Our featured vanlifer Vanessa has been travelling in her van Van-essa for over 2 years. Vanessa loves the outdoors and is a keen trail runner and has climbed a fair few mountains! Check out her Instagram at @vanessa_chav to see incredible photos of her outdoor adventures.
Originally from Columbia and now living in the USA Vanessa has witnessed the inequality in accessing outdoor trails and the like for BIPOC individuals and is working to improve this, search #DiversifyOutdoors on social media for more information.
Vanessa is a keen forager, and uses foraged food when cooking in her van. Read on to find out what our featured vanlifer likes to eat when travelling in self-built van, Van-essa.
What is your favourite feature of your van?
All of the cozy nooks and places to sit.
What has been your favourite experience in your van so far?
I really enjoy the simplicity and freedom I’m granted through van life. My favorite experiences include being able to sleep at trailheads and waking up before dawn for big mountain climbs. Afterwards I feel like I float all the way down to my van and everything I need is there waiting for me! Another favorite experience is being able to forage for mushrooms in the spring and early summer. This year I had great luck finding golden river morels along the Yellowstone river. I was able to forage, clean, and cook them all from my van! I really enjoy being on the road and being independent — especially when I can cook better foods than I would find at restaurants!
What has been your worst experience in your van?
I have faced my fair share of build-out and maintenance nightmares! My van does this terrifying thing where the check engine light comes on and a start countdown commences. Basically the van starts counting down from 10, and once it gets to 0 it will no longer start. Car maintenance issues are always stressful, but even more-so when the car also happens to be your home! It’s helpful to have a plan or a friend that will let you crash at their house in case the van is having issues.
Describe your van kitchen setup
Unfortunately my dream van kitchen has not been built yet! We have been building our van in segments for the sake of cost/time. Right now I have a Dometic fridge/freezer, a toaster, an Ikea kitchen island cart as a counter and storage, and a NEMO Helio pressure shower as a sink. I use an MSR camp stove for cooking, which I have to assemble every time I want to cook. It is all functional but I am definitely hoping to improve the situation by getting a Dometic stove and a foot pump sink!
What is your favourite van kitchen accessory and why?
Definitely the toaster. I love making toasts and it is such an easy and convenient way to heat things up! Especially considering my stove situation. I use the toaster for bread, croissants, tortillas, and more. I recently discovered I can make grilled cheese sandwiches by flipping the toaster on its side and sliding in some bread with slices of cheese on top. It’s genius!
What is your favourite thing to cook in your van?
My favorite things to cook in the van are mushrooms that I forage myself. It’s so exciting to incorporate them into decadent pastas, stir-frys, omelets, and toasts. Because I mainly live in my van during summers I also like to eat lots of fresh foods and non-cook meals. I inhale salads with veggies from my friend’s garden, avocado and lox toasts, and smoothies! It feels so good to take advantage of our short growing season and eat as locally as I can!
Have you had any cooking disasters in your van?
I’ve had a few particularly messy experiences with beets…the problem is they stain EVERYTHING. When your bed is two feet from your kitchen, things get messy real fast! I’m also working on storage solutions for fruits and veggies that don’t go in the fridge. Right now I keep those items on my bed but it’s not always the most stable. Last summer one of my avocados rolled away and went missing for a few days…luckily I found it before it went bad!
Do you have any first hand funny van life stories to tell?
I spent most of the spring down by the Yellowstone river — such a nice place to sleep. It was my first spring in the area and I was shocked by how much the river was rising from all of the snowmelt. One night my partner and I slept at a familiar fishing access site. At about 5am we heard a knock on our van and the sheriff announcing himself. I was prepared for the regular “you can’t sleep here, please park somewhere else” conversation. Much to our surprise, when we opened the van door we found that the van was IN the water. The river had risen so much overnight that our parking area had turned into a steady stream, and was continuing to rise! Needless to say we were very thankful that the sheriff woke us up. If not, we would have probably kept sleeping and maybe even washed away!
To apply for a featured post on vanlifeeats.com simply follow this link and fill out the application form. We promote all featured van lifers across all our social media networks, we send out a “featured Van Lifer” sticker for your van as well as awarding you a prestigious badge for your profile on our website.
Looking for the best vanlife cooking pan? Shallow fry, deep fry, boil, bake and even steam all from one lightweight, non-stick heavy-duty pan. Everything that makes the perfect vanlife cooking pan.
One pan to rule them all
We had been talking about replacing our rusty old cast iron skillet pan for a while. Then one crazy early morning whilst up with the kids (pre-kids TV early), flicking through channels I found myself pausing on a shopping channel.
Not to the kids best amusement, I managed to watch the demonstrations on how this pan could do just about everything you could ever need on a stove-top. I was totally impressed!
I could see this pan not only replacing our skillet pan but also replacing at least one saucepan.
With tired eyes (probably not the best time to be on a shopping channel) I found myself visiting the website and placing an order for £84.99.
After a morning cup of tea I was starting to regret what I had done. I am a terror with spontaneous internet purchase when I am tired or have had a tipple or two.
Had I made a mistake or had I found the best vanlife cooking pan?
It had been a long night and the little ones had had restless night so I had left Sophie to have a lie in. I had a feeling I knew what her reaction would be when I told her I had bought our pan on a shopping channel.
I’ve found the best vanlife cooking pan, I’ve bought it from the shopping channel… there was the eye rolls!
When I explained what it was and why I thought it would be so good she agreed it sounded ideal and we both looked forward to testing it out.
What’s in the Box
When the pan arrived we unwrapped each component.
One deep pan
One glass lid with vent
One detachable handle
One frying basket
One silicone steaming tray
We were very impressed at how every element of the set stacks within itself and forms a nice little compact set that is easy to store.
The pan itself feels sturdy and has a good solid base. The finish is a stone effect non-stick smooth finish.
The removable handle attaches with a grip mechinsism and feels solid and has a good grip.
Every element feels of a good quality and give the impression of a solid long lasting pan.
Steaming
Stemaing is one of the best methods of cooking vegetables. Water can soak out many of the nutrients in your vegetables and since teaming avoids any contact with water it is excellent for preserving these nutrients.
Steaming was one of the most appealing aspects of the Flavorstone and is one of the reasons why we are putting up as possibly the best vanlife cooking pan.
How many of you have a stackable steaming set in your van? They are bulky and hard to store. I’m sure many of you just boil your vegetables for convenience. Right?
We added some water in the bottom of the Flavorstone pan and placed the silicone steaming tray within the pan. Once the water started to boil we placed our cut vegetables upon the tray and placed the lid on the pan.
Within 10 minutes we lifted the lid off the pan and sure enough we had perfectly steamed broccoli!
Boiling
As the Flavorstone has high 24cm it means you can easily use the pan for boiling.
We use it to boil pasta, eggs, stocks , soups, stews etc. It has completley replaced the need for a saucepan.
Oven Bake
When removing the detachable handle the pan works perfectly as an oven dish. It even fits inside our small Kampa Ignis 10 litre oven.
This has made it possible for us to bake meals such as lasagne, pasta bakes and sheperds pie.
Deep Fry
The Flavorstone comes complete with a frying basket so that you can deep fry.
We don’t often deep fry in our van due to smells and its not typically something we eat often. However, we are partial to some fried chips so that is exactly what we cooked for the test.
The pan isn’t that deep but it is deep enough to get 2 portions of chips on the go.
Cleaning the Pan
Most new pans are coated in non-stick and are easy to clean at first but after weeks of use the stick wears away and it becomes harder and harder to keep clean.
We have used the Flavorstone time and time again almost every day and it has still retained its non stick properties as of day one.
Conclusion
Our personal conclusion is that we have found the perfect vanlife pan for our van and our cooking style. Being fulltime in the van we have found the versitility of the Flavorstone to be the best feature of the pan.
Whilst other might still prefer to carry onboard a cast iron skillet, deep saucepan and an oven dish, we have found this pan to perfectly replace them all and without any jeopardy to the quality of our cooking.
We cook ALOT in our van and the Flavorstone is our goto pan for just about everything from casseroles to steamed veggies.
You will see us using the Flavorstone in almost all of our videos and pictures.
Any questions then comment below and we will happily answer.
We are proud to be hosting the vanlife secret Santa of 2020. We will be setting a fun new theme and encouraging global entries. Here is how you can join in the festive fun and make another Vanlifers Christmas by sending them a gift!
Please note that just becasue we are hosting the event, the gifts do not need to be food related at all.
What is Vanlife Secret Santa?
Like a traditional Secret Santa, similar to what you would do within a workplace or amongst friends, Vanlife Secret Santa is a means of anonymously sending gifts to one another within the Vanlife community.
With this year being a difficult year for many of us and the aim of the Secret Santa is to spread a little festive cheer throughout our community.
What is the theme for Vanlife Secret Santa?
The theme for Vanlife Secret Santa 2020 is “Home-Made/Van-Made”. The idea behind this theme is to give a personal touch to your gift preferably by either making something or by sending a home-made gift made by someone else.
The theme is not compulsory and please do not be put off participating in this years Vanlife Secret Santa if you cant follow the theme. If you can follow the theme then great, but if not then you can still send the gift of your choice.
Either put some love into your own creation or share the love by using and supporting local sellers, home crafters and businesses.
How to enter?
To enter this year’s Vanlife Secret Santa you will need to enter using the entry form below, you will then added to the entries. On the 22nd November, your name will be added to the Vanlife Secret Santa organiser management site drawnames.co.uk. You will receive an email to enter all of your details.
Once you have been entered you will have the chance to enter your details including your gift address as well as a wish list option which you should use as an indication to what style and taste you have.
The wishlist should be used as a guide for your secret Santa. Remember the theme is “home-made/van-made” where possible.
What are the rules for Vanlife Secret Santa?
The rules for entering are simple.
It’s a secret! When you know your recipient, don’t go messaging or revealing yourself!
Enter before the closing date of 20th November
You will be notified of who you are gifting to on the 22nd November
Budget = £30 GBP / $40 USD / €33 Euros
Post your gift before the 5th December
Do not forget to send a gift! Everyone is matched and it would be pretty harsh if someone was to miss out!
When you receive your gift take a photo and post on Instagram with the hashtag #vanlifesecretsanta and tag @vanlifesecretsanta and @vanlife_eats
Enter Here
Enter here to participate in this years Vanlife Secret Santa. All information is strictly private and secured with GDPR and SSL security..
Wondering how to do slow cooking in a campervan? The Wonerbag makes slow cooking in your campervan easy and uses the bare minimum of power consumption. Here is our first-hand experience in using the Wonderbag.
The Wonderbag has an incredible ethos behind it, helping in the reduction of carbon (CO2) emissions that are pumped into the environment by the use of cooking over an open fire.
It also helps aid in the prevention of forest/bush fires and deforestation across the globe.
Every day, more than 3.5 billion people cook over an open fire and the Wonderbag helps reduce the impact this has on our environment as well as freeing up the laborious unpaid tasks involved in creating large long-lasting cooking fires typically that of woman and children.
In a whole year a Wonderbag could save:
70% less fuel required fo cook
2 tons of carbon environmental emissions reduced
60% less indoor/in-van air pollution
1,000 litres cooking water spared
1,300 hours of unpaid labour reduced
10x more income for women living in extreme poverty
5 large trees saved from deforestation
The Wondebag campaign ensures that families living in poverty are supplied with a Wondebag so that they can more efficiently cook for their family.
Sarah, the creator of the Wonderbag, grew up in Africa working alongside families and woman living in poverty. She then setout to make a difference and
How are the Wonderbags made available to families in poverty?
There are options for you to make a simple donation that supplies a Wonderbag but also for every one Wonderbag purchased, a second is donated to a family living in poverty.
The Wonderbag is an insulated thermal draw-string bag that acts as a heat-retaining oven. This makes it an ideal solution for slow cooking and keeping food hot for up to 12 hours.
The Wonderbag is not that dissimilar to a classic dutch oven or a hay-box and utilises the cooking method of thermal cooking that has been around for centuries.
The earliest known records of using this cooking method date back to medieval times.
Why does a Wonderbag suit Vanlife?
Wonderbag slow cooking in your campervan means stews, tender meats and generally keeping food warm for long periods of time. You could be travelling in your van over a distance, out hiking in the great outdoors or just out working, and when you finally get to settle in your van you have a delicious cooked meal ready and waiting.
Having hot and nutritious food is an essential part of living or travelling in a van and slow cooking is an incredible means of getting maximum flavour from your meals.
Who else would benefit from using a Wonderbag?
Anyone conscious on power consumption and time would benefit from using a Wonderbag for slow cooking.
Suitable users could be:
Campers
Those living in a Boat
Motorhomes / RV
Hikers
People living in self converted barns, sheds and tiny homes
It could even be a usuful kitchen gadget within a regular home. Warm your meal through and leave it in the Wonderbag to finish cooking until you get home.
Our experience in using the Wonderbag
We originally had a slow cooker on board and we would let the food cook whilst we were on the road during the day. It was great!
The downside was that the cooker was hghly power consuming and unless the engine was running we couldnt really use it.
When we discovered the Wonderbag we were intrigued and purchased one immediately. Could this put delicious slow-cooked meals more regularly on our vanlife menu?
Unpacking
We ordered our Wonderbag on Amazon at the price of £49.99 which we didnt think was an ureasonable price.
When it arrived it was compressed within a vacuum packed bag and so once opened it was incredibly satisfying watching this large puffy bag grow into shape….the simple things huh!
Whilst we waited for 1 hour to pass for the wonderbag to form it’s natural shape we had a good look through all the content.
The Wonderbag comes with some information about the Wonderbag charity and a handful of recipes to try.
Cooking
Our first recipe was pretty adventurous as we went for a chicken stew. Straight in with confidence!
The instructions state that you need to heat everything up to a boil before leaving to slow cook in the Wonderbag so we fried up some onions, added some chicken thighs to seer and then some extra veg and finnaly some stock. After bringing to the boil we removed from the stove, and placed the lidded pan into the Wonderbag.
The pan fitted quite snug and we placed the Wonderbag lid on top and finnaly pulled the drawstring engulfing the pan into the Wonderbag.
3 hours later…
Excitedly we revealed the pan from the Wonderbag and removed the lid.
We found the stew to be at a warm temperature and borderline cooked! What did we do wrong?
We had a suspicion and a few days later we repeated the test. This time we used a much thicker stone pot.
3 hours later…
Steam erupted from the pot as we removed the lid and there was a hot and perfectly tender and hot chicken stew! Woohoo!
Conclusion
We have continued to use the Wonderbag numerous times and we have had real succsess. Typically we would prepare and cook during lunchtime and leave the pan in the Wonderbag until the evening.
Slow cooking in our campervan has always been a treat as we are typically very busy during the afternoons, even when travelling.
I work from our van so when I take a break during lunchtime it is ideal to cook something to slow cook in the Wonderbag and enjoy in the evening.
It is vital that you have a suitable pan or pot to use with the Wonderbag.
Our first use was not a great success but then after thinking about it our pan was thin and would no way retain enough heat to aid the cooking process.
The other key to slow cooking in your Wonderbag is to ensure you cook the food enough prior to placing the food inside the Wonderbag. It needs to cook through first and the cooking process within the Wonderbag is to finish and soften the food.
Here is the recommended cooking time for common foods:
Whilst not essential, we highly recommend the Wonderbag as an energy efficent means of slow cooking and keeping food warm.
If you love slow cooked meats in particular you will LOVE the Wonderbag!
Meet our featured vanlifers with a difference! Maria & Dominic don’t have a converted van yet! They love vanlife though and often hire a campervan and head out on adventure. The reason we have decided to feature them is because of their passion for outdoor cooking. They have a cookbook dedicated to this which you can purchase here.
Vanlife often allows park-ups in amazing locations, so why not make the most of it and cook outside! Their insta page Biwakkitchen showcases amazing ideas for cooking whilst on hikes, walks, etc.
Do you ever cook in a van?
Yes! We cook almost everywhere: in a van, on a mountain top, on a lonely beach, in the woods, or on a flower meadow.
What is the best thing about outdoor cooking?
That’s quite simple: food tastes better outdoors! Outdoor cooking is where you don’t need a fancy kitchen for great meals and where you don’t need to reserve any table for a sparkling candlelit dinner! That’s the difference and that’s what turns it into a special experience every time anew.
What is your cooking set-up?
Our basic cooking setup when hiking is a little gas stove and a collapsible camping pot. That saves a lot of space, it is not only compact but also lightweight. What we always carry along is a wooden spoon, a few dishes, a tea towel, a DIY biodegradable dish soap, trash bags, and what should never be missing is our set of spices. In order to save weight, we also started cooking with dehydrated vegetables and already pre-packed portions. What we suggest is that you never try to save weight by reducing your water supplies.
Do you have a favourite cooking accessory?
Our favourite cooking accessory is definitely our spice box. The thing is that most often it’s the spices that bring other ingredients to live. So we love to experiment with them and to explore new tastes. However, another accessory we’ve fallen in love with recently is the omnia oven. It opens up a new world to outdoor cooking or better baking possibilities.
What is your favourite meal to make?
Hard to say. It depends on the kind of adventure we’re up to. When we’re on a multi-day backpacking trip we prefer easy and simple one-pot-meals that are also energizing. Like a quinoa salad, an avocado sandwich, oat patties. Whereas in the van we prefer more fancy and creative recipes. Some of our favorites are: bulgur ananas, mushroom balls, or millet balls with coconut veggies… and for breakfast, we love the pink pancakes made with raw beetroot.
Where has been your favourite place to cook a meal?
Our favourite place for outdoor cooking the coast side. We love to hear the smooth sound of the waves while preparing a meal and looking at the endless ocean while eating lets us dive even further into a world of aromas. Seems like the sea gives our dishes an extra pinch of freshness.
Any cooking disasters?
Oh yes more than enough! You don’t want to know how often our cooking pot has already fallen over. You need a good dose of patience and of humor, because things don’t always go as planned when you’re out cooking in the great outdoors.
Cookbook!
Maria & Dominic have released a cookbook full of recipes for cooking outdoors. Their book Experience nature and good food is available on Amazon and was originally a KickStarter project, which shows the support they have had for the book. It is available in English and German and all recipes are vegetarian. We are currently running a competition with them where you could win a copy of their book, head to our Insta page for all the details (closes 1st November 2020)
Instagram: @biwakkitchen
You can catch up with Maria & Dominic through the social media links on their profile. Head to their profile to have a look at their favourite recipes to make in the great outdoors
To apply for a featured post on vanlifeeats.com simply follow this link and fill out the application form. We promote all featured van lifers across all our social media networks, we send out a “featured Van Lifer” sticker for your van as well as awarding you a prestigious badge for your profile on our website.
Mess free chopping in a tiny kitchen! The zyliss easy pull, could this be the best vanlife kitchen gadget so far?
We are always cooking in our van and being van foodies we always cook as fresh as possible. This does mean a lot of chopping vegetables and often means a lot of mess!
When we first discovered the powerless food processor it was the Zyliss that stood out in the foreground and we instantly purchased one from Amazon at a surprisingly low cost.
I must admit that I was sceptical and questioned the ability and durability straight away. Could those tiny blades really chop through an onion? Could it really finely chop? Hmmm… let’s put it to the test.
What’s in the Zyliss Easy Pull box
After unpackaging the Zyliss Easy Pull we found it very simple to piece together.
The box contains:
The base pot
The top section complete with the pull cord and handle
The spindle complete with two blades
An additional plastic arm/scoop
The Zyliss Easy Pull is quite small but the perfect size for vanlife. The 750ml pot can easily get one onion (halved) inside the pot and that is exactly where we started.
The chop
After halving and peeling the onion we dropped it inside the pot and attached the spindle and the top.
3-5 pulls for a course chop… The first pull was a little tough, but to our amazement the second and third pull glided through the onion and remaining in the pot after 3 pulls was a chopped onion! Awesome!
8-10 pulls for a fine chop… Each pull was very easy and incredibly after 10 pulls the onion was almost juiced! Could the Zyliss Easy Pull be replacing our blender too??
Mess-Free
This is probably my favourite element of using the Zyliss Easy Pull and what could just make this the best vanlife kitchen gadget.
The vegetable goes into the pot, the veg gets chopped in the pot and the veg gets emptied from the pot into the pan.
Typically when chopping onions, bits go everywhere. Under the grill, behind the counter, on the floor and no matter how careful you are bits of onion just escape. The Zyliss Easy Pull prevents this mess in your tiny kitchen.
Our Conclusion
After spending months using the Zyliss Easy Pull we have found that we use it nearly everyday. It has become an essential vanlife kitchen item to us and we would feel crippled without it.
The blades have only ever so slightly worn and it will still cut onions, apples and carrot with little effort.
Cleaning the Easy Pull is not as easy as we would have liked. The ridges on the inside of the pot manage to clog up with the residue of chopped vegetables. The top section must not get wet as the water will rust inside the mechanism and also the blades are so sharp to wipe clean.
Be wary of those incredibly sharp little blades! I have cut myself several times when cleaning the blades.
The Zyliss Easy pull is definitely an essential vanlife kitchen accessory and has made it into our Vanlife kitchen store.
We came across the Lifetub products on Instagram. When they offered to send us some products to review there was no way we could say no!
Cooking in a tiny kitchen can get messy!! It’s one of the reasons we love an organised van kitchen here at vanlife eats. Storage is a big part of having an organised kitchen, and this is where Lifetub may be able to help.
A little bit about Lifetub…
Lifetub was cooked up by a husband and wife team, their the aim is to reduce plastic use and protect our oceans. The tubs themselves are made from borosilicate glass, which is resistant to extreme temperatures and tougher than regular glass. The BPA free plastic lids have removable clips and silicone seal for cleaning. They are safe to use in the fridge, freezer, oven (and if you’re in a house kitchen) the microwave and dishwasher. Life on the road can be bumpy sometimes, if a lid were to break it is possible to buy replacement lids without buying a whole new set.
Is Lifetub suitable for vanlife?
In a word, yes! Glass tubs may not seem like the ideal choice for a van kitchen. We appreciate there may be concerns of breakages and also the weight. Here’s why we think Lifetub could work for vanlife and why we are happy to use them in our van.
Sustainability
A lot of vanlifers are passionate about leading a sustainable lifestyle and looking after our environment. Reducing plastic use is something we feel passionate about as well reducing our food waste. Re-using these tubs instead of plastic ones helps reduce our plastic use. The glass will not stain, hold smells or warp like plastic.
Living sustainably means trying to reduce all waste, and as such we are big fans of saving leftovers. Nobody wants to open their campervan fridge after driving down a bumpy road to find their soup has leaked everywhere. These tubs claim to be leak-proof. I have tried my best to shake my butternut squash soup from them, but definitely no leakages! They are ideal for storing meals for walks or hikes. You can have total confidence when you sit down to eat your meal, the contents will still be in the tub rather than your bag.
Sturdiness
Although made of glass (a banned word in some vans!) the bases feel surprisingly sturdy. They look as though they would survive a drop or two – although we didn’t test this! If the glass were to break it is designed to break into large pieces rather than shatter.
We have been testing a large and small tub, the smaller one fits nicely inside the larger one for storage. When travelling with them you could also wrap them in a towel for peace of mind. The lids feel well made, the clips are secure and can be removed for cleaning. They clip on and off to the base easily and securely.
Stylish
The products look nice, while this is not necessarily the most important part of choosing a product, it helps right? We think they look really well made and like the colours. I have been testing the silicone lid when heating up lunch in the microwave at work, and it has attracted many admiring glances and comments.
What else did we like about Lifetub?
One of the things we really love about this product is that the silicone seal is completely removable from the lid. We have all had tubs where the silicone seal has got mouldy where we are unable to clean it. Lifetub makes all of that easy by being able to remove this seal to clean it and clean underneath it. We managed to do it quite easily and re-checked the tub for leakages afterwards and it was still good.
What didn’t we like about LifeTub?
Our first thought before they arrived was that they wouldn’t be suitable for our van as they were glass. We are happy to say that opinion changed, but we understand not everyone would be convinced. We’re not recommending anyone to kit their entire van kitchen out with them, but a set of them is not going to add a noticeable amount of weight to your van. If you are concerned about breakages and weight then perhaps these aren’t the products for you and your van.
Finally….
We will continue to use these in our van and we think others will like them too. They reduce plastic use in our van, and are leak-proof so we can store food with confidence.
The main disadvantage with this product is also one of it’s benefits, and that is it being made from glass. We appreciate that weight can be an issue in a van, we have had many issues with that ourselves. Due to this we probably wouldn’t stock our entire van kitchen with these. We will continue to use our reusable plastic tubs for storing pasta, rice etc. The Lifetub is now a must have for picnics and adventures though. It keeps our food fresh and we are confident there will be no leaks.
If you are a part time vanlifer they are fantastic, they make meal prep easy! Store in the freezer at home, then put in the camper fridge when you set off on your journeys. When defrosted you have a meal ready to heat. (These tubs should not be used on open flame)
Overall we are very happy with Lifetub. If you want to purchase some go to our store and click on the buy now link which will take you directly to Amazon.
We do not receive payment for reviews although we may have been sent the product free of charge. We do this to ensure you only ever read our honest opinion.
If you have seen The Great British Bake Off you will know it is a British institution. They place bakers in a marque and ask them to bake according to the weekly theme, e.g. cakes, biscuits, bread. Surely such culinary delights can’t be made in a rolling home, a tiny kitchen, a campervan….. Can they?
We need YOU to show it can be done! Sometimes without an oven, a fridge or freezer and most likely without a fancy Kitchen Aid – future vanlife kitchen goal right there! Let’s show the World that just because we travel or live in a home on wheels, we don’t live off stale chunks of bread and noodles you cook using a kettle – we can bake and bake we shall!
We have teamed up with Brown Bird who are no strangers to creating delicious breads, cakes and other meals in their van – usually in their Omnia Stove-top oven.
The Rules
Each week will follow the theme set by the Great British Bake Off TV program that airs every Tuesday at 8 pm in the UK.
All photos are to be posted on Instagram tagging both @vanlife_eats and @brownbirdandcompany , make sure to use #vanbakeoff too!
For example, week one is cake week so you would bake a cake of your choosing using vanlife kitchen style equipment. We appreciate not everyone lives full time in their vans so it’s ok to cook out of your van, but please keep in mind the suitability of the recipe being baked in a van.
Vanlife Eats alongside Brown Bird and Company will judge the creation, based on the presentation, the suitability of campervan baking and also how in theme the bake is. Each week a winner will be chosen as STAR BAKER, their recipe will get featured on this very site! Each star baker is then in with a chance of winning an Omnia Stove top oven courtesy of Brown Bird and Company.
If you haven’t heard of an Omnia, they are the best thing to come out of Sweden (minus Abba obviously). They can be used just like an oven but on a stove top so are ideal for vanlife, motorhomers, rvers, boatlife and even in the home. If you are already bang on trend and have an Omnia, do not fret, Brown Bird have you covered – you can choose 2 Omnia accessories instead if you are the lucky winner.
If you are not lucky enough to win this year, you can purchase one directly from Brown Bird.
Week 1 – Cake Week
Where better to start than with cake?!? On the TV show contestants were challenged to bake a Battenburg cake and a pineapple upside down cake. The show stopper was a cake caricature! We didn’t think we could manage that in our van so we used our Omnia oven to create a Toffee Apple Upside Cake.
We had some amazing entries for our first week, including some vegan cakes and a paleo cake. The Omnia was a common choice for bakers to make their cakes. The winner however, was a show stopping battenburg!
Winner of cake week @freespirit_c_g
Week 2 – Biscuit Week
We’re onto week 2 now, biscuit week! On the tv show bakers had to bake macaroons, florentines and a tea set made from biscuit! Cooking biscuits in a van can be tricky without an oven. We decided to use our Omnia which worked perfectly but meant we had to cook in batches which was a little time consuming. We stuck with the theme and created Florentine Biscuit Bites.
Again we had some fantastically creative entries this week, lemony jammy dodgers, cookies and shortbread. Some even made in a ridge monkey. The winner this week though had to be the double baked chocolate biscotti!
Winner of Biscuit week – @jessrose_litherland
Week 3 – Bread week
Onto bread week now. The tv bakers were required to make soda bread, rainbow bagels and a bread plaque! We stuck to a more traditional cheddar and onion loaf
This week you tiny kitchen cooks surpassed expectations, Brown Bird and us found it very difficult to pick a winner, so we didn’t. We picked 2!!! We had some delicious looking entries including naan breads, focaccia and even a stuffed loaf. The worthy winners though had to be these delicious bagels which were filled with burgers, and these delicious burger buns. Burgers all round this week!
Bread week winner – @the_peri_pot
Bread week winner – @2-wanderers-on-the-road
Week 4 – Chocolate Week
It was onto chocolate week, the first challenge for the TV bakers were brownies. The technical challenge was a tricky chocolate babka. The show stopping finale was a tiered white chocolate cake.
Once again, we stuck with our trusty Omnia oven. We decided to use our silicon muffin mould again. We made double chocolate banana muffins, the recipe can be found here
There wasn’t too many entries for van bake off this week, we wonder if the show left you feeling a little uninspired. Brown bird were definitely inspired and they created an AMAZING chocolate babka in their van.
The entries we did get looked delicious, quality over quantity right? We had an amazing looking chocolate & peanut butter cake, a festive Halloween entry. A scrummy looking nutella banana bread, some salted caramel chocolate muffins. Another entry was a fab chestnut and chocolate cake cooked in the Omnia. There was a very well deserving winner this week who definitely created her own show stopper. It was our original star baker Carrie of @freespirit_c_g who wowed us again. This time is was with her Triple Chocolate Orange Drizzle Cake.
Chocolate week winner @freespirit_c_g
Week 5 – Pastry Week
Week 5 meant pastry in vanlife bake off, sweet or savoury. The TV bakers were challenged with cornish pasties and eclairs. For the show stopper they had to create a tart with a pastry cage over the top! We made some Cheesy Potato & Leek Pasties with leftovers.
Once again we had some delicious looking entries. There was a good mixture of sweet and savoury entries. Of the sweet entries there were some peach danishes (baked in a car) and a sweet pumpkin pie. They also included a delicious pear & stem ginger pie from our double star baker @freespirit_c_g. The final sweet entry was some toblerone turnovers which looked cooked to perfection!
Of the savoury entries we had some sausage rolls cooked on a sandwich toaster, inventive! Special mention has to go to @wildernessvandwellers for their incredible entry. It was a very close call between their amazing pie and the star baker entry. Both had incredible detail on the top of the pie and it must have been very time-consuming. This autumn inspired pie was filled with pumpkin, lentil and sage.
The very deserving star baker this week created one of the most deep filled pies we have ever seen! Well done to @nextstopevwhere It was full to the brim with chicken, leek and mushroom. The detail on the top was amazing and must have taken so much time – We never thought we would see our name in pastry!
Pastry week winner @nextstopevwhere
Next week is very exciting, it’s Japanese week….. Stay tuned
Laura and Benedict are some of our newest vanlifers – in the sense that they are new to our site and new to vanlife! They gave up their jobs and their flat and are embarking on full time vanlife together in their van Nellie. They are big fans of oats, which feature in their breakfast most days, read more below about what they like to eat while in Nellie the van. You can follow their journey along at @lauraandbenedict Make sure to check out their YouTube too for an excellent tutorial on how NOT to empty your Porta Potti.
Which country are you based in?
England
HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR VAN?
1 month!
Was it self built?
No, it was newly converted when we bought it although we have added many of our own modifications.
What is your favourite feature in your van?
Our big comfy bed!
How do you travel in your van?
Full time
What’s your favourite vanlife experience so far?
The ultimate Nellie experience so far was probably the day we bought her. We’d been searching for a little while and were on an ever growing time constraint to find a home on wheels due to the tenancy on our flat running out. After some long but quick road trips to Devon and South London, we set out to Essex with the idea that we’d be viewing a van that had potential.
When we arrived we knew that this van was the one and it was then or never. The feeling of making a big purchase, parting with all the money you have, knowing that anything could happen once you drive that van away is something that neither of us felt ‘adult’ enough for (despite being in our mid/late twenties) but that was the start to this epic adventure and we’re so ready to journey further into it.
What has been your worst experience so far?
We had a pretty hilarious experience upon first emptying our cassette toilet. Ben had watched countless tutorials on how to do it and assured that he knew exactly what he was doing, only to press a release button and end up making a bit of a mess. If you want to see how NOT to empty a cassette toilet then head to our YouTube to watch the Vlog.
Cooking, food and nutrition is a huge part of our lives so when looking for a van we wanted to make sure there was plenty of space to get our recipes on. Laura is an oat-based breakfast specialist and actually has a food/yoga blog (http://instagram.com/self.tula) and Benedict loves to master plant-based dinners, often making up recipes to create nutritious and delicious treats.
We have two gas hobs which is all we need. We have thought about an oven but for the time being are going to make do. It is fun to get creative and the more limited you are, the more creative you have to be. That’s what makes cooking fun!
What’s your favourite van kitchen accessory?
Our kitchen roll holder which hangs above the sink. It was made out of leftover wood from some shelving that we were putting up. Ben just made it without planning on doing so. It’s definitely really important to keep your van tidy, especially when cooking. A small space soon becomes cluttered and a mess will form very quickly (especially with Ben around) so it’s handy to have a quick clean up nearby.
We also made cupboard interiors that hold all our pots, pans and plates in place when we’re on the move. It means we have proper ceramic plates instead of eating from camping gear. Although, we haven’t been on any gnarly roads just yet so we’ll see if they definitely hold up!
Favourite things to cook in your van?
Oats are our staple breakfast and we’ve developed so many ways to make them; from stove top porridge, oat pancakes, crepes and homemade granola.
We heat up fruit, usually cherries or berries, and add in chia seeds to create a chia jam. The chia seeds thicken it right up and it serves as a beautiful topping. Breakfast is a real ritual for us so its probably our favourite thing to cook full stop.
Check out their fab recipe for Easy Vegan Berry Oats HERE
Any cooking disasters?
So far, so good. Other than the state of Ben’s top after he’s eaten…
Any funny stories?
We’re (hopefully) days away from setting off on the road for travels so it’s been fairly uneventful so far. We did book the van in for a service just after we bought it and it wouldn’t start as we went to drive it to the garage. The AA had to be called out and the AA guy loved our van so much. He took a video to send to his sister who follows vanlifers, followed us on Instagram and YouTube and wanted to feature in our Vlog! Shout out to Rob from the AA!
You can catch up with Laura, Benedict & Nellie through the social media links on their profile. Head to their profile to have a look at their favourite recipes to make in their van
To apply for a featured post on vanlifeeats.com simply follow this link and fill out the application form. We promote all featured van lifers across all our social media networks, we send out a “featured Van Lifer” sticker for your van as well as awarding you a prestigious badge for your profile on our website.
What are the Best Vanlife Meals To Cook Whilst Travelling?
Being passionate vanlife foodies and from speaking regularly to the vanlife community about food, recipes and what they love to cook in their vans, we have compiled 8 of the best vanlife meals to cook on the road whilst travelling.
Travelling in your converted van or living the vanlife dream can be a pretty fast-paced and it is important to be prepared so that you can enjoy the culinary side of vanlife.
We cook some very adventurous meals in our van and on the other side of the extreme we continuously hear people say they usually just live on pasta whilst travelling in their vans. This is usually just down to a lack of being organised and being unprepared.
We put together Vanlife Eats because we wanted to inspire people with great and easy food that can be made on the road.
Upon chatting with vanlifers worldwide, we always ask “what are the best vanlife meals to cook whilst travelling”. We often hear the same meals being spoken about and we wanted to share this with our followers.
All of the recipes below are compiled from the results of surveys and conversations we have had with vanlife cooks across the globe.
The outcome is ideal for suggestions for when you’re stuck with what to cook next in your van.
Counting down from 8 here are the best vanlife meals to cook whilst travelling.
One pot, a variety of ingredients and the spices of your choice make stews an incredibly easy and hassle free meal to cook in your van.
Whilst a stew might seem like a daunting dish to create whilst travelling, with the smell of the stew cooking away teasing your taste buds for a couple of hours, the hardest part is actually not eating it all before it’s even dinner time!
This dish can be easily created with either meat, legumes or just veg in a single burner, minimal gas and one stovetop pot and it really is such a versatile dish to cook with so many variations.
Cook a meat stew slowly for maximum flavour and simmer in wine, beer, stock or water, add the vegetables of your choice and salivate your way through to dinner time.
Serve the stew with rice, mash, couscous or add potatoes to the stew to create a whole meal in the one single pot.
After a few hours you’ll have created a mouth-watering dinner which is especially a treat when warding off a cold night.
Photo & Recipe @vanlifeeats
7. Spaghetti Bolognese
Bolognese is that simple comfort food dish that’s heart warming and brings back memories of
home.
Traditional Italian recipes use a mixture of both pork and beef mince but that’s all very well if you have a full-size kitchen, us vanlifers can make an awesome Bolognese sauce by using just one type of mince.
Vegetarians and vegans favour this dish too as meat free mince can make an amazing Bolognese! Personally I love a lentil ragu!
Spaghetti is the classic pasta shape of choice but it really does work well with but about every pasta shape so feel free to use anything you have on hand.
Bolognese sauce also pairs amazingly with rice or bread, so bulk cook and enjoy this dish throughout the week by mixing up the garnishes.
This dish does require two saucepans but if you only have one burner then simply remove the cooked bolognese whilst the spaghetti is cooking, then combine the two pans when cooked.
For some reason, Bolognese sauces always taste better the next day too so go ahead and make a huge pot and save enough to pop in the fridge for tomorrow’s quick lunch!
6. Frittatas
A few eggs and a frying pan come together to create a hearty protein-rich breakfast, lunch or
dinner.
A frittata can be cooked in just 15 minutes and is also ideal for using up leftovers from yesterday’s meals, and it’s actually better to have vegetables and meat that’s been pre-cooked for this dish so make sure you keep your leftovers in the fridge.
Frittatas are just Ideal for vanlife as it is a great method of repurposing ingredients and using up those unused or uneaten veggies.
Customize this Spanish classic with just about any filling you have on hand, fill it with cheese, vegetables, potatoes, herbs, meats or fish then serve hot or cold.
Photo and recipe credit @vannaspice
5. Mexican Rice Bowl
Brown rice, beans, avocado, vegetables are all the staple behind the legendary Mexican rice bowl, but the versatility behind the rice bowl allows you to get creative and add your own twist.
Mexican rice bowls are especially popular with vanlifers as the ingredients which can be paired together are so diverse. You can include just about anything you like and it’s a lot of fun to prepare and make look nice.
You can enjoy a Mexican rice bowl at any temperature, hot as a stir-fried dish or cold as a mixed salad.
Leftover ingredients are transformed with a quick fry, a hint of spice and a top up of some
extra healthiness (tinned kidney beans and tinned sweetcorn are a perfect match).
Look out for our rice bowl challenge coming up!
4. Chilli
Made with meat or with plant-based alternatives a hearty chilli always warms the spot.
The classic chilli con carne is a ground beef based dish, with tomatoes, red kidney beans and spices. It is often served with rice or flat bread. This can easily be made from a campervan twin stove.
We often have people raving about veggie chilli and is also a regular meal made in our very own van.
Veggie chilli can be created with a range of ingredients including, Quorn mince, soy granules and lentils which all closely match the traditional minced meat texture. Lentils seem to be the most popular amongst vanlife recipes as they are tasty, give the perfect texture, easily stored and long-lasting.
When you add the spices and vegetables the chilli really comes to life. Especially suited spices are cumin and paprika.
You will only need one pot for the chilli but if you decide to serve with rice you’ll need a second hob or remove the chilli and cook the rice afterwards. Simmer gently on a low flame until softened.
Chilli is another dish that is even better the next day as the flavours have time to develop so don’t be scared to cook up a big pot and save room in your fridge.
3. Lentil curry
Lentils are filling, nutritious, affordable and quick to cook, taking only about 15 minutes. The lentil curry can be made with several variations of sauce base such as tomato or coconut.
Lentils are easily storable with a long use by date making them a van kitchen essential staple.
Nutritionally, whether tinned or dried they have a high source of protein, fibre and iron whilst being low in calories.
Dried lentils triple in size during cooking to produce a substantial meal, so they fill you up nicely. Spice up the lentil curry with your preferred spices and herbs, serve with rice or a naan (van made of course) and enjoy.
Next level Mac ‘n’ Cheese can be made with basic combination of ingredients which makes it one of the best vanlife meals.
If your van has an oven or grill then there are options for a crispy breadcrumb topping as a crust for the oozing cheesy pasta beneath but this dish is still perfection on the stovetop alone.
Everyone has a favourite Mac ‘n’ Cheese recipe and this can include flavour combinations of different cheeses, mushroom, corn, bacon and even truffle.
With these endless flavour combinations, there’s a Mac ‘n’ Cheese for everyone. Comment below with your favourite combination.
Mac ‘n’ Cheese is another meal that’s great the next day so use leftovers used to make Mac ‘n’ Cheese sandwiches which are a real guilty pleasure of mine!
So here we have it, the vanlifers voted best vanlife meal to cook whilst travelling…
1. Tacos
We all bow down to the mighty Taco as they are essentially a vehicle for your favourite foods, vegetarians, vegans, carnivores – tacos are for everyone.
Classic recipes will include Mexican flavours with beans, meat and cheese as fillings. You really can pack a tortilla with anything you fancy and you’ve got yourself a delicious Taco.
Depending on the fillings a taco can be created without any need for cooking, just simple assembly of the ingredients you have on hand.
The flour tortilla can be transformed into breakfast, lunch, a snack for a trek or dinner, just adjust the filling according to the occasion.
Lightweight, cheap, filling and with a long shelf-life, tortillas are one of the best ingredients to stock up on for a trip.
Alternatively make your own fresh tortilla whilst on the move using four basic ingredients which you’re likely to have on board (flour, water, vegetable oil and salt), a fresh tortilla can be prepared in 45 minutes with a single frying pan and stovetop.
Once prepared, tacos can be wrapped in tinfoil to save on clean-up and enjoyed hot or cold.
What’s your favourite taco filling?
Conclusion
So here we have the ultimate best vanlife meals that people are cooking in their vans. Please comment below and tell us if we’ve missed your favourite.
Our latest featured vanlifer is published author – Janey de Nordwall. Janey is a BAFTA award winning producer for her work in film and advertising. She decided recently to spend 40 days travelling Scotland with her gorgeous cat Kenny in her vintage VW campervan Charlie.
She documents her travels in her new book, which is available here called ‘From a wonky path to an open road’. Janey also became a keen sprouter while on the road – check out her step-by-step instructions here.
What country are you based in at the moment?
U.K
Do you travel in your van part-time or full-time?
Part-time
What has been your favourite experience in your van so far?
Without doubt this would be my life-affirming, life-changing solo six-week road trip! I left the noise of London behind and travelled through England and up the west coast of Scotland weaving in and out of her Inner & Outer Hebrides with my two favourite companions.
Having no sense of direction certainly didn’t hinder me as I just kept heading north and didn’t stop. What could possibly go wrong?! The joy of traveling solo is that no one can tell you that you’ve gone the wrong way, so I happily tootled along single-track roads, long-winding roads and up and down vales singing all the way until I crossed the bonnie wee border. Kenny settled into his new domain pretty quickly and would either look out of the window with his whiskers blowing in the wind or yawn and stretch in the back.
Scotland is one of the most extraordinary countries on the planet. The west coast beaches are covered with white sands which have travelled up the Gulf Stream and sit there empty for van lifers to enjoy. Wild camping is such a luxury, waking in the morning surrounded by, well, nothing, to then enjoy a full cooked breakfast and a cup of tea in silence.
Driving without agenda is totally liberating. It allowed me to throw caution to the wind, make things up as I went along and work things out on the road. Like six weeks of the best therapy ever!
What has been your worst experience in your van?
I guess the thought of breaking down on a road trip when you’re alone is deemed the worst thing possible but, for me, it just turned into another adventure and challenge. I ended up being stranded on the Isle of Islay without a throttle cable and no power going to the battery, with the neared specialist VW garage in Sterling over 130 miles away on the mainland! But, through the over-whelming kindness of people helping a damsel in distress, I got Charlie back on the road and had a few more stories to tell. There’s always a silver lining.
Describe your van kitchen setup…
Charlie is an original VW Danbury Picnic so he doesn’t have any kitchen appliances or shelving installed so all cooking equipment is brought in – camping style. The upside to having no fixtures and fittings is that I have a lot more space in the van and therefore the whole of the back area turns in to one massive bed… and it also means that I can lay out my kitchen and cook where ever I like… like on a protruding rock on the shores of Loch Lomond.
What is your favourite van kitchen accessory and why?
I do like a bit of kit so I’ve covered all bases when it comes to cooking. If I find a campsite with an electrical hook up then my double hob is plugged in. In the absence of any electricity, then gas takes over and my two ring burner, with hot plate and griddle is fired up. And if all else fails, I strike a match for my trusty foldaway fire pit that doubles up as a BBQ.
Creature comforts are important so I have a whistling kettle that matches the colour of Charlie, a very cool roll up knife and bamboo utensil kit, a Swiss Army knife and a whittling knife (you never know when you might need to whittle something), a stackable set of pots, pans and handles, a mug with a matching blue VW campervan on it for morning cuppas, all topped off with my parents’ bright orange melamine crockery set from the ‘70s and individual sets of camping cutlery.
What couldn’t you live without in your van and why?
Kenny my cat. He is the most perfect travelling companion and I couldn’t even imaging going on an adventure without him!
Do you have any first hand funny van life stories to tell?
This has to be told as an excerpt from my book…
It was a two-hour ferry ride to Islay and I arrived right on time with 30 minutes to find my next ferry. I drove down the ramp from the boat and, while still sitting in Charlie, I leant out of the window to ask the first person I saw where I get the ferry to Jura.
Before I even opened my mouth he asked “Are you here for the bike ride tomorrow?”
“Eh?” I replied eloquently.
“Are you sponsored by Bruichladdich?” Bruichladdich is one of eight distilleries on this tiny isle.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about!!” I said, suddenly sounding rather too English.
“Well there’s a 100-mile ride around the island tomorrow and, as your campervan and bike handlebars are the exact same colour as the distillery colours, I just thought that’s why you were here. I thought they’d sent you!”
“Oh!” I laughed, “No! I was just going to go ask you where I get the ferry to Jura! But funnily enough I was meant to be doing the 100-mile ride in London tomorrow for UNICEF and already have sponsors in place so… why not, I’m in! I can always go to Jura tomorrow.”
“Great!” he said with a beaming smile. “Follow me and I’ll show you a campsite where some of the other riders are staying. And anyway, Jura’s covered in midges this year and they have no internet so you’re better off with us!”
And with that, my best laid plans changed and off we went. It turned out that not only was he the organiser of the 100-mile ride but he also ran the Post Office, the SPAR in Port Charlotte, and the petrol station which only had one pump named Pumpy McPumpface. He was definitely the man to know.
Instagram:@silverjaney
You can catch up with Janey & Kenny on her social media pages and website www.janeydenordwall.com
To apply for a featured post on vanlifeeats.com simply follow this link and fill out the application form. We promote all featured van lifers across all our social media networks, we send out a “featured Van Lifer” sticker for your van as well as awarding you a prestigious badge for your profile on our website.
Guest author familywellnesswanderers share their favourite gluten free snacks for their family adventures.
Hi, we are a traveling family of 4 with 2 girls, ages 13 and 15, and our 3 little dogs. A year ago, we sold all our stuff and left our home to travel the world.
We have spent our time visiting interesting and unique places and exploring nature. Our goal is to share this wellness journey for families to inspire others to find their own passions and follow their dreams!
To find out more our YouTube channel is FAMILYWANDERERS. If you would like to subscribe thank you so much for your support!
On our journey into health we stuck to our “less stuff-more experiences” motto, left our home and hit the road to do some family travel backpacking. Even before we started traveling full time, we were an adventurous family but continuously struggle with finding ways to eat healthy on the go. We would flip between being stuck at home eating very well to traveling and just eating packaged food on the road. When we did end up eating healthy during travel, we would end up having a jerky stick and some carrots, which is fine but definitely not a sustainable diet.
Eventually, we figured out a good balance of between having fun food and being healthy and gluten free on our adventures! Whether we are hiking up a mountain, going on a bike ride or just spending the day at a National Park, these following recipes are our absolute favorites! They only take few minutes to make and give us the energy we need to really enjoy our time when we’re out exploring.
Our recipes….
Charming chia pudding
This is a fun and easy treat you can eat for a breakfast or as a dessert. And its super healthy, with no added sweetener. We used to buy this from our favorite café. But it is really simple to make which is great if you don’t have any extra time. Click here for full recipe
Topped Avocado Halves
This is a fun and yummy meal on the go. The avocado halves are easy to make and don’t require much to make. We bring them along in a container on picnics or on long drives. Click here for full recipe
Crunchy Chocolate Bark
Our family loves chocolate! And we also take it on the road. We find the best local chocolate wherever we happen to be and then use it to create this delicious on-the-go treat. Click here for the full recipe
Nat & Abi travel have been travelling full-time in their van Towanda for the last 18 months. They travel with their furry companions Bear & Peluche. Natalie is a very keen chef and likes to be creative in the kitchen, you should check out her pandemic meal here, amazing food created from van pantry non-perishables. Nat is so passionate about cooking that every week she creates a new vegan dish for their YouTube channel, while Abi uses her videographer skills to capture the magic! You can check it out on their Insta too #letsplayrideandeat
Which country are you based in at the moment?
We are currently based in the United States
How long have you been travelling in your van?
My wife and I have been traveling in our van for a year and 6 months now
Are you Part-time of Full-time Vanlifers?
We are full time vanlifers
What’s your van kitchen set-up?
Our kitchen set up is spacious with a counter half the length of the van with tons of cabinet storage. We went with a durable live edge white pine countertop and recycled wood backsplash that has a nook for my spices.
We went with a smaller sink to save prep space and also chose an unfixed two stove burner that runs off of clean burning, denatured alcohol. I also keep a portable one burner gas stove that holds a single butane burner. My main go to’s are my Tojiro series Gyuto Chef’s knife, 12.5” and 8” Amsha kitchen cast iron pans, my Vitamix blender, and my Instapot. We have a 45 QT top load 12 volt fridge and I very much enjoy my tiny hand and tiny whisk! I also do a heavy amount of my cooking over an outside fire.
What’s your favourite feature in your van?
I would say our favorite feature of the van is our live edge countertop. The bedroom nook at the end of the kitchen cabinets is pretty sweet too.
What is your favourite van kitchen gadget?
My favorite van kitchen gadget is definitely my vitamix, but my knife is in constant use so it is the most necessary.
What’s the best meal you have had in your van?
The best meal we’ve had would hands down be the Indian Thali I prepared in Baja Mexico. It was a pop up restaurant I ran with a friend. A thali consists of various veggies, rice, pita bread, and condiments using your hands and pita to eat with. I made roughly 20 items on a one pot burner for around 15 people in my van parked on the beach. The dinner sold out. I even made some meat eaters vegan believers. It was the most important experience in my culinary career.
What’s the worst meal you have had in your van?
The worst meal we’ve ever had was when we were down to basically nothing In the van. We hadn’t done a grocery run in over two weeks. We tried to make morning oats with quinoa. The sweetness did not work out very well!
What do you cook most in your van?
We eat plant based in the van. We make a lot of salads, ramen and rice bowls, and hearty veggie/bean dishes with bold spice.
Do you have any funny vanlife stories to share?
One of the funniest vanlife stories we remember would be when we were in Northern California at a travel center. We pulled up because we needed to plug into shore power for awhile to charge our batteries and saw an outlet by their propane fill up area. We were working in the van, minding our own business when a cop knocked on our door. We didn’t ask to use the outlet so I figured we were getting in trouble even though that seemed silly. I opened the door and he just wanted to say how cool the van was and talk about how he was interested in the lifestyle! We showed him the rig and he lended to the idea that being a cop wasn’t where he wanted to be in life anymore. After the chat we told him to follow our travels and he was off. About five minutes later, we got another knock. I opened to a lady with a bag. She said she was from the church down the way and brought us two meals they had extra from a potluck. She said she saw the cop “harassing” us and felt bad. She said she wanted to feed us since we were “down on our luck” lol We didn’t tell her we were living our dream lives and were financially sound. It was sweet. We paid it forward by giving the food to a drunk dude at the bar we went to that night. Silly things happen in this life.
You can catch up with Abi & Natalie through the social media links on their profile. Head to their profile to have a look at their favourite recipes to make in their van
To apply for a featured post on vanlifeeats.com simply follow this link and fill out the application form. We promote all featured van lifers across all our social media networks, we send out a “featured Van Lifer” sticker for your van as well as awarding you a prestigious badge for your profile on our website.
Do you sprout when out and about in your van? Here, guest blog post author Janey de Nordwall explains why and how she decided to sprout while on the road.
Janey
After 25 wonderful years in the film and advertising industry, as a BAFTA-winning Producer and Managing Director, I finally had enough of all the stress and noise and decided to give the whole lot up! It was both liberating and terrifying, especially as I had no clear plan of action in mind. I packed my bags, my spirited cat called Kenny and fired up my 1970s VW campervan called Charlie and we headed north for a journey that changed my life. So much so, I wrote a book called FROM A WONKY PATH TO AN OPEN ROAD.
The book
My new book (available on Amazon in print and on Kindle) is my memoir and travelogue of my journey, where eating and cooking played a deliciously important role.
Here’s a food-related excerpt from Chapter Two:So, How Do You Prep For A Road Trip?
Apart from capers I eat everything and I’m as healthy as I can be when I’m out and about but I’m not a happy cook in the kitchen when home alone. I find it especially hard to motivate myself to cook for one and many a time I have settled down after a hard day’s work to a packet of Twiglets and a crumpet, washed down with a glass of wine. No guilt. But I really wanted to eat well whilst away on my travels. A dear friend of mine, concerned about my Twiglet habit, felt that I would need more fresh produce in me and told me how easy it was to sprout beans. “Great idea! I’ll do that!” I had no idea what she was talking about. Luckily, a couple of days before I left, we arranged to meet and she talked me through how to sprout mung beans, buck wheat, chickpeas and alfalfa in recycled takeaway containers. She brought me a selection of these dried goods complete with written instructions and a selection of other magical essentials to pep up my dinners: roasted seeds and nuts, a balsamic spray, soy sauce, honey and pul biber. She said all I needed was some fresh Scottish salmon and I could prepare a meal fit for a queen. I had to trust her on that one!
What’s it all a-sprout?
So, with that in mind, I thought I’d share one of my favourite dishes du jour together with The Art of Sprouting Beans in a Van! Now, I love a bit of kit and my van kitchen is made up of some wonderfully indulgent branded stoves, knives, utensils and gadgets but… I also love a bit of upcycling and sprouting does not need anything fancy or expensive. Here’s how to add a wonderful source of protein to any meal with added crunch along the way.
Rinse 5 tablespoons of good quality mung beans in water until the water runs clear.
Cover with twice as much water and cover with secure fitting lid.
Leave in a dark cupboard for 2 nights.
4. Rinse the water every morning until it runs clear. This is very important.
5. The beans will double in size over two days.
6. Drain off all the water.
7. Split the beans into two containers to give them room to sprout.
8. Cover both containers with lids with holes. As you can see the holes don’t need to be perfect!!
9. Leave the containers in a dark place for another two days but give them a shake each morning.
10. Once they have sprouted they are ready to eat.
11. To serve, season with salt and pepper and with spray with a light balsamic oil or drizzle with a some of truffle oil.
12. This can accompany anything and everything – it did for me!
Have you read Janey’s book? Comment below to let us know what you think and where she should go adventuring next.
Janey really enjoyed cooking when on the road, see her recipe for Cheesy Tomato Risotto here!
If you would like to write a guest post for us email us at hello@vanlifeeats.com
Meet Anthony & Sharon of The Bearded Van, this couple love an adventure in their van. Anthony is a keen and skilled fisherman (check out his video on YouTube of him landing an actual shark!) Being as he is the main cook, fish makes up a fair bit of their diet.
They have been spending some time at home recently enjoying time with their family but now they are back on the road and looking forward to meeting fellow friendly vanlifers, so if you see them on your travels be sure to say hi!
Which country are you based in at the moment?
USA
How long have you been travelling in your van?
We officially moved into our van September 2019 while we were still finishing our build. We started traveling right before Christmas 2019. We were able to spend four months on an epic road trip traveling the coast of Florida.
Do you travel in your van full-time or part-time?
We have been home since April but will start traveling again, full time in a couple weeks! We are so excited and yet a little nervous at the same time. The world has changed so much since we came home. I hope people are still as kind as they were when we traveled earlier this year. We had such great experiences.
What is your van kitchen set-up?
We have a 12 v Dometic fridge. 2 burner gas cooktop. Butcher block countertop. A nice size sink. We love our kitchen set up and wouldn’t change a thing.
What is your favourite feature in your van?
For Anthony it is our solar power system. He is all about being prepared for any situation and I would say that greatly reflects in our van, especially the solar setup. My favorite thing in our van is the bed. I did a lot of research to find a non-toxic and comfy mattress and it was so worth it! Then I spent a lot of time finding the softest sheets I could find in organic cotton. We would rather sleep in our van than anywhere else!
What is your favourite van kitchen gadget?
Our cast iron skillet.
What is the best meal you have had in your van?
We’ve had so many that it’s hard to pick.. Possibly the best one was on Christmas Day when Anthony made homemade noodles that he rolled out with a yeti! He topped them with perfectly creamy Alfredo (homemade of course), mushrooms, and a giant slab of buttery steak. I also have to think of this one time when a gentleman gave us oysters and we steamed oysters in our van in the middle of a Walmart parking lot. It was pouring down rain outside but inside we were cozy and warm, eating a 5 star meal!
What is the worst meal you have had in your van?
Fast food. We inevitably feel like crap after.
What do you cook most in your van?
Anthony is our main cook. If I make a meal it’s going to be something simple and fast like eggs and toast or a turkey sandwich. But when Anthony cooks, he goes all out. He loves fishing so the main thing he makes is fish in a variety of different ways. The classic way to prepare them is fried in butter and coconut oil with a light breading and a side of hush puppies. Yum! He also does fish tacos, or pan fries them and places them on top of a giant salad. The one time we found our own personal island and he made grilled redfish on the half shell… so good! I thank God everyday that I married this man!
Do you have any funny vanlife stories to share?
Well it’s always a riot when we shower outside! Especially if it’s an unfamiliar place but we think it’s private enough to not hang a curtain! Inevitably, I will be super nervous and drop everything, panicking to try to get done quickly. Anthony will just take his good old time all the while laughing at me!
You can catch up with Sharon & Anthony through the social media links on their profile. Head to their profile to have a look at their favourite recipes to make in their van
To apply for a featured post on vanlifeeats.com simply follow this link and fill out the application form. We promote all featured van lifers across all our social media networks, we send out a “featured Van Lifer” sticker for your van as well as awarding you a prestigious badge for your profile on our website.
Homemade, healthy, vegetarian meals in the van. Yes please!
Hi there, it’s Jen with @the.waglers and we are weekend van lifers. When we are out on the road, we like to be self-sustained. We pack enough food and water so that we do not have to go into small towns to stock up. I’m excited to share with you some tips for making cooking on the road easy, healthy and fast. All it takes is a little planning and prep at home.
Let’s go through a meal prep for a weekend away.
Meals (overview):
Day 1:
Breakfast: Overnight oats
Lunch: Orzo salad
Dinner: Taco night
Day 2:
Breakfast: Tofu and/or egg scramble
Lunch: Falafel pitas
Dinner: Fresh veggie pasta
We have a 2 burner, induction cooktop in our van, which along with a few key kitchen items allow us to whip up some healthy meals in just a few minutes. We prefer to spend time on the road adventuring or relaxing… but definitely not cooking all day.
Chopped onions, peppers, garlic (for tacos, scramble and pasta night – bring a bit)
Fresh tomatoes
Pitas
Wraps/taco shells
Dry pasta
Frozen hash browns for your scramble. No freezer? Pre-bake some potatoes instead.
Hummus and tahini (premade or store bought)
Can of beans (for taco night)
Salsa, ketchup and other condiments
Kitchen Essentials:
Pots/pans – our induction stovetop came with a few pans, we use those
A few plates, bowls, cups, silverware (we tend to have 2-4 of each item for 2 of us)
Small cutting board and knife
A big serving spoon and spatula
Small teapot and Chemex (for pour over coffee)
Additionally, we keep a few spices, coffee and tea, olive oil, avocado oil and a small emergency food bin (which contains some beans, rice and pasta) in the van. And we always have snacks… sometimes girl scout cookies!
Day 1:Breakfast is easy. Stir up your overnight oats and add your toppings. Eat right out of the container you packed it in and save yourself a dish to wash. Typically, we are either driving or adventuring on day 1 which makes an already prepped lunch key! I will often pre-portion orzo salad for our lunches. Sometimes we go wild and add avocado, hummus or a falafel on top. Taco Tuesday is our favorite meal of the week and in the van, who knows what day it is? Our veggie tacos do vary with the seasons (check out our website for Tacos 3 Ways) and we tend to use veggies from our home garden. We often add a can of black beans and throw everything in a tortilla with premade tomatillo salsa (recipe on our website) or fresh diced garden tomatoes.
Day 2:Start the morning off right with some coffee and get those hash browns on the stove. This is the most time-consuming meal we make (it takes 10-15min) because it takes a while to get frozen hash browns nice and crispy on the van stove. Once your hash browns cook, add your leftovers from taco Tuesday and/or any other veggies. My husband will often add a fried egg on top of his breakfast. Lunch is easy. Stuff your pita with premade falafels, hummus and tahini. The chopped carrots, cabbage and radishes you brought top this lunch off well. If you’re still hungry for dinner, boil some water for pasta and then sauté up a fresh veggie sauce to go on top. We have a delicious fresh pasta sauce recipe on our website also that we often will prep ahead of time.
For full recipes and other #vanlife inspiration visit our website https://thewaglers.com and follow us on Instagram @the.waglers
Many of us living van life like to be at one with nature and plant based diets are very common in the van life community but have you ever considered plant based medicine?
To some people this may seem obscured and irresponsible not to lean on years of medicinal research to cure and prevent illness but it’s useful to know about the natural remedies that carried us through generations and generations of human evolution.
Disclaimer
By no means am I a doctor and if you are unwell you should see a medical professional. This guide is for reference to those interested in herbal remedies and myself or this website will not be held responsible or accounted for in any health complications you have or develop.
What are herbal remedies?
Herbal remedies are natural treatments for health improvements from a plant based source. Whilst available to purchase from health stores there are many herbs and plants that can be picked from nature’s garden.
Herbal remedies are often referred to as supplements as not to deter from scientific and conventional medical treatment and are advised as a boost to your prescribed treatment or health in general. This isn’t necessarily because of the effectiveness, so it’s definitely worth having some knowledge on natural remedies for healing and keeping healthy.
Why use natural remedies?
The aim of using natural remedies is to cleanse and return the body to a natural state so that it can heal itself.
Sometimes for a healthy mind you may not feel the want to ingest a synthetic based drug. For example you feel a headache coming on so instead of taking paracetamol you could first try a herbal remedy such as a peppermint tea.
Perhaps you are having trouble sleeping and a valerian tea will help rest your mind.
Herbal medicine is a great first step to help you feel revitalised. Should any symptoms persist you should seek medical advice.
The risks of herbal medicine
It is important to understand that some herbal remedies may counteract your prescribed medication so if you are being professionally prescribed medication of any kind then you must consult your doctor or health professional to see if and what herbal supplementation is ok to take.
Second to the risks of counteracting synthetic medicine there is also the risk of poisoning from misidentified plant consumption. Always use a reputable source such as a herbal specialist store to purchase your natural medicines.
Although herbs and plants used for natural medication are generally referred to as safe, there are many plants used for medicinal uses that are actually very toxic and consumed with the wrong dosage can cause poisoning.
Many medicinal plants are banned within certain countries as they are considered to have a “drug” type effect. Picture a rainforest tribal ritual to clear the demons!
Why herbal medicine for van life?
Herbal medicine can of course be used by anyone in any scenario but I’ve brought this subject up to coincide with van life because of the common health risks that can occur with van life.
Sleep
Van life, as dream-like as some of us see it, it can actually put a strain on both your body and mind. It’s not always fresh ocean air and the sound of calming waves to send us to sleep!
It can be a restless night for many of us sleeping in a van from the anxiety of parking up at night and potentially getting a knock on the window from the police or even worse, getting a break-in from criminals.
Lack of sleep can cause a whole variety of health problems such as fatigue, headaches, sickness and even depression.
Sustainability
Whilst we are traveling in our vans, living the van life dream, many of us like to be as sustainable as we can with as little dependencies on the urban life as possible.
Having a knowledge of readily available resources is a great way to maintain this lifestyle.
You already have medication with you, you just need to know what common foods and local herbs have the desires medicinal effects.
Location
Van life often takes us out into the wilderness and away from chemists and the most basic of stores and sometimes it’s just not easy to get out to to buy medication.
Whether you are parked up in the middle of nowhere or on a hike up a mountain you never know when you might start to feel unwell, but it could be a huge trek to get to synthetic medication.
You may well have food on-board that can help and often there are herbs, plants and flowers that will potentially help with many ailments.
It’s good knowledge to have and it may well save you the hassle of venturing back to the city.
Vitality
Let’s face it, you are on a van life adventure and you want to make the most of it. Feeling strong and energetic is essential to make the most of hikes, swims and activities.
Keeping yourself topped up with vitamins and minerals is a good idea and a lot of this can be sourced from natural food.
What are the best plant based medicines
Here are our top 10 best healing herbs that fit with van life living that are safe and effective but don’t forget to talk with your doctor about any herbs or plant based medication you intend to take.
Chasteberry
Ladies, this is a known herbal remedy for relieving PMS. It’s a highly researched herbal remedy for a variety of gynaecological disorders and breast pain.
Whilst not necessarily easy to forage it is a great herbal supplement to have stocked if you suffer from these symptoms.
Dosage: Capsules: Take 250–500 mg dried fruit once per day.
Tincture: Take 2–3 ml each morning.
Cranberry
This is a well established treatment for water infections. A couple of glasses of cranberry juice a day can help get the bladder functions and ease the pain.
Juice: Drink ½-¾ cup twice per day.
Capsules: Take 300–500 mg concentrated juice extract 2 times per day.
Garlic
Garlic is often used to treat common colds and ease sinus congestion. It’s also a great treatment in preventing travellers diarrhea and for lowering blood pressure.
Eat 1-2 raw cloves daily when you have a cold or are suffering from diarrhea. Anything to help settle the suffering of that in your van right?
Ginger
This is a known treatment for nausea but studies have shown that ginger is also a very effective treatment for headaches and sinus congestion.
Ginger capsules and ginger tea are easy to obtain and a great way to take the twinges away when you are feeling nauseous.
There are known potential drug interactions with ginger and other blood thinning supplements so be careful not to mix the two.
Valerian
With the sound of the road, the worries of a night time disturbance or emotions of being alone, it can be hard to sleep whilst living van life.
Valerian is native to Europe, Asia and North America and is common in all health shops and is used as a treatment for insomnia and anxiety.
The most common way to supplement Valerian is in a tea or by taking root capsules.
Maca
Native to South America this nutrient dense herbaceous plant has some super stress relieving properties.
Maca has also shown to have positive effects with hormone balance as well as increasing energy and improving mood.
Probably not the most accessible plant to pick in the wild but taking Maca in a capsule form is a great way to help relieve some of the stresses you may be experiencing with Van Life.
If you suffer from any thyroid problems you should avoid Maca and consult your doctor to see if it is safe to consume Maca.
Matcha
Whilst often confused with Maca, Matcha is a completely different supplement altogether.
Matcha is a form of green tea yet one cup of Matcha tea can boost all the benefits of 10 cups of regular green tea.
Matcha is an antioxidant and will help you detox your body as well as improving your stamina and concentration levels.
One to two cups of Matcha tea a day is enough to give you a slow releasing energy boost throughout the day.
Nettles
Whilst the thought of touching nettles may seem off-putting and the thought of eating them just pure craziness, Nettles are actually packed with nutrients and have a variety of health benefits.
The antioxidant effects of consuming nettles are said to potentially help improve cell damage and aging related effects.
Nettles have also had positive results in studies for reducing inflammation and reducing inflammatory hormones.
Other positive studies in the benefits of consuming nettles include lowering blood pressure, arthritis relief and helping with hayfever.
The sting is easily removed by heating or rubbing the leaf.
A great way to get these benefits is to boil some nettles up for a nettle tea.
Perfect for the active outdoorsy van lifer.
Evening Primrose
The oil of these little yellow flowers has been said to help relieve PMS, breast pains and improve skin conditions such as eczema.
Named “evening primrose” because the yellow flowers emerge as the sun goes down.
The plant is native to North America and grows in some parts of Europe and Asia. Although there are benefits to using the whole plant, the most effective part is the oil that is obtained from the seeds.
The recommended dosage is to take evening primrose oil in capsule form.
Take 6-8g of evening primrose oil daily to treat and relieve eczema or skin disorders. Reduced the treatment to 2-4g for children.
Take 3-4g of oil daily for menstrual problems.
You may need to regularly take evening primrose oil for up to three months to see the benefits.
Dandelion
Often considered a weed and a very common plant that can be found in just about every field yet an incredible source of vitamins and minerals.
Dandelion greens can be eaten raw or cooked and are a great source of vitamins A, C and K. They also contain vitamin E, folate and vitamin Bs. They are also rich in iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium.
The root of the plant can be dried and made into a nutritious tea that is high in carbohydrate inulin which is a form of fibre that helps with bacterial flora within your intestinal tract.
Dandelions are a powerful antioxidant and a great medicine for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol as well as cleansing the liver and reducing stress.
A powerful free medicine on your van doorstep!
Dosage: Fresh dandelion root: 2 to 8 grams daily.
Dandelion root powder: 3 to 4 grams mixed with 150 milliliters of warm water.
Dandelion tea infusion: 1 tablespoon of chopped root mixed with 150 milliliters of hot water for 20 minutes.
Fresh root extract: 1 to 2 tablespoons daily.
Dried dandelion extract: 0.75 to 1.0 grams daily.
The flowers can be sprinkled on a salad to taste.
Conclusion
Whilst not all of these natural medicines are easily accessible in the wild, most health shops will be able to supply you with a supplement.
If you regularly suffer from a particular ailment they do make a really good addition to your medicine box and a potential alternative to a synthetic drug.
Keep healthy and enjoy van life with a clear and focused mind. ….I’m such a hippie! ?
Yuko and Eric have been travelling full time in their van Bernie for just over a year now. They have traveled parts of the USA, Canada and they are currently exploring Mexico.
‘Asobo’ translated from Japanese, means ‘let’s play’ which sums up the way this couple choose to enjoy their time on the road, living in the moment. As well as Insta these guys have a really cool blog about their travels.
Which country are you based in at the moment?
We have been traveling around Mexico in our campervan for the last 8 months, and we absolutely love it here.
Viva México!
How long have you been traveling in your van?
We’re currently at 15 months and counting. We are hoping to get to Argentina before any talk of ending van life. But because of Covid-19, our trip will likely be much longer than originally anticipated.
What is your van kitchen set-up?
For our countertop, we use a walnut butcher block. For cooking, we use a simple Coleman camping propane stove. And finally for dish cleaning, we have a Ruvati sink made specifically for RVs in mind. We love a larger and deeper sink for storing our used and clean dishes.
What is your favorite feature in your van?
It was not part of our original plan to build it in the beginning, but we love our little spice rack. We made it with leftover plywood when we were 99% done with our van build. It’s become a super useful space to store all our spices and hot sauces.
What is your favorite feature in your van?
We love our Instant Pot! We don’t know how to live van life without this. When we’re feeling lazy (which can be quite often) we cut whatever vegetables we have on hand and throw some meat and spices into our electric pressure cooker. We close the lid, press a button, and in 40 minutes, our dinner is ready!
No need to babysit our pot. It’s the best item we’ve purchased for our van.
What is the best meal you have had in your van?
That’s a hard question! We’ve had too many good meals in our van. But one of our best meals is a Japanese curry cooked in our Instant Pot. We dice up some potatoes, carrots, onions, and chicken. Then throw in a couple Japanese curry cubes.
After pouring the finished curry over white rice, we like to top everything off with some cilantro or dry raisins.
What is the worst meal you have had in your van?
I would like to say that we NEVER have bad meals, but there was this one time we tried to cooked “Tonkatsu”(Japanese deep fried pork) but cooking deep fried food in the van is a bad idea!! (The oily/greasy smell stays for a while… :/)
Do you have any funny vanlife stories to share?
It must be typical of van life but I would say one of our most memorable stories was during our very first week of living in our van. On our first day in Canada, we had the worst luck desperately hunting for place to go #2 in Vancouver late at night!
We don’t carry toilet in the van and that was the only time we had a serious emergency.
We stayed in this big park in Vancouver for a few nights. At 8pm we decided to go a poop run before we slept. But the park bathroom had just closed before we got there.
We ended up driving around our part of the city just looking for a bathroom to use. And things got pretty desperate quickly. The grocery store wouldn’t let us in their ’employees only’ bathroom. And the nearby shopping mall had just closed.
We were so desperate that we thought of digging a hole in the nearby bush but were too embarrassed in our early van life days. In the end we found a gas station a few kilometers away. (When you need one you can never find one, so we had to drive around for awhile….:/) We found salvation in the end, but that was a really close call!
Want to be featured on vanlifeeats.com?
To apply for a featured post on vanlifeeats.com simply follow this link and fill out the application form. We promote all featured van lifers across all our social media networks, we send out a “featured Van Lifer” sticker for your van as well as awarding you a prestigious badge for your profile on our website.
As a passionate cook and living full-time van life, here is my honest review of the Omnia oven, and will I claim this to be the best campervan oven?
As a full time, van lifer space and organisation is a serious aspect of being comfortable living in a tiny home. Like many people living van life I opted for storage space instead of fitting a gas oven.
I am a long time passionate cook and since moving into my van this has not changed. If anything I have become more passionate and I now think more about my health and nutrition as well as eating fresh and local produce.
Most of the time I cook from a twin stovetop and this was no different whilst living in a house with a full-size kitchen, but there are some foods that just can’t be made without an oven.
When I heard about the Omnia oven and how it is being claimed as one of the best van life or campervan ovens, I was curious, but when I heard you can make roast potatoes and even cake on a stove I was totally sold and had to get one.. like yesterday!
The reputation of the Omnia oven was clearly spreading as I was unable to find one as everywhere including Amazon was completely sold out. It was a long wait for the oven to be back in stock but after daily stock checks, I finally saw them back on sale on Amazon. Woohoo! The Omnia oven was finally mine!
What is the Omnia oven?
The Omnia oven is a stove-top appliance that sits on top of your hob, and using a variety of heat sources it allows you to cook foods that would normally require the use of an oven.
It is a circular ring-shaped tin, that is similar looking to a bundt tin, and it sits on top of your stove hob.
The Omnia oven comes in three parts, the stainless steel base, the central aluminum container and then the aluminum lid.
How does the Omnia oven work?
There are two main cavities within the Omnia oven that maintain an even heat.
As well as the heat from underneath the pan, heat from the hob is dispersed into the central cavity and back into the top of the oven spreading an even containment of heat from the top and bottom within the tin.
Through vent holes around the tin, the heat and moisture can escape thus not allowing the food to get soggy.
The result is a nice even dry cook.
What can you cook in an Omnia oven?
You can cook just about anything in an Omnia oven. The most common foods to cook that are making the Omnia oven stand out are:
Cakes
Pizza
Roast Potatoes
Shepherds Pie
Lasagna
Pasta Bake
Hash Browns
These are all meals that are hard if not impossible to cook and get right whilst cooking in a van.
Omnia have really gone the extra mile with providing an exceptional cooking experience and you will find a variety of recipes on their website and also within the Omnia cookbook that’s also available to purchase.
I would certainly agree that the Omnia oven has revolutionised campervan cooking!
The Omnia oven is a compact and extremely light weight appliance that can be stacked within itself and packed away neatly in a space conscious kitchen.
The tin itself is small enough to sit upon small hobs and almost every camping hob out there.
The Omnia oven comes with it’s very own protective vinyl bag son of you wanted to take the oven out of your campervan and cook on a beach or on a hike then this is all made very easy.
It really is so lightweight that you wouldn’t believe it can be as effective as it is!
What accessories does the Omnia oven require?
Whilst not essential, there are a handful of accessories that can go with the Omnia oven to further improve your campervan cooking experience.
Silicone Insert
If you are making cakes then you will need the silicone insert as the baking paper is difficult to line within the base of the oven due to the ring shape.
This insert will help with keeping the oven clean of burning and tarnishing and it will also keep your cake intact when you take it out of the tin.
The insert can withstand temperatures of -30˚ C – + 260˚ C ( -22˚ F – + 500˚ F ).
Omnia Oven Rack
If you are making pizza….that’s right! Crispy based pizza on a hob! then you will need the rack that fits inside.
The internal rack is particularly useful for baking bread rolls, chips and jacket potatoes.
It is also useful for steaming foods such as fish and vegetables.
Omnia Muffin Ring
The Omnia muffin ring is similar to the silicone mold but shaped perfectly to get the perfect muffin shape.
Enjoy perfectly formed chocolate, blueberry or even breakfast muffins on your campervan hob.
You are starting to agree that this could just be the best campervan oven aren’t you?
My personal experience in how to use the Omnia Oven
Ok so despite waiting so long to get my hands on the Omnia it was actually Sophie that had the pleasure of using it first!
Sophie has always made the best cakes and baking is definitely her forte. When she offered to use up our brown bananas and make her amazing banana cake I couldn’t resist.
I must admit even after seeing and talking to other van lifers I was still a little sceptical to how it would come out.
She was so excited when she called me over stating that it’s come out “amazing” and wow!, it really did look amazing!
At this point we didn’t have the silicone insert so Sophie lined the tin with parchment paper. This proved a little tricky to get the cake out as well as to pick to paper from the tin and the cake but that was lessons learnt..get the silicone insert!
I had no doubt it would taste as good as it looked and it sure did!
Following the cake we have made pizza, sheperds pie, chips!, we made a lasagne and various pasta bakes. I can hand on heart say that it just comes out perfect every time!
Being van life foodies and running Van Life Eats we are in touch with so many fellow van lifers day after day and the Omnia oven is always in discussion. We get asked over and over where to buy it from.
Naturally we have been in touch with the great guys at Omnia and we even considered distributing the ovens for them but we opted to keep out focus on cooking and sharing instead of running a busy shop.
However, Omnia have offered to sponsor us and we have very proudly accepted. Not that we get anything other than a great product to recommend to our community.
Our review
We weren’t the first to say that the Omnia oven is the best campervan oven but we could have been. From day one of using this it has changed our variety of meals and way we cook within our van.
Van life suitability
Based on storage, cooking methods and foods it allows you to cook we couldn’t score this a higher score. It’s perfect for van life and campervan cooking.
Cooking Efficiency
With the clever design and use of heat flow the Omnia oven almost guarantees an even cook everytime. It uses little gas as a low flame on the hob seems to keep the oven warm enough to cook most things.
Cost
It’s cheap! Even when you purchase all the additional accessories it comes in at around £100! Considering how much it improves your campervan cooking I feel it’s a total bargain!
Any cons?
The only scenario I have found where the Omnia oven is not that suitable is when you are cooking for 4. It’s just not quite big enough for a hearty portion each. However, you are in a van after all so it’s ok to have a slightly smaller portion.
Otherwise, I am happy to put my name and the name of Van Life Eats reputation on claiming that the Omnia oven is definitely a van life and campervan kitchen essential.
Get one, and let us know if you think that the Omnia oven is the best campervan oven.
As the days of Plastic Free July are fading, we are going to share some tips on reducing plastic use when living in a van.
Sustainable vanlife is definitely the way forward and reducing plastic use while living in a van is part of that. While living a plastic free life can seem unattainable and unrealistic, reducing plastic use is something we can all do and work towards even when living in a van.
Don’t think you use that much plastic? Head to the Greenpeace calculator to see how much plastic you get through in a year. Scary stuff!
Not so Fantastic Plastic
As well as you we have seen the harrowing figures regarding the amount of plastic produced and disregarded. We have seen sea animal lives invaded by a ‘sea’ of plastic, beaches covered with plastic debris, and woodland areas with bins overflowing. We are all well aware of those images but here are some facts taken from www.nationalgeographic.com just to really make the point clear and show why we all need to try to reduce our plastic use.
1. In 2015 there was 406 Million tonnes of plastic produced worldwide.
2. As of 2015 6.3 BILLION tonnes of plastic waste had been generated, of this only 9% was recycled the majority of the rest of it went to landfill or our beautiful environment.
3. There are more than 5 TRILLION pieces of plastic floating around in our oceans
4. The length of plastic endurance ranges from 450 years to FOREVER
Why not a Plastic Free Van Life?
With those figures in mind you would expect the next section to be all about living a plastic free lifestyle.
We would all love to live in a world where this wasn’t happening and ideally we would all have zero plastic use. In reality this is difficult, living in a van, perhaps even more so!
One of the main problems is that plastic free items are not always readily available. Combine this with living in a van and the reality of living plastic free seems even more daunting. Therefore, reducing plastic use in your van seems more achievable.
Most large stores and supermarkets still use way too much plastic packaging on their products, and we all gotta eat and get our food from somewhere. These stores need to look at their plastic usage and ways of reducing it to help with this issue.
When travelling in a van, motorhome, bus, RV whatever it may be we all know popping to the shop isn’t so simple when you need to take your home with you. So shopping around for more sustainable stores isn’t always an option. Parking restrictions can also mean your only option is to park in a large supermarket car park.
One of the perks of living or travelling in a van is the option to go off-grid or venture to new exciting places. Popping to the nearest store that offers refillable products may not be an option, and so there are limited options to purchase plastic free items.
That is why we are going to talk you through reducing your plastic use when living in a van rather than the unrealistic target of living plastic free.
Reducing, Reusing, Recycling
From childhood the majority of us were raised with the habit of recycling, it makes us feel better that all this waste is going to good use. Unfortunately this notion is incorrect and a lot of ‘recycling’ ends up in landfill. Recycling is only part of the solution to the problem the world is facing with plastic.
Firstly we need to focus on reducing our plastic use, by buying less in the first place.
Secondly we need to reuse the plastic we can not avoid buying.
Thirdly if we are unable to reduce or reuse, then we recycle.
Reducing plasticuse in the van
The easiest way to reduce plastic waste is to use less of it in the first place.
Try to remember shopping bags when heading to the store, this is one of the most simple ways to reduce plastic use. If you do forget, just pack your shopping straight from the trolley into your van kitchen. One definite advantage of taking your home to the shops with you, we have done this quite recently!
As well as bags for shopping remember to take produce bags for your fruit and vegetables. Try to buy loose if possible and avoid buying items with plastic packaging. This will also help reduce food waste as you are more likely to buy only what you need rather than packs for convenience.
Take re-useable cups with you when getting take-out drinks, you will help reduce plastic waste and may also save yourself some pennies too.
We all know washing up in a van kitchen can be a nightmare but don’t be tempted to use disposable cutlery and crockery. Eco-friendly options are available at reasonable prices these days. If you wash up soon after eating the dishes will be easier to clean, meaning less scrubbing and less water use!
We have recipes on our website for butter and cashew milk so no need to buy these items in plastic packaging. While we’re at it consider making your own protein balls, snack bars etc
Not only will they be healthier but there will be less packaging. If you have any more recipes like this share them with the rest of us vanlifers right here on this website :-)
Consider getting some beeswax wraps for when you take lunch or snacks on a walk, hike or climb, rather than using plastic bags.
Some tea bags contain polypropylen which is a type of plastic, try using brands that don’t contain these to help reduce your plastic waste, or alternatively try loose leaf teas.
Similarly try using a stovetop espresso coffee pot rather than a coffee machine with the pods to help reduce your plastic use.
Rather than buying bread in plastic packaging, make your own! If not, buy bread that you can put in your own bag or a paper bag.
With the current situation of the world we feel it is important to mention the use of face coverings. In most countries the advice is for face coverings not surgical style masks, which contain plastic. Please buy some face coverings rather than using disposable masks, if possible make your own or support someone local and buy from them.
We are already seeing disregarded masks left in streets and washing up on beaches so we all need to do our best to minimise this. Also, plastic gloves are no substitute for washing your hands, if unable to wash your hands use a sanitizer. There are recipes online to make your own to save buying numerous bottles of it.
One of the main advantages of reducing plastic use when living in a van is that there is less waste to get rid of. So it’s in your best interests as well as for the environment.
Reusing plasticin the van
Sometimes it will be necessary to buy plastic items, it is hard to avoid it all together. If that’s the case, try to reuse the items if possible. Single use plastics are the main products causing problems in terms of plastic pollution due to the pure volume of them.
Here’s some tips for re-using plastic items when in living in a van.
Keep bottles from cleaning products and make your own cleaning sprays. In our article on eliminating cooking smells in the campervan there are some ideas for natural fragrance combinations.
Rather than buying drinking water in bottles, use a reusable one. This will reduce your plastic use, as well as meaning you have less waste to get rid of from your tiny kitchen.
If you have empty containers can you use them for anything else? Keep plastic tubs for storing leftovers, or if you pass a store that offers refills for pasta, rice etc these will come in handy for that.
We have seen some great ideas of people filling containers with a mix of dried lentils, beans etc in the right quantities for a meal they want to make. Get all the measuring done in one go and have the ingredients ready to hand when you need them.
Look online to see if there are any farmer markets or pick your own farms nearby to you. You can save packaging from fruit you have purchased previously and take them with you to refill.
We do appreciate that space can be limited when living in a van and so it may not be possible to save lots of plastic items to re-use. Every little helps, even if you only manage to re-use some of it.
Recycling plastic in the van
If you have been unable to reuse any plastic you have then recycling is the third option on our list. It is the last option as we mentioned previously that not all recycling ends up going to be recycled. However, we should totally try to facilitate that where possible.
Living life on the road means there is a need to be careful with waste and to ensure it is disposed of responsibly. It’s not like living in a house where a truck pulls up outside every week. A little more thought needs to go into it.
Look online to find nearby recycling facilities and save your recycling til you get there (we appreciate this isn’t always easy in the confined space of a van!) – hopefully you will have been able to reduce your plastic use so there will be less to get rid of anyway.
What to recycle?
From a recent personal experience whilst stood in IKEA at the weekend looking at plastic tubs, we noticed a recycling logo. Did it mean the tub was recyclable? Was the outer packaging recycled? Had it been made from recycled materials?
There are so many different logos relating to recycling it can be confusing and sometimes misleading. One of the most common symbols used in Europe and the UK simply means the producer has provided a financial contribution towards the recycling and recovery of plastic packaging and bears no relation to the product at all. If you want to get up to speed on logos and what they mean head to
Buy a razor where you can change the blade when needed rather than using disposable ones.
Ladies – periods can be bad enough in a van and monthly sanitary products contain plastic so look at using reusable products such as moon cups or washable pads instead.
Buy clothing that’s made of natural fibres, reducing the use of synthetic materials can help reduce micro plastic pollution. While you’re at it, rummage in the charity shops, thrift stores etc and get some second hand clothes instead. A whole new meaning to recycling!
We have listed some of the tips we thought might be useful for reducing plastic use when living in a van. Check it out for more and some tips for the home if you don’t travel in your van full time.
A lot of chewing gum contains plastic in the gum and the packaging, try looking for plastic free alternatives
Wash up using a bar or your own made concoction to save buying plastic bottles of washing up liquid
Use natural sponges for cleaning
Baking soda mixed with some tea tree oil makes great natural deodorant!
Those of you that love your cast iron skillets may know non-stick pans coated in teflon release toxic perfluorochemicals when heated and so should be avoided. Stick with your skillet!
Consider making your own pet food – (keep your eyes peeled for an article regarding this in the future!)
Choose plastic free camping equipment if using a tent etc
Try alternative remedies e.g. herbs to promote sleep, or accupressure for headaches (if safe to do so and this should not be in replacement of medical help if needed)
Why not reduce plastic use when living in a van?
So there’s always two sides to every story and just to repeat what was said at the beginning of this article, plastic free living isn’t for everyone. It takes a lot of time, preparation and research and we applaud anyone that can live a plastic free lifestyle.
When living or travelling in a van and living life on the road it isn’t always possible to shop as sustainably as we might like to. There are limits on what shops are available and when. Plastic packaged goods may be the only option at that time.
Secondly, we don’t know if you’d noticed but not all van dwellers are living the high life with a six figure bank account, funds can be limited.
Living plastic free can be an expensive option, particularly when starting out with it all and having to buy lots of new items. Of course in the long term most of them will prove to be beneficial cost wise but if you’re having to buy lots of new items it soon mounts up.
With all that said and done it doesn’t have to cost a lot to reduce plastic use while living in a van, and reduce really is the key word. Even if you can only do small things differently, little changes from one person, and another person, and another person all come together to make big changes.
Lessons learnt about reducing plastic use when living in a van
The main thing learnt is that plastic free van life is not possible for all and personally it is not attainable for us. We feel that we can make some small and easy changes which will help reduce our plastic use. This in turn will lead to less plastic waste, and we feel we can all contribute towards this no matter how big or small.
Let’s all work together to keep our planet beautiful for many generations to come including the wonderful animals who deserve a clean place to live. If we all make small changes we can make a big difference.
These are the key tips we have learnt for reducing plastic use while living in a van.
Don’t have unrealistic expectations, plastic free isn’t always possible
Do your best, that’s all you can do
Small changes can add up to big changes
Be kind – don’t judge others. There are many reasons people may not be able to or may not want to live a certain way, and they should not be judged for that.
That’s all folks!
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. Let us know in the comments below if you have been able to reduce your plastic use or achieved the highly sought plastic free July! If you have any tips then let everyone know below.
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