Planning your menu Coming up with ideas for what to eat on the road may seem challenging (we certainly thought so!). After doing some research (including consulting someone who hates to cook), we put together two sample menus (including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks) to give you some idea of what’s possible – even if you don’t like to cook or won’t be using a cooler. “Cooking” in your car As the sample menus demonstrate, it’s possible to feed yourself on the road for three days, even without refrigeration. The key to having a little variety is simple: just open a can. Canned foods are already cooked, so it’s a matter of using a little imagination or doing some research (we did a bit of both). Tuna dip paired with crackers, beans rolled into a tortilla, chicken salad in a sandwich, spaghetti…whether you stick to basics or decide to experiment, there’s something for just about anyone in the canned goods aisles at your grocery store. If you want, you can even make your meal more nutritious by adding some (canned) vegetables as a side dish! (And if you like, canned fruit for dessert.) To chill, or not to chill? Youmay think, “A cooler isn’t worth the space it takes up because the ice cubes will melt in less than a day. I could buy more ice, but we’re trying to avoid shopping during our trip!” Good news: the secret to keeping your food fresh is to use block ice instead of ice cubes. It doesn’t melt as quickly and will easily keep things cool for a couple of days. You can make ice last even longer by ensuring that everything which goes into your cooler is already chilled. If you decide to use a cooler and have enough room, consider bringing two: one for food and another for beverages. You’ll likely reach for a drink more often than a meal or snack, so reserving one cooler for beverages means that you won’t open your food cooler very often, thereby allowing the ice to last longer. “Oh no! I forgot the…!” Even the most organized people can make mistakes. If you do forget to bring something that you can’t do without, go to a store and buy what you need. Wear a mask, focus on staying away fromother customers, and spend as little time as possible in the store. When you reach your destination If you commit to drive-by dining andmake it to your winter home without buying any food on the way, congratulations! It’s hard work that takes time, energy and planning. You should feel the satisfaction of a job well done. Cooking (or any kind of food preparation) is probably the last thing you want to do at this point. So, after you unload your car, take yourself out for a nice meal. (Or, on second thought, perhaps consider ordering in.) Make your own ice Instead of using block ice, consider freezing water in large jugs and using these. As the ice melts, it becomes your drinking water instead of puddling at the bottomof your cooler. Remember, water expands as it freezes, so don’t fill the jugs to the top. COVID-19 CSANews | FALL 2020 | 41
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