Mostly-raw diet while boondocking?

[blueberry]

When I get a van in the spring and head out, I want to maintain my mostly raw diet of green smoothies and salads, nuts &amp; fruit, with the occasional roast chicken from a supermarket.&nbsp;I want to boondock as much as possible without going to the store more often than once a week.<br /><br />I've been wondering how I will be able to keep salad greens more than a day or two with just a couple of 5-day coolers. I thought I would keep all the greens in one cooler and just take out enough for a day at a time and put them in the second cooler. Would that work?<br /><br />And unless I can afford enough solar power, I'll have to spring for a hand-powered blender ($99), which won't do nearly as good a job as the electric one I have. Or would some kind of battery setup work more cheaply?<br /><br />Any suggestions?

 

[crazybill]

LaVonne, you already have a blender. Just buy an inverter. It's a gadget that converts your van's 12 volts DC to 120 volts AC to run small appliances like your blender. Be sure to get an inverter that is rated for the 650 watts or so that most blenders use. Check your blender for it's wattage. Harbor Freight sells one that is rated 750 watts for around $50. You won't use enough power for the half minute your blender runs to run your van battery down at all. If you can afford a larger inverter go for it. You can run other small 120 volt items also, Electric drill, laptop charger, etc. Instead of springing for a $99 single task blender, you will have something with more uses. <br />-Bill-

 

[blueberry]

Thanks, Bill! For some reason, I thought my blender would eat up way too much energy for that. I just checked and it's only 500 watts. Perfect!

 

[Guest]

Hi Bluebs....<br />I bought one of these for van living and it may work for you...It only draws 175 W....and is only $16.00<br /><strong><br />http://tinyurl.com/cqabmq2<br /></strong><br />One serving and you just drink out of the container....<br /><br />I have used a "house battery" and an engine battery with an isolator, either solid state or a mechanical/electric continuous-use solenoid for many of the rigs I have had...the alternator charges both batteries. <br /><br />Using the isolator and wiring all your camping use electrics to the house battery, means that when you are parked you use the power from the house battery and it is isolated from your engine battery...that way you always have juice enough to start the vehicle. I wire everything inside the vehicle to the house battery including any dash mounted devices, radio, etc. Anything I would have any reason to use when parked.<br /><br />Then later if you find you need it, you can add a solar charging system, a little at a time....<br /><br />Any inverter you buy, it is good to go as high a wattage as you can afford..then there is no reason it won't power whatever you need.<br />Bri<br /><strong><br />Edited for additions and grammer...<br /></strong>

 

[blueberry]

Great advice, Bri - thanks!

 

[TravelingtheRoad]

Greens when boondocking-<br />I use sprouts.&nbsp; there is such a wide variety of seeds, etc., and I can make them in the amount that I want.&nbsp;&nbsp; Some of my favorite sprouts are organic seed, bean and grain mixes designed for parrots!&nbsp; I never worry about them getting old, because I sprout the amount I need.&nbsp; <br />I also use long lasting vegetables, like jicama, celery, onions. I have canned pumpkin, green beans.<br />It takes thinking about raw eating in a different way, if I am far away from a store, and even if I am close to a store, many areas have limited organic produce.&nbsp; Celery has to be organic for me, and I can stock up on organic canned goods when they are available.

 

[blueberry]

I totally forgot about sprouting - thanks for the reminder. I know sprouts are super nutritious with lots of protein. I've only done it once or twice, but I'll start up again to get in practice before time to hit the road.

 

[joey]

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If it's been canned, it's not raw. Everything that is canned has been cooked to remove bacteria. I love eating raw and it is healthier for you.

 

[blueberry]

If it's been canned, it's not raw. Everything that is canned has been cooked to remove bacteria.

<br /><br />True, but what would you have on hand as backup in case you run out of fresh produce? What raw foods store well? Seeds and nuts, anything else?

 

[TravelingtheRoad]

The first post said mostly raw.<br />I knew when I placed my first post I was forgetting food items...<br />What works best for me-<br />I always have sea vegetables handy, at least dulse.<br />http://www.rawlife.com/store/Kelp_Noodles_12oz_-Just_like_Spaghetti_-and-_100-_Raw.html<br /><br />I like having nut butters, <br />greens powders and foods&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; http://www.therawfoodworld.com/inde...=1005963&amp;zenid=vg7391g8qtik539q91htb72f94<br /><br />protein powders -Garden of Life&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; http://www.gardenoflife.com/Products-for-Life/Foundational-Nutrition/RAW-Meal.aspx<br />olives&nbsp;&nbsp; http://www.rawlife.com/store/Herbed_Peruvian_Olives-_WITH_Pits-_8oz.html<br />raw food bars<br />raw cereals<br />http://www.therawfoodworld.com/inde...=1002233&amp;zenid=vg7391g8qtik539q91htb72f94<br />trail mixes, dried berries<br />I just need to get busy and make my own, but sadly I buy made up products, there is such a wealth of on-line raw food products available.&nbsp; Purchasing even raw nuts at the supermarket isn't easy in rural areas.&nbsp; There is the packaging issue.&nbsp; Like buying food bars with their individual wrappings....

 

[blueberry]

Ooh, thanks for the info! <br /><br />Yes, I said 'mostly' raw because I'm a bit nervous about jumping in 100%, especially with my plans for vandwelling. I try to avoid packaged food of any kind - and raw packaged food is outrageously expensive - so I've mainly stuck to green smoothies for at least one meal per day and a big salad for another. And I pick off a roast chicken every day for extra protein. I'm concerned that won't work well on the road, though.<br /><br />I bought a fancy dehydrator a couple of years ago and dried a few things but didn't have the patience for it, so I sold it. Making fancy raw recipes doesn't appeal at ALL. Too lazy! <br /><br />So, as I've said, green smoothies seem to be my solution. My health has improved remarkably since I started having a quart or so of blended fruit and greens every day. If I can keep that up on the road, I'll be happy. I think sprouting may solve the problem of having fresh greens on hand during 2-week boondocking sessions. (Which reminds me, I'd love to have a little portable herb garden too.)<br /><br /><strong>Edited to add:&nbsp;</strong>I just had an idea - if I can make it to RTR in Jan., I'll bring my blender and lots of fruits and greens, and mix up green smoothies for everyone. Y'all will be amazed at how good they taste!

 

[joey]

I saw what was said about a dehydrator. Has anyone bought bulk dehydrated veggies?

 

[SirJoey]

Has anyone bought bulk dehydrated veggies?

I have, but I haven't re-hydrated any of them yet.
I've also dehydrated & canned some of my own, fruits & veggies both.

I have an Excalibur dehydrator, but it's now in
storage since moving into the TT full-time. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[joey]

Thanks Joey.

Has anyone bought bulk dehydrated veggies?

I have, but I haven't re-hydrated any of them yet. I've also dehydrated &amp; canned some of my own, fruits &amp; veggies both. I have an Excalibur dehydrator, but it's now in storage since moving into the TT full-time. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" />

 

[Spirituallifetime]

I love to eat raw veggies, I feel so much better than when I eat fast food or processed foods.&nbsp; I like to take spinach and kale out on the road in my cooler, they last longer than other greens(about 3-4 days). The more delicate greens will last about 2 days eat them first. Put your greens in containers that seal well so they don't get soggy when the ice melts!&nbsp;

 

[HoboBerg]

Sprouting what a great idea! Anybody have good ways to this while van dwelling? Guess its time to do some googling

 

[TravelingtheRoad]

Sprouting - one place to start:&nbsp; http://sproutpeople.org/<br />Rinsing is important, and there's the water and boondocking issue.&nbsp; <br />I'm usually not around farmer's markets, or organic produce, and the markets that do have organic produce, well, it's been shipped, so already it's not fresh.<br />One easy to grow salad green is stevia!&nbsp; There are two varieties of stevia plants that I've bought in Arizona.&nbsp; One variety had tiny leaves, and made an excellent salad green -not too potent of a flavor.&nbsp; Squirrels were addicted to the stevia, so once they discovered it, it was eaten up.&nbsp; I keep meaning to go on-line and look for stevia seeds to grow.&nbsp; I have not found the plants anywhere else except in Arizona.&nbsp; Also, parsley has been easy for me to grow, and makes a nice fresh green vegetable.<br />Sprouts are by far the easiest for me.&nbsp; Nice, fresh greens.

 

[HWJ]

One thing you could try doing is growing sprouts on the road. Its a little difficult to grow complex plants because of lighting and watering concerns, but I think you could easily grow sprouts and/or wheatgrass if you so choose.<br /><br />At one point I was considering using part of the dash or something as well, but thats another project.

 

[blueberry]

Thanks for the reminder. I keep meaning to practice sprouting at home while I save up for a van. Better get to it!

 

[Donna]

<p>Why not forage.&nbsp;If that is possible where you are.&nbsp;<br><br> I&nbsp;am a mostly raw fooder and have thought about where to get organic food.&nbsp;<br> I was thinking about planning our&nbsp;locations to be close to where&nbsp;there&nbsp;are&nbsp;organic food stores.<br>Foraging is definatley an option, we forage alot in the warmer months.<br>We also do some dried super foods in the winter,&nbsp;especially when things arent as fresh<br>Wheatgrass is easy to grow and&nbsp;amazing to have&nbsp;everyday.<br>I&nbsp;also&nbsp;grow sprouts especially in the winter.<br>&nbsp;Good luck! <br><br>We haven't started&nbsp;rv living yet but plan to real soon.&nbsp;</p>