The Power of Meal Prep Before Your Campervan Trip

Meal prep might not sound glamorous when you’re dreaming of wild coastlines and mountain drives, but trust us, it’s a powerful tool in your campervanning arsenal. Today, we’re diving deep into why prepping meals before you travel can save you time, stress, and money – and how you can do it simply and effectively.

The Spartan Rule: Prep Before You Roll
When you’re on the move, your focus should be on enjoying the journey, not stressing about what’s for tea. That’s why one of our top campervanning hints is this: always do a basic meal prep before setting off.

By planning your meals in advance, you can:

• Minimise shopping stops

• Reduce food waste

• Save fridge and cupboard space

• Spend more time adventuring and relaxing

Think about it: if you’ve already got a hearty stew ready to warm up, you can roll into a pitch at sunset and be eating within 20 minutes – no peeling, chopping, or pan juggling required.

How to Plan Your Campervan Meals
Start by sketching out a rough plan of how many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners you’ll need. Be realistic about your appetite and energy. Some days you’ll be happy with a quick sandwich; other days you’ll want a hot, comforting meal after hiking all afternoon.

Focus on meals that are:

• Easy to reheat or finish cooking

• Use minimal pots and pans

• Store well in your camper’s fridge or cool box

• Packed with nutrients to keep you energised

Top Prep-Friendly Meal Ideas

• Breakfast burritos: Wrap scrambled eggs, cooked bacon, and cheese in tortillas, then wrap tightly and freeze. Defrost and reheat as needed.

• Pasta salads: Cook pasta in advance, toss with chopped veg, tuna, or chicken, and a simple dressing. Great cold lunches.

• Chilli or curry: Make a batch before you leave, freeze it in flat bags, and reheat for a hearty dinner.

• Soup: Lightweight, satisfying, and perfect for those colder evenings by the coast.

• Overnight oats: Prep individual jars with oats, yoghurt, fruit, and seeds. Breakfast, sorted!

Storage Tips for Prepped Meals
Space is at a premium in a campervan, so smart storage is crucial. We recommend using:

• Reusable silicone pouches: Flexible, durable, and fit into any space.

• Stackable containers: Ideal for soups, stews, or leftovers.

• Cool bags: Supplement your van’s fridge with a quality insulated bag for non-essentials like drinks or veg.

Label your containers with what’s inside and when it was cooked. A little organisation saves you a lot of hassle later!

Shopping Smart Before You Go
It’s tempting to overpack food ‘just in case’, but remember – you can almost always top up along the way if you really need to. Focus on essentials and staples first. We recommend:

• Pasta, rice, couscous

• Tinned goods like beans, chopped tomatoes, sweetcorn

• Long-life milk or oat milk

• Bread, wraps, or crackers

• Spices, olive oil, salt and pepper

Once your basics are covered, you can add local treats from farm shops or markets en route, making each meal an adventure in itself.

Keeping It Fresh on the Road
Food hygiene is as important in a campervan as at home. Keep raw and cooked foods separate, use cool boxes wisely, and never leave perishable foods sitting in a warm van all day.
A handy Spartan tip? Freeze a few bottles of water and pop them into your cool box to keep everything colder for longer without taking up extra space. Plus, as they melt, you’ve got extra drinking water on hand.

Simple Campervan Cooking Hacks

• One-Pot Wonders: Limit washing up and cooking time by preparing meals that can be cooked entirely in one pot.

• BBQ Everything: A portable BBQ is a camper’s best friend. Burgers, kebabs, grilled veg – it’s easy and keeps smells and heat outside the van.

• Instant Coffee Upgrades: If you’re a coffee lover, don’t suffer with bad instant coffee. Pre-pack ground coffee and bring a cafetière or AeroPress for better brews anywhere.

Snack Smart
Never underestimate the power of a good snack, especially after a long hike or when you’re running low on energy. Good campervan snacks include:

• Trail mix (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate pieces)

• Protein bars

• Fresh fruit like apples or bananas

• Cheese sticks

• Crackers and peanut butter

Keep a few easy-access snack containers up front so you’re not tempted to stop for fast food unnecessarily.

Meal Prep Saves Money Too
One of the hidden advantages of meal prepping is that it keeps your budget in check. Roadside cafes, takeaway pizzas, and service station sandwiches add up quickly. By cooking even half your meals in advance, you’ll free up more cash for campsite fees, activity costs, or that cheeky pub lunch you’ve earned after a big hike.

Real-World Spartan Story
Long-time Spartan owners Liz and Mark shared their strategy with us: “We make a huge chilli and a veggie pasta bake before we leave. We freeze it all flat and stack it like books in the camper fridge. It lasts for days and saves us from feeling like we’re constantly cooking or clearing up. It also means when we find a stunning wild camp spot, we’re not rushing to find a shop or restaurant. It’s brilliant freedom.”