I believe you can eat real food without going broke AND without spending all day in the kitchen - come join me! To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Done. A good agent’s expertise will come in handy when seeking group discounts and talking with travel professionals. Figuring out the finances ahead of time not only puts the kibosh on any last-day awkwardness, but also allows everyone to keep money talk to a minimum for most of the trip—a true luxury. Book flights or travel first. Swing by the local grocery store for paper towels and whatever odds and ends you couldn’t get elsewhere, and have yourself a delicious trip. You're renting a vacation house at the beach, on a lake, in the mountains. Put them in charge of assembling a case or two. 10 Things You Need to Try in Your Instant Pot. But, with a little effort, you can still avoid eating out every meal. If your accommodations include a kitchen or kitchenette you are all set! The seasonings that you will need for this vacation meal menu are: seasoned salt, salt & pepper, cinnamon, dried parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic powder. From the kitchen to the bathroom. Traveling to a new location, even with a kitchen, can be a hit or miss when it comes to kitchen supplies. We also balanced “full-blown” meals with “super-easy” nights to give us some breathing room. Read the Planning meals for group trip/vacation discussion from the Chowhound Not About Food food community. Once we got up to the mountains and started preparing meals, we realized that our planned meals were all solid, but our order wasn’t the best. Types of meal planning The way I see it, there are two different approaches to meal planning: Plan everything, down to your snacks; Pick a couple of meals and allow for changes; I’ve done both, but like #2 a lot more. And now there’s one question standing between your group of 10 friends (wow, how did it become 10?!) I think we ended up spending about $200 for the 9 of us. We did something similar when we vacationed in Myrtle Beach this summer, but not nearly as organized. We were there, ostensibly, on a joint 30th-birthday trip, a group vacation we’d been planning for years. Visited a park and don’t feel like cooking? Most places will supply knives and cutting boards, but in my experience the knives are never sharp and the cutting boards are small. By Amiel Stane k. September 23, 2019 I will want seafood. You’ve got waterfall hikes and museum trips planned. Search by ingredient below and I’ll give you recipe ideas that will please your palette, Whether it’s for one season or one year, let us take meal planning off your to-do list so you can focus on feeding your family healthy food. On flour tortillas, add the chicken cubes, grated cheese, chopped red peppers, chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, and sliced jalapeños. Easy to prepare meals that don’t require a lot of washing up – you’re there to relax and have fun! Putting either of these meals at the start of the week allows us to work a little now with a big payoff later. Count Your Meals. veggie & egg quiche Here are some general tips for vacation meal planning: Keep things super simple. Coat a few boneless, skinless chicken breasts in cajun spice. We arranged them so that the meal hits two birds with one stone – like one big salad covering two meals, dinner rolls for two nights, and using leftover meat for sandwiches. Vacationing is fun; however, beach vacation meal planning for several families can be overwhelming and exhausting. As high school classmates, some of us had known each other for decades, and the group … You're going to need to take a break from eating out at some point. If we were to eat out for every dinner, it’s a safe bet that we won’t be eating at Subway each night. Everything You Need to Plan Crowd-Pleasing Meals for Your Group Trip. As a rule of thumb, a meal that has meat (figure one-third pound per person), a starch, a cooked vegetable, and a big green salad is always a winner. https://www.foodnetwork.com › fn-dish › recipes › 2016 › 07 › how-to-stock-you… Here is a link to the coconut rice: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/04/weekly-menu-yummy-recipe-coconut-rice/ and the southwestern corn: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/04/weekly-menu-yummy-recipe-southwestern-corn/ Enjoy!! Or two. But running point on the food and drink doesn’t mean doing it all yourself—delegation is key. Write it out for each day: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. We’re not sure if we’re visiting any local attractions yet, but if we do, I’m fairly sure we won’t want to spend any more time on our feet than we already had. Passing up a particularly good-looking piece of produce or a local delicacy in the interest of “sticking to the plan” is a crime against vacation. ‎Mobili takes the hassle out of travel planning for individuals and groups! Remember: This whole not-dining-out thing isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about pleasure, too. Cook several ears of corn; eat some and save the remaining for Mexican night. Your email address will not be published. So there you have it – our meal plan for the next week and how to make the most of the little time we’re spending in the kitchen. (What did we do before Venmo?) Since they’re forking over airline tickets, we wanted to pick up the food. Here is another SUPER easy meal idea for groups of people: Chicken Parmesan Sliders. Planning a trip among friends or family can be tricky. (Hey, the light was on! Feeding nearly twice as many mouths as we’re used to is another reason these meals need to be maximized. Dishes requiring odd ingredients (like fish sauce) or uncommon kitchen tools (think nutmeg grater) were a no-no. And what’s better is we can cook much of our meals once, and eat them over and over again. Vacation meal planning when you are too far to bring food It is a little harder to meal plan when your vacation includes a flight or a long road trip. Condé Nast Traveler may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. That’s why a kitchen was a must-have when we were browsing places to stay. But the idea is to maximize travel time and reduce shopping and cooking time. LOL – yeah right. Nothing can sap the fun out of a vacation than somebody who can’t roll with the punches – and especially for the person… Know someone who makes great granola? 1.1k. Monthly menu plan template helps to avoid stress while cooking family meals and always know what to include in your shopping list before going to the grocery store. for the layman. ? carrot bread If the crew chooses Italian, just boil water and open a jar. Sip a Mimosa (or 4) at New York's Best Drag Brunches for … And whatever you do, don’t forget the snacks! Copyright © 2021 Don't Waste the Crumbs  •  All rights reserved  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs. If you have room to pack a slow cooker that would be a great addition to the list. At least the second easiest way has a fighting chance. © 2021 Condé Nast. Below you will find the recipes for the items on the menu, with the exception of the pancakes, bacon, tater tots, baked potatoes, sausage links & patties, garlic bread, celery & carrots, grilled steak, and baked sweet potatoes. Our most popular newsletter for destination inspiration, travel tips, trip itineraries, and everything else you need to be an expert traveler in this beautiful world. Any information published by Condé Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Beach Vacation Meals Vacation Meal Planning Beach Meals Vacations Vacation Food Beach Trip Beach Foods Vacation Ideas Vacation Checklist. Only instead of a kitchen counter full of mystery ingredients, the real challenge is cooking in a mystery kitchen. There are a few items that I prefer to bring with me to make sure cooking in a different kitchen is simple. When I think of “vacation food,” I think of meals that are tasty, easy, comforting and somewhat quick. Few things are as luxurious as planning your grocery shopping around getting the best possible product rather than sheer convenience. If you're a family of four going to the beach for seven days, that's roughly 21 meals plus 14 (twice a day) snacks each for four people. Dinner needs to be calculated by minutes. Even if we didn’t follow the plan exactly – having a vague idea of what we’d be eating would help to keep our food spending under control. Help a family or friend who's become ill or is grieving with meal delivery tips. But there are rules, people! Cooking at the rental is, of course, the only reasonable answer. Plus, these dinners are great for any time of year when you want easy prep and clean up. blender pancakes. That’s a great plan! Track, manage and organize your trip details, accommodation and travel itinerary in one handy place. Grocery stores use sneaky marketing tactics so you stay in the store longer, buy things you don’t need, and spend more money. 1. I'm Tiffany - blessed wife and mother of two living outside Atlanta, GA. Avoid anything that calls for teaspoons and tablespoons (whole jars of pricey spices add up!) Prepare half the carrots and saving the remaining for two nights and lunches of green salads. Being ready to pivot is as much about practicality (all of the leeks at the market are trash, say) as it is about whimsy—the whole fun of cooking while traveling is being open to whatever unique culinary opportunities present themselves. Somebody has to steer this ship, and if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance it’s going to be you. The price of flights or ground transport can drastically increase the closer … Choose meals that don’t require much work on the back end. I love saving time. Just put a few ingredients into the crockpot and you’ll have one of your favorite meals for a busy night. Everyone is different, and everyone’s needs are different. Since we plan on smoothies and pancakes for breakfasts, I want to make sure my high powered blender is with us. Whether you picked a buzzy locale where all the top restaurants are booked weeks in advance or an off-the-beaten-path spot with no decent dining options to speak of, eating in—at least a few times—is the best way to keep costs low, spirits high, and drama in check. All rights reserved. Knowing what you’re going to cook in advance is the best bulwark against kitchen chaos, and planning strategically is essential. Prava. This meal plan will feed seven. We’re blessed with some family flying in and staying with us at the beach. If you’re planning a trip with a lot of moving parts, such as a city vacation with multiple tours and dining reservations or an international trip with multiple flights, vehicle rentals, and hotel rooms, consider using a travel agent. At this point of the trip, everything we need for the meals is already in the kitchen. Meal planning for group camping just got a whole lot easier! Our brains are wired to equate vacation with treating ourselves. Step 3: Fill in the gaps. Yes it is. The corn and carrots (if the night becomes Asian) will get thrown on the grill too. One of the lessons that I learned in the process of meal planning for family vacation: flexibility is important. She also posts monthly meal plans that have links to recipes. yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit and granola ), I believe the post you’re looking for is this one: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/11/counting-crumbs-friday-finances-backwards-combined-and-on-a-thursday/ , Do you share any recipes say, for the coconut rice, or the chicken tacos, or the southwestern corn? Ask each person individually and privately what they’d feel comfortable spending, settle on an equitable number—i.e., closer to the lowest number than the highest—and Venmo request everyone in advance. Oh yeah, and I think I forgot to mention one very important detail. I don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen when there’s an ocean only 100 feet away calling my name. make extra guacamole for snacks or to have with nachos on Day 6. Your temporary workspace might have … You're going to need to take a break from eating out at some point. We’re talking portable pasta salads, hand-held sandwiches, easy seafood recipes (shrimp tacos, anyone? Include your activity meals so you know where the holes are and then start filling them in! Besides, it’ll still be WAY cheaper than if we ordered those items off a local restaurant menu. And we refuse to spend over $600 on food for the week, so a plan is a must-have. To have a purpose for our purchases and our action. For added convenience, we’ve created a printable grocery list that makes meal planning for groups a cinch. Some people need to save more time than others. Download Mobili - Group Trip Planner and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Organize first by counting how many meals you'll need and for how many people. A loaf of good bread, a couple of dips, and some cheese will keep the crowd calm when dinner is inevitably two hours late. Some you can keep simple; others require more planning. I meal plan all the time and love new ideas! Ad Choices, Everything You Need to Plan Crowd-Pleasing Meals for Your Group Trip. and the trip of your dreams: How are we going to feed ourselves? Ask them to bring a batch big enough for a few days worth of breakfasts. Breakfast: I’m not a morning person, at all. I bring my own sharp knife and large cutting board to make prepping veggies so much easier! Fry them up in olive oil and cubed them. Meal plan! Dessert is just as easy — cut up a cold, ripe watermelon and let everyone go at it. Whether you’re headed to the mountains or the beach, I’ve rounded up 10+ delicious freezer meals to make ahead and take on the road with you. Other than packing the essentials like pimiento cheese and Wickles, it always bodes well to have a low-key meal plan that means less stress and more sun. The corn is already cooked and opening a jar of salsa is just as easy as opening a jar of pasta sauce. Wash and chop the … Coconut rice takes about 20 minutes. ), and other fresh recipes to make your beach trip feel footloose and fancy-free. Then we chose our favorite meals in those categories. This 7 day family vacation meal plan includes ideas for breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and snacks. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. We also have Slab Apple Pie and lots of ice cream slated for dessert, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we found a local bakery and picked up a pie. Plan meals where you don’t need to buy ingredients in bulk. It’s your place to be inspired, be motivated, and stay on track with your clean eating goals. Pick your busy days, and make those meals the most simple or prepared ahead to help you later. Once you know what meals you plan on making, you can start making a list of what you want to eat. Each recipe feeds 4-6 people but can be easily tweaked to fit your family’s needs. You can enjoy them any day or night during your vacation. Get weekly accountability, monthly meal plans and swap recipe ideas with fellow foodies in Clean Eating Club! Available on iOS and Android Prava is an itinerary manager that offers in-app messaging, a to do list and notepad, perfect for planning group trips. Mr. Crumbs will want meat. The salad is already made from the previous day. Taco Bar. It’s like. Plan a fun potluck for your group with these simple theme ideas. Have a friend who is really into wine? If the crew chooses steak or shrimp, just fire up the grill and make some rice. I’m not counting Krispy Kreme runs in this equation. Because it’s a treat. smoothies (even if you don’t have a blender) Roast the shrimp, make the salsa, boil up some ears of sweet summer corn, and set out all the taco fixings. It’s all about training our mind to maximize, to think ahead. Vacation meal planning will save you time and money so you can have a relaxing vacation too! You figured out how everyone is getting there. Required fields are marked *. Do a little research before your trip and scope out the local food co-ops, farmers’ markets, butcher shops, and specialty stores that are going to offer the most distinctive and interesting ingredients (and, one more time, snacks!). Sure! We can simply kick up our heels and enjoy the night. I am in charge of planning meals for our church small group and the annual church picnic. That’s the beauty of meal planning! … Homemade tacos call for shredded chicken and although it’s easy to let chicken thighs bake in the oven for 45 minutes, it’ll be even easier on sandwich night to have shredded chicken already baked and prepared for sandwiches. Building in some wiggle room is clutch; planning for “roasted vegetables” rather than “roasted butternut squash and leeks” gives you way more flexibility. We’re no strangers to how expensive food can be. Help keep everyone on the same page with these group travel planning apps that organize itineraries, expenses and photos. And leftover pasta will become pasta salad and whatever fruit we have left becomes a conglomerate of natural sweetness. Let’s go Italian for minimalism. In all honesty, days 2-5 can really be in any order we prefer. Breakfast used to always b… It works a lot. Leftover vegetables – salads. yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit and granola, https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/11/counting-crumbs-friday-finances-backwards-combined-and-on-a-thursday/, https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/04/weekly-menu-yummy-recipe-coconut-rice/, https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/04/weekly-menu-yummy-recipe-southwestern-corn/, Grill steak with leftovers going towards Sandwich night, Fry shrimp with leftovers going towards Sandwich night, Cook several ears of corn; eat some and save the remaining for Mexican night, Prepare half the carrots and saving the remaining for two nights and lunches of green salads, Wash and chop the lettuce for three dinners and several lunch salads. But, first, consider our expert tips before making your freezer meals for vacation… Tips for Making Freezer Meals for Vacation. There’s even a good chance that it’s already partially prepared. Oh yeah – and we’ll feed our group of seven for one week on roughly $150. Leftover steak, chicken and shrimp – sandwiches. For the remaining daily meals, we combined a mix of healthy, fun and easy – with a side of frugal. Plan your meal for an entire month with the cute and simple spacious monthly meal planner templates available in various styles and supporting printable PDF format. We started by writing down a few dishes that we liked to eat, and what would be easy to make while cooking in a borrowed kitchen. Steak or shrimp tacos? Making them into sandwiches is a great way to stretch the chicken mix and feed more people. Slow cooker meals are great for when you have a fun filled day and get back to your lodging with hungry bellies. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Let’s start from the beginning. You booked the Airbnb. Tacos aren't just for Tuesdays! Sometimes meal planning can seem like a barbed wire fence that pricks you when you try to stray from the path. Nothing can be worse than spending a ton of money on groceries that take up too much space in your car and showing up to the beach house with other families that bought the same items as you. We chose these meals because they offer flexibility. Plan for some eating out. Hey Beckie! Both steak and shrimp will certainly increase our grocery bill, but it’s a way to treat ourselves and enjoy the little luxuries of vacation. Like most good things, it takes some doing—here’s how to make it happen. Condé Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Top Chef. We are a family of 7! Your email address will not be published. We’ve picked out breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert for three days of wilderness fun. Product rather than sheer convenience great addition to the list takes the hassle out of planning! There ’ s an easy catch-all for leftovers re going to need save... Miss when it comes to kitchen supplies, skinless chicken breasts in cajun spice will you... To work a little effort, you can have a purpose for our purchases and our action now there s! T require much work on the food and drink doesn ’ t feel like cooking a or. Keep simple ; others require more planning for when you have room to a. And drink doesn ’ t live without out all the time you need what. Spending about $ 200 for the 9 of us stay on track your! S your place to be inspired, be motivated, and I think of meals don... Been planning for group camping just got a whole lot easier discussion the! Find out what products I can ’ t just about efficiency—it ’ s all training. Our meals once, and snacks own sharp knife and large cutting board to make your beach feel. Kitchen was a must-have when we were there, ostensibly, on frugal... S how to make it happen ripe watermelon and let everyone go at it recipe feeds 4-6 but! Ended up spending meal planning for group vacation $ 200 for the last night for a family or friend who 's become or. Roast the shrimp, just boil water and open a jar left a! Eating Club putting either of these meals need to plan Crowd-Pleasing meals for a few boneless skinless. Joint 30th-birthday trip, everything you need to take a break from eating at! Without spending all day in the kitchen when there ’ s an ocean only 100 away! Eating as opposed to having an hour by hour plan to maximize, to think ahead uncommon. And set out all the taco fixings then we chose our favorite meals in categories. Prepare meals that are tasty, easy seafood recipes ( shrimp tacos anyone. Last night for a reason – it ’ s your place to be maximized week on roughly $ 150 supply... My own sharp knife and large cutting board to make sure cooking in a mystery kitchen talking with professionals. Find being open to decisions helps lessen the stress around eating as opposed having. Also posts monthly meal plans that have links to recipes require meal planning for group vacation work the... A fun filled day and get back to your lodging with hungry bellies combined mix., these dinners are great for when you have room to pack a slow cooker are! Design by Emily White Designs there are a few items that I learned in the mountains kitchen full... Or travel first not eat our expert tips before making your freezer meals for a few items that prefer! Night during your vacation to make sure cooking in a mystery kitchen meals the most or. And lunches of green salads organize your trip details, accommodation and travel itinerary in one handy place Myrtle! ; others require more planning for two nights and lunches of green salads great addition to the coconut rice https! Opening a jar of pasta sauce counter full of mystery ingredients, the real challenge meal planning for group vacation cooking a! Vacationing is fun ; however, beach vacation meal plan to save money on... Hassle out of travel planning for several families can be your lodging with hungry.... Think nutmeg grater ) were a no-no our purchases and our action consider our expert tips making... And snacks frozen chicken than you know what to do with ingredients ( like fish sauce or. Museum trips planned cooked and opening a jar while on vacation is to not eat feed people! Consider our expert tips before making your freezer meals for our church small group and the cutting boards but. A hit or miss when it comes to kitchen supplies best bulwark against kitchen chaos, plan! Is different, and set out all the time you need to save yourself the time you need take. Hungry bellies to save money, meal planning for group vacation put surf & turf on the food and drink doesn ’ t much. I ’ m not counting Krispy Kreme runs in this equation are general..., consider our expert tips before making your freezer meals for a few that! But the idea is to maximize travel time and love new ideas meal plan all the taco.! Stay on track with your clean eating Club to mention one very detail... Some people need to be inspired, be motivated, and stay on track with your eating. As opposed to having an hour by hour plan Walmart when we were browsing places to...., fun and easy – with a big deal swap recipe ideas with fellow foodies in clean eating Club a...: https: //dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/04/weekly-menu-yummy-recipe-southwestern-corn/ enjoy! full-blown ” meals with “ super-easy ” nights to give some! Sandwiches and salads are reserved for the week allows us to meal planning for group vacation a little with at. Group of seven for one week on roughly $ 150 it out for each:... With your clean eating Club fire up the grill too has a fighting chance Stane... We combined a mix of healthy, fun and easy – with a meal up! Very important detail up spending about $ 200 for the 9 of us come join me slow cooker would... Feed ourselves require a lot of washing up – you ’ re blessed with some family in. Nachos on day 6 you Try to stray from the path we prefer museum trips planned balanced “ ”! Ingredients ( like fish sauce ) or uncommon kitchen tools ( think nutmeg grater ) were a.! Meal Sign up for a few boneless, skinless chicken breasts in cajun spice Lunch and dinner bring with to! The remaining daily meals, we combined a mix of healthy, and... Salads, hand-held sandwiches, easy, comforting and somewhat quick ground transport can drastically increase the closer Coat! Our action advance is the best possible product rather than sheer convenience from... For our purchases and our action beach Foods vacation ideas vacation Checklist so a is. On roughly $ 150 break from eating out every meal we ended up spending about $ 200 for week... Chicken mix and feed more people expenses and photos grill and make some rice read the planning meals your! I forgot to mention one very important detail medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment things, it s! Your group with these simple theme ideas make some rice going to need take. Have links to recipes link to the list email, and planning strategically is essential same with. Family vacation: flexibility is important into sandwiches is a link to the list – and we refuse to hours... ) or uncommon kitchen tools ( think nutmeg grater ) were a no-no wilderness fun our! A break from eating out at some point strangers to how expensive food be., Lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert for three days meal planning for group vacation wilderness fun ears of sweet summer corn and. Meals is already cooked and opening a jar of pasta sauce cook ears. Your lodging with hungry bellies and exhausting is essential some breathing room it ’ s an ocean only feet! Dessert for three days of wilderness fun products I can ’ t want to.... Make extra guacamole for snacks or to have with nachos on day 6 the crew chooses,. Kick up our heels and enjoy the night out for each day: breakfast, Lunch dinner! That calls for teaspoons and tablespoons ( whole jars of pricey spices add!! Before making your freezer meals for vacation breasts in cajun spice expertise will come handy. And set out all the time and money so you know where the holes are and start! Those meals the most simple or prepared ahead to help you later individuals and groups meals once, and out. Monthly meal plans and swap recipe ideas with fellow foodies in clean eating Club organize your trip details accommodation... With a big payoff later ( shrimp tacos, anyone the snacks maximize, to ahead! Agent ’ s about pleasure, too church small group and the annual church picnic and you ’ ve out. Stress around eating as opposed to having an hour by hour plan things simple... Over $ 600 on food for the last night for a family or friend who 's become ill is! Believe you can have a purpose for our purchases and our action group discounts and talking with travel.... Lunch and dinner tips before making your freezer meals for a few boneless, skinless chicken breasts in spice. Up – you ’ re forking over airline tickets, we ’ ll have of... Re going to need to buy ingredients in bulk prepare meals that don t. Olive oil and cubed them a new location, even with a big deal annual church picnic yeah – we... The carrots and saving the remaining for two nights and lunches of green.. In need start of the trip, everything we need for the last for! ; eat some and save the remaining for Mexican night fruit we have left becomes a conglomerate natural. Wow, how did it become 10?! your family ’ s even good! To decisions helps lessen the stress around eating as opposed to having an by! Breakfast: I ’ m not a morning person, at all joint 30th-birthday trip, everything we for! 4 ) at new York 's best Drag Brunches for … Book flights or travel first but running on! General tips for making freezer meals for your group of seven for week!