Budget-friendly travel meals to keep you at ease this camping season

With the upcoming summer season, some families are planning their trips on a budget. Home economist Jodie Kachkar shares ideas to help tackle travel menus.

Some families are looking for ways to keep a budget for their travel plans this summer. Home economist Jodie Kachkar joined CTV Your Morning Edmonton’s Kent Morrison to help tackle travel menu ideas.

This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

As summer arrives, families are planning their trips, whether to a destination, camp spot or heading to the cabin. Some are budgeting not just for accommodations or gas, they’re also looking to save a buck on food.

Home economist Jodie Kachkar believes a family consisting of two adults and two children could take advantage of pre-made convenient items to make an affordable three-day menu.

These recipes are for three days of dinners only, so families will need to add in breakfasts, lunches and snacks.

Kachkar says when thinking about adding in meals, the more duplication you have (i.e. toast with peanut butter, yogurt and fruit every breakfast) the easier and more economical it can be.

If it’s a holiday trip and meals are part of the experience, she wants you to remember that lunches are often less costly to eat out rather than dinners.

Jodie’s economical Camping Pizza recipe

Grab a lid big enough for a cast iron frying pan, a flat sheet pan or tinfoil. For camping, I would put all of the dry stuff together in a ziplock bag and then add the water and oil when you’re ready to mix the dough together. I recommend pre-shredding your cheese if possible.

Pizza Dough:

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 packet instant yeast (or 1 Tbsp if you have it in the jar)
• 1 Tsp salt
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1 Tbsp oil
• Pizza sauce (1/2 cup to 3/4 cup)
• Pizza Toppings

1. Place the dry ingredients into a pot or bowl. Add in the measured amount of warm water and oil. Mix well and knead until you get a smooth ball of dough. This can be used RIGHT away or allowed to rise for a time if you like (or have the time). No more than two hours of rising time, though.
2. Start heating up your cast iron frying pan over the fire, coals or on your propane camping stove.
3. On a clean surface, use your hands to spread out your pizza dough until it’s the size of the bottom of your pan. Prepare any toppings (slice, chop, shred)
4. Place your dough in the bottom of your frying pan and cook until the bottom is set and lightly browned. This timing will depend on how hot your heat source is. Keep an eye on it!
5. Once the dough is set and lightly browned, flip it over so the rawer side is down and QUICKLY add your toppings in the order you prefer.
6. Cover the pan and pay attention as this will allow for your cheese to melt. Once your cheese is melted, check the bottom of your pizza dough - once it is browned, slide your pizza out (carefully, the pan will be hot) onto a cutting board and serve!

Jodie’s 3-Day Meal Recipes

Meal #1 - Pre-roasted Chicken

(Costco is the most economical here but they are available widely at grocery stores), garlic toast and salad (bagged with salad dressing).

Serve the chicken however you want and you should hopefully have 2-3 cups of leftover shredded chicken. Once you have finished the meal, pre-shred any remaining chicken to use in tomorrow’s dinner.

Meal #2 - Thai Peanut Chicken wraps

This will use up the remaining shredded chicken (you will want 2-3 cups of shredded chicken).

1. Purchase a Thai-style chopped salad and mix as directed and then mix in the chicken as well.
2. Divide the mixture amongst 4 large tortillas and wrap tightly. You can lightly toast the tortillas in a pan if you like.

Meal #3 - Tacos

This will use up the remaining tortillas. If you want “crispy” shells or chips, they can be baked in the oven to provide a different shell.

Total for three days of dinners: $52.30