no refrigeration for FIVE DAYS??!?

[falnfenix]

i'll be tent camping with creature comforts in September, and i'm slowly getting ready for the event. it's taking place in a campground with electricity and running water in cabins (all tent campers have cabin access), and food will be provided

Comments

[paper_crystals]

Bean salads keep pretty well. Last time I had to be without refrigeration I brought one and they did pretty good.

[falnfenix]

hmmm...good thought. i wasn't aware they would be alright over multiple days, but i'll work on that idea. thanks. :)

[paper_crystals]

I stored them for two days. They also had citrus juice of some sort and probably some spices that were natural preservatives which also helps.

[falnfenix]

ahhh, that makes sense. thanks. :D

[pullthestars]

I would get to Trader Joe's, definitely, if you have one near to you. They've got fantastic rice-in-a-bag that you don't have to refrigerate (both brown and white).

They also have many entrees that you can microwave; most of it is Indian food, I think.

[falnfenix]

i have rice at home, so i'll just bring that. like i said, the stuff needs to be homecooked. less trash and preservatives makes me happy. thanks for the suggestions, though. :)

[cstefano]

It still might be worth checking out; the microwave Indian food they sell here is preservative-free and everything in the ingredient list is recognizable as actual food. I have additive issues too, and I love it. I'm not sure about the sodium content, though.

[falnfenix]

yeah, the sodium levels on most premade meals tend to be rather high (i guess because salt can act as a natural preservative?), and sodium can cause me a lot of pain. i've learned that even most preservative-free meals must be avoided.

[ladypeyton]

I go camping like that for up to 2 weeks at a time every year. Your best bet is to prepare foods in advance and freeze them solid in a ziplock. Then you just cook whatever has defrosted the most that day. If you pack the cooler tightly you could very well manage to get 5 days out of it.

if you don't reach all the way through the 5 days just make sure to get fresh ice every day and drain the coolers.

If that makes you uncomfortable then buy shelf stable things like cereal and individual packages of shelf stable milk and such. Find out if you can buy or borrow a propane powered cook stove. They are not that expensive and you can get small bottles of propane almost everywhere. That way you can make yourself things like ramen noodles and canned pasta, in a pinch.

[falnfenix]

i didn't think of freezing things solid (but this is why i'm asking months in advance!) - that's a SPECTACULAR idea.

[carmy_w]

You can also put dry ice in the bottom of your cooler and cover it with regular ice, or with newspapers. If you do either of these, it will keep for the whole week. In fact, you may have stuff getting too frozen, if you know what I mean.

[falnfenix]

eh, i'm avoiding the dry + normal ice combo. with my luck, i'd end up with an explosion.

[ultraelectric]

I can't help you, but... your icon is so cute! Eduardo is adorable. XD

[falnfenix]

lol, thanks. :)

[crimedoc1]

How about couscous? You just pour boiling water over it and let it sit for 5 min and it is cooked.

[falnfenix]

yep, i neglected to add that to the list but i'm thinking quinoa, couscous, or rice. all are pretty ideal if i stick to cooking a single serving at a time.

[crimedoc1]

oh, also maybe instant cereals - oatmeal, cream of wheat, stuff like that

[falnfenix]

mmm, they're not on my normal list of things i keep in the house. if i can manage to eat them without getting sick, they'll be on the list.

i hate food issues. :)