It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking travel equals sandwiches, tinned food and a lack of variety. But eating healthily in a motorhome is entirely possible and doesn't require you to be a chef or have a huge galley. With a little organisation, you can travel eating a balanced diet, feel better and even enjoy it more. Here are some simple ideas and tricks.
Make the most of local produce
One of the great advantages of travelling: every area has its markets, greengrocers and fresh produce. Buying vegetables, fruit and seasonal produce at local markets means eating healthily, cheaply, sustainably and, on top of that, having one more experience on the trip. Turn it into a routine of the road.
Healthy, easy dishes for the camper
- Complete salads (with pulses, egg, tuna, seeds): nutritious with barely any cooking.
- Griddled or steamed vegetables (the pressure cooker works brilliantly here; see the pressure cooker).
- Pulses (plant protein, they keep and they're filling): stews or salads.
- Fresh fruit and nuts as a snack, instead of ultra-processed food.
- Griddled fish and meat, simple and quick.
Tricks to make it easy
- Always have a healthy base to hand (vegetables, fruit, cooked pulses) so you don't reach for ultra-processed food out of laziness.
- Plan a little (see weekly menu): improvising tends to lead to eating worse.
- Stay well hydrated: carry water and drink often, above all in summer.
- Batch cook healthy dishes to have ready (see batch cooking).
The fridge, your ally
Eating fresh and healthy depends on keeping fruit, vegetables, fish or meat properly, and that calls for a fridge that holds the cold reliably. Having steady power (where a good battery helps) is what lets you carry fresh produce without it spoiling (see keeping food).
In short
Eating healthily in the camper is easy if you make the most of fresh local produce and lean on simple dishes such as complete salads, vegetables and pulses, with a bit of planning. The step you can take today: make shopping at local markets a routine of the trip and always keep a healthy base to hand (fruit, vegetables, cooked pulses); you'll eat better with almost no effort. Combine it with the camper cooking guide.