The Frugal Guide to Keeping Your Family Full and Fed While Traveling

There are plenty of potential hidden costs of any given vacation, right?

Luggage feeds. High gas prices. Surcharges.

However, what about the not-so- hidden cost of feeding your family while on-the- go? From constantly eating out to dealing with high food prices in tourist areas, you can quickly eat through your vacation budget before you know it. Literally.

That said, there are ways for savvy families to keep costs down when it comes to food without having to solely eat discounts fair. With the right planning and a bit of creativity, your family can eat like kings while on-the- go. Keep the following five tips in the back of your mind to keep everyone in your pack fed without breaking the bank.

Cook Your Own Meals
Simply put, the easiest way to save on meals while traveling is to take a DIY approach to cooking while on vacation. Not only does hitting up a grocery store or bringing your own dishes via cooler means more money in your pocket, but cooking together as a family is an old-school bonding experience right?

In some cases, your meals serve as activities in and of themselves. For example, these Outdoorsy tips for cooking your own breakfast while camping show that cooking is a tasty and rewarding experience for families spending time in the great outdoors.

Pack Some Non-Perishable Fare
Perhaps this is a no-brainer, but don’t forget about the importance of bringing non-perishable and portable snacks for while you’re on the go. Snacking throughout the day can keep you from getting too hungry when mealtime rolls around. Protein bars, bottled water and simple sandwiches (think: peanut butter and jelly) are totally fair game and can be taken just about anywhere.

Do Your Homework Prior to Traveling
Especially if you’ll be hanging out in “touristy” areas that hike up prices at restaurants, make a point to do some research on the best budget spots to eat for families so you don’t get burned by a bad meal. Likewise, you can try to scout spots where kids eat free or run regular Groupons and discounts for larger parties. There are also plenty of restaurant budgeting apps out there that could save you a buck or two while eating out.

Be Prepared to Save Your Meals
Whether you bring Tupperware or Pyrex bowls and containers, keeping your leftovers safe and sealed can ensure that you don’t waste food and have extra meals on deck for the next day. As such, it’s also a good idea to bring along some sort of cooler, especially if you’re camping or don’t have a fridge in your hotel room.

Rethink How You Eat
Finally, it’s a good idea to have some sort of plan regarding what’s going to be your biggest meal of the day. For example, if you cook your own big breakfast or lunch, you don’t have to worry as much about paying for dinner. Similarly, if you have a paid dinner planned out you can snack throughout the day to get your money’s worth when supper rolls around.

There’s no reason why you can’t keep your family’s bellies full even if you’re traveling on a budget. Having a variety of tasty options available and accessible ensures that you can worry less about where to eat and instead focus on having a great vacation.