Camping food and gear

[Porcelina]

My fourth festival and I've usually been the type to live off of one meal a day bought from a stand.

This festival I don't really want to throw £10 away every day on food, although I've decided to 'treat' myself to something from a stall on each of the main days, for the sake of convinience.

I remember one of my mates last year had a cooking set that basically used firelighters instead of gas, what worked well. I have no idea what they're called though, so does anybody have any links for something similar?

Food-wise I was thinking of bringing tuna, pasta, soup, cereal bars, curry-in-a-can and some pre-cooked pizza.

So, what do you usually bring with you and what tricks have you picked up over the years?

One final little question for a Glasto virgin - how ample is the water supply in campsites, for washing up etc?

Edited June 14, 2010 by Porcelina

[cejx]

My fourth festival and I've usually been the type to live off of one meal a day bought from a stand.

This festival I don't really want to throw £10 away every day on food, although I've decided to 'treat' myself to something from a stall on each of the main days, for the sake of convinience.

I remember one of my mates last year had a cooking set that basically used firelighters instead of gas, what worked well. I have no idea what they're called though, so does anybody have any links for something similar?

Food-wise I was thinking of bringing tuna, pasta, soup, cereal bars, curry-in-a-can and some pre-cooked pizza.

So, what do you usually bring with you and what tricks have you picked up over the years?

One final little question for a Glasto virgin - how ample is the water supply in campsites, for washing up etc?

[whisty]

Probably going to average around £6.00 - £7.00 for a decent meal this year. Can find cheaper things to eat that are filling or wholesome or a bit of both but you have to do some searching.

[Savage Henry]

Bacon bun A.m. Oggy P.m.'bout seven pund a day. Sorted.

[kinglewi]

There are standpipe and taps in each campsite, but don't do your pots at peak times as you'll have an angry queue behind you!

I don't take food - and many folk do take food with good intentions, but then can't be arsed to go back to their tent to eat it, buy it out - thus mountains of wasted food! The food at Glastonbury can be superb and pretty good value for money - as long as you get away from the main stages... Jazz world excepted where there is Pieminister, Le Grande Bouffe, The fish company and the amazing Columbian coffee place which does the best coffee in the land.

I think the camping stove you are talking about is called a Trangia.

[droneoid]

I remember one of my mates last year had a cooking set that basically used firelighters instead of gas, what worked well. I have no idea what they're called though, so does anybody have any links for something similar?

Edited June 14, 2010 by droneoid

[stedoes]

I have just been out to get my food supplies.. however I have a simple gas camping stove which helps a lot.

First of all, you need to take things that won't go off.

Also, you want it to be light and compact as possible, tins are heavy.

You can take snacks but many get crushed/melt in your bag, but theres a huge variety of suitable food.

I will be taking a hard cool box and will freeze 2x 2l bottles of water the night before and take some burgers and bacon for a bbq the 1st day and bacon for brekkie the 2nd morning, it should still be cold. I take frozen bbq food also as it retains the cool temperature for longer.

things like pasta n sauce and pot noodles that just require you to heat up hot water and pour it in are the best. There are loads of similar products you can get with rice and pasta and noodles, have a look in the supermarket, just avoid taking loads of heavy tins unless you enjoy lugging stuff from the car!

I managed to only spend £40 over the entire festival last year by eating mostly my own food, although i did buy a bit, and a few mandatory ciders!!

[clockworkpurple]

I seriously can't be arsed with cooking my own food, but I'm happy as a snacker anyway. I usually take some pasties/sausage rolls (only for the first two days!), Pringles or other heavily salted snack products, and breakfast bars. Other than that I buy food, usually from the excellent stalls in JazzWorld/West Holts. This year my aim is to try a tartiflette.

There's usually 2 - 3 stoves in my group, which is plenty for the main reason you need heat....a nice cup of tea. Can't start the day without it, and someone making you a cuppa beats having to trek to a stall

[rischbrit]

Deffo a hexi stove as used by British army

[crow]

bread and squeezy honey is good... As is malt loaf or similar cake.

Don't forget some apples too. Lovely for breakfast (before a bacon butty!)

[verrymerry]

I've decided to do the opposite this year, having taken a gas stove to every festival I decided I didn't want to carry it, gas and food anymore!

I only ended up making pasta, feeling hungry and buying food anyway so this year I will be poorer but fuller

[HurrahBrother]

I'm talking a small meths stove (look for alcohol gel stove on ebay, when the alcohol gel is used up, stuff with cotton wool and soak that with meths and keep using as is) and large lidded mug for my pot (stove fits inside). Just enough to boil a pint of water and no more. Hot water for a morning cuppa and a strip wash being the intention and nothing more (a small stainless steel dog bowl being my sink). A couple of packets of "mug noodles" and a couple of cuppa soup sachets are my emergency rations. Biccies in catering packets and a pack of cereal bars covers the morning dunkables with the cuppa. The rest eat out.

Based on my morning cuppa and strip wash, 500ml of meths just about covers the 5 days.

Dried food is better than wet/tinned if you are coming by public transport. Noodles, cuppa soups, smash (don't dis the smash and soup) and cous cous mainly.

[coma girl]

http://www.campinguniverse.co.uk/outdoor-leisure/solid-fuel-stove.html

Is that what you mates had? I have one, they very light weight and easy to use, perfect for heating up a mess tin of water for tea etc. I'm just taking snacky food this year, crisps, cereal etc and a disposable bbq for a few burgers on wednesday

Edited June 15, 2010 by coma girl

[Rootsfran]

I use these, with a tin of ham make a nice meal, just fry in a little oil, long life and no fridge needed.

My link

[IamChappu]

I take a small light gas stove but only for coffees/hot chocolates.......oh & my traditional pot noodle that I have once the tent is up!

Otherwise I just take some snacky things like crisps, cereal bars etc & then I eat my way around Glastonbury! There's just too many yummy stalls to do otherwise - though I can understand why you'd do otherwise if money is a little tight.