Expedition food

bananadog

thanks, supernoodles would be perfect for the youngest and cereal bars too as he also doesnt have milk on cereal anyway...gonna run into town as I have just realised 2 groundmats have gone missing after the last camp...this is gonna cost me a fortune!
Please keep all ideas coming as I will shop later and tomorrow as well if I need too.
Thanks babychick xxx

bananadog

You know the packets of rice, pasta and also soup that come in a squishy pouch that you can just stick in the microwave...do you think they could be popped in a pan of hot water to heat as I know they would also eat them?

babychick

I don't see why not - I think they go into the microwave to warm them through - popping them in a pan of boiling water will do the same job!!

The running about we do after our kids eh?!

Rebob

My lad did this last weekend. I made flapjacks for him to take. They cooked on trangias (meths type stove which includes pans) which they borrowed off the scout group so took a dish to eat out of. If they are using a gas stove your boys will need a mess tin to cook in and eat out of. Things that cook quick and are lightweight are what they need such as supernoodles, pasta in sauce, vacumm packed frankfurter sausages....

Mess tins and roll mats are often in the pound shop so try there first. Ring the cadet leader and ask if they provide anything for them to use.

patchwork_cat

You need mess tins. Argos do them. Then don't spend money on ration packs - noodles, pasta and sauce, biscuits etc. My DS did gold expedition last summer.

RAS

Hi

Either poundland or poundworld have aluminium mess tins at the mo.

Buy cheap noodles. These only need hot water to cook. Cuppasoups also work (take a mug each). Some soups can be used to make a sauce for the noodles - make half a packet up and soak the noodles in it.

bananadog

Thank you so much everyone
I have run out of time to go to town this minute so hubby has now run up to Morrissons to get some supernoodles, cereal bars, cuppa soups, hot choccies, pasta packs ets....
I'm gonna run in half an hour to get the youngest from school then we'll all meet back up at home.
When the older 2 get in we are all gonna run into town to poundland for the camping stuff, I also have some Sports Direct vouchers so hopefully they might also have camping stuff there (need waterproofs too! aggghhhh!)
Then hopefully grab a taxi home as I have already been into town once this morning already!
I really thought I was gonna have a nice relaxing day....as soon as the cat puked on the sofa this morning and then the dogs tried to eat it I knew it was all going to go horribly wrong! lol

Oh I wish I hadn't got rid of my car last month...mind you it might be a quick way to loose weight! hahaha

Thanks everyone for helping and the more ideas the better, after this 'practice' camp they are doing the proper one in 2 weeks so hopefully i will be more organised. I think I'll also have to get a phone number that I can get in touch with cadets out of hours as they normally only answer the phone on cadet nights twice a week.

villagelife

Noodles and pasta in sauce are great but keep it as light weight as possible.
Mine als liked chocolate or sweets aswell to keep them going during the day.
Also will need water to drink during the day.

xxvickixx

I did Bronze and Silver, remember eating lots of noodles and jelly frankfurters. Beanfeast type dried soya and powdered mash. I expect for boys it will be easier but I found it really heavy carrying all the gear so kept food as lightweight as possible. Hope they enjoy it.

Pink.

Hi banandog,

When my son did his D of E expeditions I sent porridge with sugar and dried milk powder mixed in, in three separate freezer bags for breakfast so all he had to do was add water and cook. And these museli bars in case he didn't have time to cook it, which is just as well as by the third day they are so tired that they'd rather spend the extra half hour in their sleeping bag than cook porridge.

For lunches, the first day I sent frozen sandwhiches which were defrosted and still fresh by lunchtime and fruit. Other days were dried soups and bread or crackers with cheese.

For the first evening I sent frozen bacon and sausages which when packed deep in the rucksack were still cold when he came to cook them. Other nights were dried pasta in sauce, noodles, couscous and rice.

For snacks, lots and lots of dried fruit, nuts, biscuits and chocolate for energy. Don't forget water purifying tablets if they are going to be using river water. Instant hot chocolate is nice for bedtime.

At first I was worried about the nutritional content of what he was eating, but then got a grip of myself and realised that three days of food that I wouldn't normally consider healthy wasn't going to kill him. Try to avoid tins and anything that will be heavy to carry as they not only have to carry it before using it but also carry their rubbish with them.

This thread has lots more ideas that may help:

Expedition food

I'll add your thread to it later to keep the suggestions together.

Good luck to your boys, I hope that they enjoy it and that you don't worry about them too much while they're away.

Pink