This week I’ve been trying to prep some food for our RV trip.  Just because we’re on the road doesn’t mean we have to eat unhealthy “road food”.  I’ve done some work in advance to make breakfast and snacks easier.

I stocked up at the bulk section of my local grocery store and made three necessary RV foods that usually cost a fortune in grocery stores: Granola, Instant Oatmeal and Trail Mix.  I wanted them to be healthy, but not pay health food store prices for them.  So I made them myself.

Granola has always been a favorite of my family.  Especially mixed with yogurt.  I found a recipe in the book Vegan Family Meals for an amazing granola called “Super Hippie Granola” {The book is full of other fantastic recipes also.  I highly recommend it}.  The name alone would make me eat it.  I tweaked it a bit to make it fit our family’s tastes.  I made a quadruple batch and bagged it up to take with us.

Rush Family’s Version of Super Hippie Granola

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped Oregon hazelnuts
1/2 cup raw, shelled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup chopped raw almonds
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp grapeseed oil
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup honey, agave nectar or brown rice syrup
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup dried, chopped apricots
1/3 cup dried, chopped cherries
1/3 cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment or foil.

Mix oats, nuts, seeds, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.

Heat grapeseed oil in a saucepan over low heat.  Add maple syrup, honey, water and vanilla.  Whisk until heated through.  Pour over oat mixture and stir to coat completely.

Spread granola mixture evenly on prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add dried fruit, stir and continue baking for 10 minutes.  Let granola cool {it will get crunchy as it cools}.  Store in an airtight container.

We multiplied this recipe by 4 when making it for our trip.  The great thing about it is that you can change the flavor easily.  Use different nuts, dried fruits and flavoring.  Try substituting almond or coconut extract for vanilla.  Add coconut flakes or dried blueberries.  Try making it with peanuts or cashews.  You can change it to fit your family.

Homemade Instant Oatmeal is very simple to make.  Simply mix a few ingredients to suit your tastes and you are good to go.  Just add hot water and stir as you would with store bought instant oatmeal.  I didn’t measure anything as I made this recipe so all my measurements are guesses.  This recipe REALLY is a free for all.  Love raisins?  Throw in eight handfuls if you want.  Really.  It’s all up to you.  My kids all love Apple Cinnamon oatmeal, so I went with that.  I made a huge batch for our trip, but you could easily halve it.

Heidi’s Homemade Instant Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

8 cups Rolled Oats

1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar {more if you like it super sweet, less if you don’t}

2 cup Chopped Dried Apples

1 1/2 cups Chopped Walnuts

1 1/2 cups Golden Raisins

4 tbsp. Cinnamon

2 tsp. Nutmeg

Mix all ingredients together and place in an airtight container.  To make oatmeal: pour mix into a bowl and add hot water.

I also made a huge batch of trail mix for snacks while we’re driving, hiking, or if we break down in the middle of the wilderness, run out of food and have to survive until the rescue crews find us.

Heidi’s Wilderness Survival* Trail Mix

*Not guaranteed to help you survive in the wilderness.  Sorry about that.

Unsalted Mixed Nuts

Golden Raisins

Dried Cranberries

Chocolate Chips

Raw, Shelled Sunflower Seeds

Super Hippie Granola

Add ingredients in amounts you prefer.  You’re the chef!  Mix well and store in a sealed, airtight container.  Other possible ingredients: coconut flakes, banana chips, yogurt covered raisins, M&Ms, pumpkin seeds, chopped dried mango, dried blueberries – or whatever you may prefer.

With these staples and grocery stops along the way we should be ready to tackle this vegetarian road trip.  Even as we travel in less Whole Foods friendly places.  Our go-to snacks will be pita chips & hummus, fruit, string cheese, ritz crackers and Texas Caviar {Pita Pal brand – found at Costco}.