3 Years Living in a Car as a 25-Year-Old Woman — Here's Exactly What I Eat
Hi! I’m a 25-year-old woman, and I’ve been living full-time out of my car for the last three years. Yup—three years of mobile meals, campground kitchens, and cooking with the trunk open in all kinds of weather. And while I don’t have a full fridge or fancy stovetop setup, I’ve learned how to eat really well from the road.
Living out of a vehicle doesn't mean surviving off gas station snacks and sad granola bars (though I do keep emergency snacks stashed everywhere). With some smart organization and a bit of creativity, I've built a food routine that’s affordable, mostly healthy, and fits my nomadic lifestyle.
So here’s an honest, detailed look at what I eat in a typical day—including how I store food, prep meals, and make it all work with limited space and tools.
☀️ Morning: Coffee + Breakfast
Location: Usually a park, trailhead, or quiet parking lot with a view.
Kitchen setup: Butane camp stove, collapsible table, small cooler, water jug with spigot.
☕ Coffee
Non-negotiable. I use a pour-over cone or French press (depends on my mood) and heat water on my butane stove. I keep a small airtight jar of ground coffee and a second jar of powdered oat milk or cream packets. Some mornings I splurge on a gas station coffee just for the social vibe.
🍳 Breakfast Rotation
I don’t eat the same thing every day, but here are my go-to breakfasts:
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Oats with fruit & nut butter: I mix quick oats with hot water, a spoonful of peanut or almond butter, and top it with sliced banana or dried cranberries. Super filling and cheap.
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Egg scramble with veggies: When I’ve got fresh eggs and a working cooler, I sauté chopped onion, spinach, and tomatoes with two eggs and wrap it in a tortilla.
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Yogurt + granola + fruit: If I’ve recently stocked up, I’ll do plant-based yogurt with some granola and whatever fruit I have on hand.
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Peanut butter banana toast: Using my camping skillet as a makeshift toaster—yes, it works!
🥗 Lunch: Quick, Fresh, & No-Fuss
Location: Often wherever I happen to be working or parked mid-day.
Storage: Dry goods in a plastic bin, perishables in the cooler with frozen water bottles instead of ice.
🍴Typical Lunch Options:
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Tuna or chicken wraps: I use canned tuna/chicken, add mustard, relish, and sometimes shredded carrots or spinach, and wrap it in a tortilla. Easy, no cooking, and packs well.
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Hummus plate: A mini charcuterie of hummus, crackers, baby carrots, cucumbers, olives, and a boiled egg if I prepped one.
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Couscous salad: I pre-cook couscous (takes 5 minutes with just hot water), toss it with canned chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, and whatever veggies I have.
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PB&J sandwich: Sometimes the classics win.
Snacks throughout the day:
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Trail mix
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Rice cakes with almond butter
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Fruit (apples and oranges are easiest to store)
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Granola or protein bars
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Seaweed snacks (seriously underrated!)
🍲 Dinner: My Favorite Meal of the Day
Location: Public park, rest area, or sometimes stealth-style in a quiet parking lot with the hatch up and a breeze blowing in.
Dinner is when I get a little fancier because I can relax, take my time, and cook something warm. I usually set up my table, light a citronella candle, and make it feel like a tiny outdoor kitchen.
🔥 Dinner Favorites:
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One-pot pasta: I cook pasta and toss it with canned tomatoes, garlic powder, olive oil, and spinach. Sometimes I’ll throw in chopped sausage or canned beans for protein.
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Veggie stir-fry: Sautéed peppers, onions, carrots, and tofu with soy sauce and serve it over pre-cooked rice (which I warm in the pan).
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Sweet potato + black bean tacos: I dice and pan-cook a sweet potato, add canned black beans and spices, and serve it in tortillas with hot sauce.
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Soup night: I always keep a couple cans of hearty soup or lentil stew on hand for low-energy nights.
Pro tip: I save any leftovers in a resealable container and store them in my cooler or eat them cold for lunch the next day. Waste nothing.
🍫 Dessert & Nighttime Snacks
Okay, I’m gonna be honest: I always want a treat before bed.
My go-to treats:
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Dark chocolate squares
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Hot cocoa made with powdered milk or oat creamer
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Apple slices with peanut butter
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Marshmallows roasted over my camp stove (yes, I’ve done this in a parking lot)
Sometimes I grab something small from a grocery bakery—like a muffin or cookie—especially if I had a tough day or just want something cozy.
💧 Water & Drinks
I aim for 2–3 liters of water a day, which I refill from public park fountains, gyms, or gas stations. I keep a 5-gallon jug in the back of the car and transfer to smaller bottles to make it manageable.
Other drinks I keep around:
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Electrolyte packets (great for hot days or long hikes)
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Instant tea
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Sparkling water cans when I’m feeling fancy
🛒 Grocery Routine & Budget Tips
I restock groceries about every 4–5 days, depending on how far I’m traveling and if I’m near a decent store.
I spend about $40–60/week on food, and I try to keep a good balance of:
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Shelf-stable basics (rice, oats, canned goods)
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Fresh stuff I can eat quickly (greens, eggs, fruit)
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Snacks and protein sources (nuts, bars, beans)
Tips that save me money:
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Shopping at Aldi or discount stores whenever possible
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Buying in bulk and portioning into smaller containers
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Cooking instead of eating out (I eat out maybe once a week max)
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Always keeping a “backup meal” in case I can’t cook (like a pouch of Indian curry and some instant rice)
💡 Final Thoughts: Food Freedom on the Road
I used to think living in a car meant sacrificing good food, but it turns out that vehicle life actually helped me eat better. I'm more mindful, I waste less, and I’ve learned how to cook creatively with minimal tools and space.
Is it perfect? No. There are days I miss my old fridge and oven. And yes, sometimes I just eat cold canned chili in the dark. But most of the time, I feel well-fed, energized, and proud of how I’ve made this work.
Food on the road isn’t just fuel—it’s comfort, creativity, and sometimes, the best part of my day.
Got questions about cooking on the road? Want to see my full mobile kitchen setup? Let me know in the comments or message me—I love sharing tips and hacks with other travelers or future vanlifers. 🍳🚐✨
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