How to eat in a van for under £6 per day

Eat cheaply but nutritiously, without compromising taste & health on the road.

Writer: Daniela R for Vanbandits
Read time: 10-15mins
Focus: How to eat cheaply on a budget in a campervan but healthily
Things you’ll learn about,
How do I eat cheaply on the road but also get enough nutrition & stay healthy and make food taste good? Give me hacks & tips to do this. What kind of easy, quick, nutritious meals can I prepare on the road for £6 per day? What kitchen equipment do I need to prepare these meals?

Campervan cooking was one of my favourite parts of adjusting to van life during the months I spent living full-time on the road. I love coming up with great campervan recipes, figuring out how to make delicious and nutritious meals with limited fridge space, and shopping in small towns that don’t always have a big supermarket range.

I also love the challenge of developing van life recipes that keep our weekly food costs as low as possible. There are so many creative meals you can make from store-bought ingredients on a tight budget! One of the biggest money-savers I discovered was advanced campervan meal planning. It’s easy to let spending creep up when you’re buying the odd snack or sandwich here and there. But when you prepare for the week by choosing the proteins, carbs, and fats you want to eat, it massively reduces the need for overpriced corner shop stops.

Here, I share some of my favourite affordable and nutritious van life meal ideas—budget van meals that allow me to eat well on the road for under £6 per day.

Table of Contents

Van life meal planning

One of the most important aspects of eating frugally on the road is smart planning. Having food on hand that allows you to quickly prepare simple, balanced meals means you’re more likely to stay in control of your budget.

I love variety in my meals, so I typically plan each week around this, 3–4 rotating breakfasts, lunches, and dinners—built mostly from store cupboard staples. Below are some of my go-to budget-friendly van life meals that come in under £6 a day when combined.

Budget-friendly van life breakfasts & why

Check that you are getting the right mix of protein, carbs and healthy fats in the morning, for a great start to your morning on the road.

Porridge with Nuts, Seeds & Honey

Hearty and warming for a chilly morning, and packed with nutrients. This gives you a great mix of carbs, protein, and healthy fats.

Bagels with Peanut Butter

Great fuel for active days when you need a carb hit before a hike or a cold sea swim. The peanut butter adds protein and fat for more sustained energy.

Eggy Bread Bagels

Eggs bring protein and healthy fats, while bagels store well on the road and give you the energy boost you need for long days outside.

Scrambled Eggs with Bagels

A hearty, protein-rich start to the day. Quick to make, satisfying, and delicious with a hot cup of coffee. Eggs are easy to pick up on the road—check out local farmhouse shops or honesty boxes for fresh, local options.

Bagel Storage Tip: Bagels store better than bread in the van, last longer without going mouldy, and are more substantial—keeping you fuller for longer. Plus, they’re easy to throw in a bag for a scenic breakfast spot!

Affordable van life lunches that are nutritionally balanced

Tuna or Feta Bean Salad

A tasty source of protein and fibre, plus a great way to get in some veggies. Canned or boxed beans are super practical and easy to store.

Tuna or Salmon Wrap

Canned tuna or salmon offers excellent protein for the price. Mix with any fresh veg and sauce you have on hand for a quick, tasty wrap.

Soy Mince Wrap with Vegetables

Dried soy mince is protein-rich, easy to store, and quick to cook. Combine with sweetcorn, beans, and whatever veg you have for a warm, hearty lunch.

Budget-friendly van life dinners that are heartwarming & satisfying

Spaghetti Mince Bolognese

The ultimate van life comfort food—and my favourite after a long hike or a windy, wild outdoor day. Super hearty and satisfying.

Chickpea Curry with Rice

Delicious, flavour-packed, and full of protein. A warming and hearty meal that keeps well and gets even tastier as it simmers.

Red Lentil Dahl with Rice

Another high-protein, super simple dish. Made with dried lentils and a few spices, this one’s an absolute staple in my van.

Egg Fried Rice with Beans

A great way to use up leftovers and avoid food waste. Add whatever fresh veg you’ve got and stir it all through to make a quick, tasty, high-protein dinner.

Van life food storage: how to stock up

To help you prepare for life on the road with an assortment of delicious, budget-friendly van life meals, we’ve put together a practical food storage guide. With the right staples in your van pantry, you can whip up satisfying meals without relying on daily trips to the shop.

Smart Storage in a Small Space

When you’re cooking in a van, space is tight—but that doesn’t mean you can’t be well-stocked. The trick is to buy ingredients that last a long time, don’t require refrigeration, and can be tucked away in clever storage spots.

“In our van setup, we kept extra cans of beans, tinned fish, and bags of dried soy mince stashed in the bulkhead.”
Each week, we simply topped up the pantry with a few essentials, making meal planning easier and reducing last-minute dashes to pricey local shops.

Pantry essentials for the camping road trip

Here are our go-to non-perishable ingredients to keep stocked in your van. With these staples on hand, you can create dozens of meals with minimal fuss.

Protein

Tinned tuna or salmon – £1.50 per can
Dried soy mince – £2 per 500g
Dried soy chunks – £2 per 500g
Canned beans (chickpeas, kidney beans, haricot beans, black beans, etc.) – £0.50 per can
Dried red lentils – £1.50 per kg

Carbohydrates

Rice – £2 per 2kg
Spaghetti – £1 per 500g
Oats – £1 per 1kg
Tortilla wraps – £1 per pack of 8

Flavour Boosters

These inexpensive items go a long way in transforming simple ingredients into tasty meals:

Quality stock cubes
Balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
Curry powder
Honey
Onion and garlic (store well in a cool, dry box)

Healthy Fats

Nuts and seeds – £2 per 200g
Olive oil

Peanut butter – £1.50 per jar

Fresh ingredients to pick up driving in the van

While pantry staples form the backbone of van meals, it’s worth picking up fresh produce and extras as you go. These items are widely available in most towns and tend to last well without refrigeration:

Eggs – £1.50 per dozen (often available from roadside stalls or farm shops)
Fresh vegetables – Carrots, peppers, courgettes, etc. – around £1 per pack

Pack of bagels – £2 per pack of 5 (they last longer than bread and are more travel-friendly)

Tips for buying cheap, fresh ingredients while living in a van

Just before sharing the budget-friendly recipes, it’s also important to think about where to shop for the best value. For fresh produce and affordable pantry staples, we recommend Aldi, Lidl, or Tesco. These stores usually offer great prices and decent quality—ideal for van-life cooking.

If you’re looking for high-protein, budget-friendly options like dried soy chunks, they can be a bit tricky to find in physical stores. Instead, try ordering them online. One widely available option is Amazon wholefoods market, which sells in bulk at very low prices.
“A smart van life trick is to get your order delivered to a nearby town using a click-and-collect point—many supermarkets and parcel services offer this, and it saves you the hassle of missing a delivery.”

While you’re shopping online, it’s also worth stocking up on other affordable staples like lentils and beans. These ingredients are not only filling and nutritious, but they’re also long-lasting and perfect for van-friendly cooking.

Van life breakfasts for under £1.50 per portion

Porridge with Nuts, Seeds, and Honey

Cost per portion: £1.30

Ingredients:

Oats (£0.10 per portion)
Nuts (£0.70 per portion)
Seeds (£0.50 per portion)
Honey
Water or milk

Cook the oats with water or milk on low heat until soft. Even when cooking with water, the creamiest porridge comes from letting it simmer gently for a while. Stir in your nuts and seeds, then drizzle with honey to finish. Delicious, hearty, and energy-packed!