in your hostel, it’s always a good idea to double check the state of the kitchen before you buy ingredients. The overall cleanliness of the kitchen may or may not be acceptable to you, and it’s better to know before you buy ingredients for your dinner. If you know that you want to cook in your hostel in order to save money on your trip, be sure to check the reviews for any information about the kitchen or, failing that, email the hostel before you book to be sure that they have a communal kitchen.
Remember that hostels are typically locally fun businesses, so the amenities and standards will vary pretty widely from one hostel to the next. For this reason, you’ll always want to read the reviews carefully so you know what you can expect when you arrive!