Meal Planning Tips for your Holiday

For those with picky children, partners, or even pets, self-catering offers you the chance to supply all your own food for the holiday to ensure all mouths are fed. But what can you do to have as little wastage as possible? We have a few tips for meal-planning during your stay to cater to everyone's needs wisely and hopefully save a bit too. 

1. Find meals everyone will eat

We know, this can sometimes be impossible. With many dietary requirements, finding common ground can be hard. We suggest having a discussion with everyone on the trip to decide on at least one meal that every agrees they will like. From here, you can be sure one meal will work, even if you need to leave the broccoli out of the green hater amongst you. Side tip: deciding on a common ground breakfast will also make mornings seamless so you can enjoy your day to the full. 

2. Do a full shop at the start of the trip

Once you have some meals picked out, you can set out to buy food for the duration of your trip. Curate a list with everyone involved with foods they will all enjoy throughout the holiday. When shopping, keep an eye out for multi-pack items that will save you money on your food shop. 
 

3. Batch Cook

If you have the time (and energy) it is worth batch cooking a few things on the first night or morning in the property. This could include the go-to meal that everyone will eat,cooking all the meals, or even just having the ingredients prepared ahead of time so you can put together the evening meal in record time. 

4. Snacks are saviours

If you have kids, or you are just a hungry person, you will know that having snacks to hand is the best way to keep hunger at bay. With this in mind, when you are preparing the food for the week, don't pass over snacks. You can cook up a storm with super healthy treats, or just have plenty of fruit ready to go. Whatever way you choose to prepare snacks, make sure you have them at hand for those times when their hunger just can't wait.
 

5. Bring Tupperware containers

If you are able to, it's worth bringing Tupperware containers for our previous tip of preparing food ahead of time. Many holiday lets will come with crockery for guests to use, however, those handy tubs you use at home may not come as standard. If you are travelling further for your trip, then you could always pick up some cheap, reusable containers whilst doing the food shop – or if you are trying to be more eco-friendly, pack some of these fantastic beeswax sheets to cover prepared food when storing. 

6. Don't forget to enjoy the local area

Yes, it is far cheaper to plan your meals ahead of time and eat at the property for the duration of your stay, but at what cost? There could be a restaurant down the street that serves the best Eggs Benedict you have ever had in your life, or a Fish & Chip shop that has gained local fame for being the freshest meal to pass your lips. Don't miss out on local cuisine in an effort to save as much money as possible, you are on holiday and you deserve a treat.