How to provision food for a trip

Everything you need to know when going remote

You’ve got a big trip planned, the maps have been opened, you’ve plotted the routes and the Instagram-able spots have been bookmarked. But now it’s time to fill the fridge. Whether it be an Esky filled with ice or an 85L upright fridge, it’s common to think that beer is a main priority. I hate to break it to you, but you’re going to need proper food. With food comes energy and with energy, you can get out of sticky situations.

There’s no denying, we pick the remote locations to avoid the crowds and get to that “never-been-before” spot. But this also means away from creature comforts and minimal facilities. Establishing just how remote you are venturing is a start. Also doing some research such as contacting others who have been in the past to find out track details and what necessities are available.

Step-by-step food organisation

Step 1. Making a menu

Don’t start with a shopping list, start with a menu. Meals that require simple preparation and have a quick cooking time. Think of meals you enjoy and can cook with your rig set up. No use for a pork roast if you have no oven and there’s a total fire ban. Ensure recipes include ingredients of similarity so you can buy in bulk. For example, if you are using mince for burgers, save half a value pack and use the other half for pasta. If you buy a value pack of snags, use half for bangers and mash and the rest another night for curried sausages. You catching on here? Saves you some of your hard-earned dollars buying bulk plus more variety of meals.

Step 2. Storage Space

There’s nothing worse than getting to the shops, over-buying food, and then trying to shove it in crevices only to find it at the end of the trip spilt everywhere. Or worse, mouldy! Figure out how much space you have in your rig. This includes pantry space and fridge space. A good way to think of it is a maximum amount of food that takes up a minimal amount of space.

On one of my most recent trips with fellow writer, Josh Leonard, we took two vehicles. This meant deciding if we wanted to keep both fridges as fridges or have one as a freezer. The choice, in the end, was keeping Josh’s fridge filled with the majority of cold beer and packaged cold produce such as jars and proteins. As for mine, it was kept as fresh produce such as vegetables and fruit (I like to tell myself this was pure genius rather than it being a must because of Mr Big Rigs 10’ lift and 35’s which made it a pain for my 4”11 butt to get into every day). If beginning from scratch, ensure you have containers for produce that fit in your drawers! There’s nothing worse than driving a track all day and realising your flour and coffee have formed an alliance due to torn packaging.

Step 3. Write a shopping list

Take each meal on the menu and list all the ingredients needed to make them. Remember you made those meals simple and versatile, so some ingredients may serve a dual purpose. Categorise into two sections: fresh produce and pantry produce. This helps if purchasing fresh produce at a later date or updating once you reach a town.

Step 4. Go Shopping

Don’t shoot the messenger fellas, but if you and your misso are eating on the trip, I highly suggest you join her down at the shops. This way you both know what is being bought and stored. Ladies, it might add an extra hour onto the shopping trip but it’s well worth it in the end as no one can be blamed for the amount of “stuff” you bought (talking from experience here).

Step 5. Pack and store correctly!

This step can be as thorough as you like, personally what has worked best in the past is, fresh produce bags in the fridges to store fruit and veg for longer. If bags of chips or bags of salad, make a pinhole to remove the air. If you think products will spill, pop, tear or explode, take the extra mile to place them in a container or repackage it in a zip-lock bag. It’s excessive but better safe than sorry!

If you follow these tips, you should be left with a menu and a stock-take list. Putting in this type of effort will allow for more time to enjoy the serenity and brings ease when it comes to mealtime. If you want to know what equipment and spare parts I personally provision for a trip, you can leave me a comment below.