What do you take with you to eat? Any suggestions?

[+Dasindog]

When we do a caching day we always pack a lunch.  For us, eating out is either too expensive, or not satisfying.  Very rarely do we find an eatery on the road that is convenient, good, and worth what is being paid for.  

 

We don’t like wraps or sandwiches because they tend to get either soggy or dismembered along the way.  We like food that tastes good, is satisfying, and that we can quickly access and easily clean-up afterwards.  Nothing that requires more cooking or re-heating.  Depending on what we are doing and where we are, we may make it a quick 10 minute stop, or take a leisurely 3 hour amusement.  We pack the same regardless.

 

Our normal routine is to make a traveling ‘party plate’ (charcuterie board) with separated ingredients (meats, fish, cheeses, vegetables, olives, pickles, hummus, fruit) pre-cut and packaged in individual containers that can be sampled or combined as desired.  We will bring a good bread or crackers too. The only utensils we bring are plates, a knife to spread (mustard, mayo, soft cheese), and as required a good knife to cut stuff (baguette, fruit), a bottle opener, and CITO bag.  We also find that dolmas (homemade) work really well.

 

Anybody have any suggestions for additional food items to add to our kit?

[+Smitherington]

I’m a simple guy. I like snacks that come in a bag or box and have variety of shapes, sizes, and/or flavors.  Some cereal types and some cracker types. Simple. No prep. More time for caching. Just need hand wipes to sanitize before plunging in for more. 
 

And you quickly can see I’m just a health nut.

[+The_Jumping_Pig]

A flatbread sandwich (turkey and cheese or hummus) with an apple and/or chips, baby carrots, etc. Whether it's a day of pngs or a long day biking or kayaking it works for us.

13 hours ago, Dasindog said:

We don’t like wraps or sandwiches because they tend to get either soggy or dismembered along the way. 

never had that issue...

[+x7Kevin]

I think you're probably already bringing more than the average person, reading it made me hungry ha ha. Muffins and granola bars are great to grab and go. Pasta is always good in a thermos. I also like salads and just have the dressing in a seperate conatiner so you can add it when you're ready. 

 

This isn't really geocaching specific either, so searching the internet for 'road trip' recipes or packed lunches probably would have a lot of creative ideas too!

 

 

[+barefootjeff]

If it's a full-day hike I generally take an avocado and tomato sandwich, some fruit and maybe a couple of hard-boiled eggs, stored in the plastic lunch box that's built into the day pack I use. I also take some muesli bars to snack on along the way. If there's a good fish-and-chip shop along the way, that makes the day even more pleasant .

[+GeoElmo6000]

5 hours ago, barefootjeff said:

If there's a good fish-and-chip shop along the way, that makes the day even more pleasant .

 

As long as they don't have a sign saying "no shirt no shoes no service" 

[+JL_HSTRE]

On 9/13/2024 at 10:06 PM, Dasindog said:

For us, eating out is either too expensive, or not satisfying.  Very rarely do we find an eatery on the road that is convenient, good, and worth what is being paid for.

 

I have the opposite problem. There's very little I can bring to eat while geocaching or hiking that is satisfying. Granola bars are my stopgap, and sometimes fruit. I rely on restaurants - usually sandwich shops for lunch.

 

Geocaching by car at least allows you to carry a cooler.

 

I used to bring PBJ for long hikes, but last year I found out I've been allergic to peanuts all this time without realizing it. I don't know what I could carry to get me through a day-long hike anymore. 

[+cerberus1]

Uncrustables !   Frozen PB&J (with no crust) for you in other countries not familiar.  Frozen on hike start, ready-to-eat at mid day...

Gummy bears or Dots in a baggie in-between.   I do not eat healthy when hiking.  

Winter, it's pepperoni and farmer's cheese in a lock n lock...