Planning Foods for a Multi-Generational Vacation
A vacation with multiple generations is a great way to create family traditions and core memories. Feeding everyone though, that can be tricky!
Grandparents may eat at different times than teenagers. Young children may need familiar foods. Some family members may have dietary restrictions, while others want to try everything the destination has to offer.
Then there are the different schedules.
Some people are ready for breakfast at 7 a.m. Others want to sleep in. Some are heading out for an early activity while others are spending the morning at the rental.
Trying to plan every meals around everyone can become exhausting, and expensive.
It’s important create a flexible plan that gives everyone enough options while still keeping food organized, affordable, and easy to manage. A rigid food plan that everyone has to follow isn’t going to work.
Why This Earns a Spot in Your Travel Plan
Multi-generational family vacations involves more people, which means more preferences, and more moving parts.
Without a little planning, it’s easy for food decisions to become a daily, and constant conversation. You want to make sure everyone has something to eat when they need it, without turning every meal into a group decision.
What This Saves The Group
When it comes to planning the food budget, this is where you can help.
Depending on the type of restaurant and your location, the average cost of a mid-range casual sit down meal, will cost a group of 10 anywhere between $300 to $480. That’s with the automatic tip they tack on for groups in between 18% and 20%. This is a significant amount of money to consider.
This guide will show you how to plan a few shared meals, keep flexible foods available, and prep some items before, you leave so that you can help lower the budget on food.
Travel Food Game Plan
The key to feeding a multi-generational group is FLEXIBILITY.
Instead of planning every meal down to the last ingredient, think about the different ways people will eat throughout the trip.
Find out who’s coming.
Before you plan the food, think about the people.
Consider:
- How many adults?
- How many children?
- Any toddlers or young kids?
- Any older adults with specific dietary needs?
- Any food allergies?
- Any dietary restrictions?
- Who is a picky eater?
- Who is likely to snack throughout the day?
You don’t need to create a separate menu for everyone.
You just need to know where flexibility will matter most.
Plan a few shared meals.
Not every meal needs to be a group event.
Choose a few meals that are easy to prepare for everyone.
Good options might include:
- Taco bars
- Pasta with different toppings
- Grilled burgers and vegetables
- Slow cooker meals
- Breakfast casseroles
- Sandwich bars
- Build-your-own pizzas
These meals work well because people can customize their own plates without requiring you to prepare multiple completely different meals.
Helpful guides:
- How a Slow Cooker Can Save You Hundreds on Vacation Food
- Best Meals to Cook on the Grill While Traveling
- The Best Foods to Make for Your Vacation Rental Stay
Create a flexible breakfast setup.
Breakfast is often the easiest meal to make flexible.
Not everyone will wake up at the same time, especially on vacation.
Instead of planning one sit-down breakfast every morning, keep a selection of easy options available.
Think:
- Muffins
- Bagels
- Yogurt
- Fruit
- Eggs
- Breakfast sandwiches
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
- Peanut butter
Some people can eat quickly before heading out. Others can make breakfast later.
This gives everyone more freedom without requiring the kitchen to operate like a restaurant.
Create a snack station.
Snacks can become a major expense when you’re feeding a large group.
Set up one central location where everyone knows they can find something to eat.
Include a mix of:
- Fresh fruit
- Crackers
- Trail mix
- Popcorn
- Granola bars
- Cheese
- Nuts
- Pretzels
- Homemade snack packs
For younger children, consider portioning some snacks ahead of time.
For larger groups, buying family-size packages and portioning them yourself can often cost less than individual convenience packs.
Helpful guides:
- DIY Snack Packs That Cost Less Than Store-Bought Options
- How to Portion Snacks and Avoid Overspending
Plan for different activity schedules.
One of the biggest challenges of a multi-generational vacation is that everyone may not be doing the same thing.
Some family members might be:
- Hiking
- Sightseeing
- Visiting attractions
- Spending the day at the pool
- Shopping
- Staying back at the rental
Don’t make the entire group’s food plan depend on everyone being in the same place at the same time.
*Pack portable foods for people heading out for the day.
*Keep easy options available for anyone staying behind.
*Plan meals that can be reheated or eaten later.
A flexible food plan allows everyone to enjoy the vacation without constantly coordinating around meals.
Helpful guides:
- The Best Foods to Pack for a Day Hike
- What Foods to Pack for Kids on Day Trips
- Easy Picnic Lunch Ideas for Day Trips
Know what can be prepped ahead.
The more people you’re feeding, the more helpful prep can become.
Before leaving home, consider what can be:
- Cooked
- Frozen
- Portioned
- Chopped
- Marinated
- Baked
- Packed
Prep-ahead options might include:
- Breakfast muffins
- Frozen casseroles
- Cooked shredded chicken
- Marinated meats
- Homemade snack packs
- Portion-sized trail mix
- Pre-cut vegetables
- Frozen fruit
You don’t need to prepare the entire vacation’s worth of food.
Focus on the items that will save you the most time once you’re there.
Helpful guide:
- Best Foods to Freeze Before a Trip
Divide the responsibilites.
If you’re traveling with extended family, one person should handle all the food planning and prepping.
Before the trip, decide who is responsible for:
- Grocery shopping
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Grilling
- Cleanup
You can also assign one person to bring a specific meal or food category.
Will Travel Tip
Create a food safety net: a few easy foods that are always available for anyone who gets hungry between meals or doesn’t want what’s being served.
Before you hit the road
Check to make sure you have the following:
- Pre-frozen meals
- Prepped refrigerated foods.
- Prepped and portioned snacks.
- Any purchased grocery items.
- Refillable water bottles.
- Slow cooker
- List of items to purchase upon arrival.
Share the checklist with anyone else in your family that is involved in bringing foods along for your vacation.
You’ve got the food covered, now go enjoy the trip!