Mary Castillo: How to keep food costs down while on vacation

When planning a

vacation

, some of the biggest expenses are food, transportation and accommodation. While your choice of lodging and mode of travel offer some flexibility to cut back, food remains a non-negotiable essential for any trip.

During the pandemic, many families invested in trailers, boats and even rural cabins, a trend that has persisted for those fond of such getaways. Yet with

food prices

steadily rising in recent years, stocking up for such escapes has become a growing challenge for many.

The high cost of food has made the idea of extended cabin stays feel increasingly out of reach for some. However, there are ways to ease the strain on your grocery budget (even when feeding a crowd of hungry teenagers), leaving more room for activities that make a vacation memorable — extra time water-skiing, buying new games for the trailer or attending a nearby concert or event. Here are tips that will help you stock a compact pantry or cooler efficiently and leave you more money for the experiences you enjoy.

Plan meals in advance

As part of your vacation preparations,

create a detailed meal plan

for each day of the trip, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. Be creative and plan a few meals that are not part of your normal routine but involve ingredients you are already bringing along that also have a longer shelf life. This helps avoid overpacking or buying unnecessary items, reducing both waste and costs. Focus on meals with versatile ingredients such as rice, which can be served as a side dish, added to soups or even repurposed for a savory omelette.

Prepare and freeze bases for meals where possible

Preparing meal bases at home not only reduces kitchen time and effort during your vacation but also helps you

avoid the higher costs of small packages

while extending the shelf life of fresh ingredients. Take advantage of bulk or family-sized pricing for items such as ground meat, chicken breasts or fish fillets, and store any surplus safely in your home freezer. Cook what you can in advance, such as ground meat for tacos or pasta dishes, and freeze it flat in portioned bags or containers for easy stacking. Use these pre-cooked proteins during the first week of your trip, then transition to canned or dried proteins for the remainder to optimize space and freshness.

Choose space-efficient, non-perishable foods

To maximize limited storage space in your cabin, trailer or boat, opt for compact staples such as rice, pasta, oatmeal, energy bars, dried fruit and homemade trail mix, which are lightweight and provide energy for outdoor activities. Canned goods such as beans, tuna, vegetables and soups are durable, require no refrigeration and can be used in a variety of dishes. Dehydrated or freeze-dried foods, including chili and fruits or vegetables that can be rehydrated with water, are ideal for saving space and weight.

Items that come in big packages

, such as cereal, can be repackaged into containers that fit the space you have. The same is true for condiments, spices and cooking staples such as oil; (re)fill smaller containers from your large ones at home to avoid paying extra for the small ones. Focus on items that do not need to be frozen or refrigerated, such as peanut butter, jerky, pancake mix or canned fish, buying packages that are the right size for your meal plan so that leftovers do not need refrigeration. If possible, vacuum-seal such items as cheese, deli meats or pre-cooked proteins to extend their freshness and further conserve space.

When it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, choose ones that last without refrigeration, such as apples, carrots, avocados, citrus such as oranges, cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, onions, potatoes and stone fruits. Purchase additional seasonal produce at local markets close to your destination and if you are planning to restock on

groceries during your trip

, only rely on local stores for fresh or last-minute items, not staples, to keep costs down.

Stay hydrated without overspending

To keep hydration costs low, fill reusable water bottles at home before you leave and consider freezing them to double as ice packs during travel, then drinking the water once thawed. Purchasing bottled water can be expensive, particularly in remote areas. If safe drinking water is not readily available at your destination, bring large water bottles with a pump for easy refilling of smaller bottles.

To save on cooler space, opt for boxed, bottled or canned drinks that do not require refrigeration until opened. For a budget-friendly way to add variety to water without sacrificing storage, juice crystals offer a compact solution to change up the flavour, while a non-electric carbonation device can be a great choice for those who enjoy fizzy drinks.

Be creative and involve the whole family

Meals play an important role in bringing everyone together during a vacation, especially when family members have spent the day enjoying different activities. To ensure your meal and snack plan pleases everyone, involve the whole family in creating it, encouraging each person to contribute ideas and take responsibility for preparing a specific meal or snack.

• Worried about someone emptying your bank account? Try these tips to keep you safe from scams
• How to save money and plan so pets can thrive along with your budget

Emphasize healthy eating by incorporating high-quality, affordable protein sources, which naturally help keep everyone satisfied with smaller portions throughout the day. Then indulge in the requisite vacation treats — whether it’s s’mores, homemade candy skewers, cookies or chips — guilt-free and on budget!

Mary Castillo is a Saskatoon-based credit counsellor at Credit Counselling Society, a non-profit organization that has helped Canadians manage debt since 1996.