Food Budgeting ideas?

If you are purchasing food at your destination, a stir fry would be awesome. You can get bagged mixed veggies, cooked chicken so you don't need to worry about raw going bad, and a bottle of your favorite oriental sauce will pull a stir fry together in no time, and it does not need to be fried in oil, it can just go in with a bit of cooking spray. If you want to get a cooler, make sure you get one that is not disposable, and that you make sure you have enough ice in it to keep all your food items properly cold. Also look around for things like rice mixes and noodle mixes that only take one pot to cook. Not the greatest foods on the planet, but versatile if you add veggies and a meat, and will keep well once cooked. Try not to use mayo, it can spoil in a freaking heartbeat, instead if you need a flavor component for sandwiches, try looking for a salad dressing. They are very versatile and can be added to a lot of different dishes.

If you have a stove top and refrigerator you've got plenty of options. I would probably find the easiest thing to do would be to make food in advance at home and then bring it in your cooler to be reheated. That way you don't have to pack a bunch of stuff like spices and pantry staples. Think things like homemade soups, chili, lentils, etc.

Making hot or cold sandwiches should be no problem. Things like oatmeal and eggs should be easy for breakfast.

Cold salads can be made at home and put in the cooler as well. Green salads, pasta salads all would travel fine. Vegetables wold be easy to steam or saute. And of course fresh fruit requires no cooking. You can cut it up at home so it's ready to go if you like.

Since you do this frequently, you might want to invest in a box (maybe a fishing tackle box or a rubbermaid tote) that you can keep your travel kitchen stuff in so it's always ready for you to grab. Saute pan, soup pan, good paring knife, can opener, olive oil, salt, pepper, vegetable peeler, travel mug, tea bags, sponge, cutting board...anything you find yourself wanting while staying in the hotel.

Now that I am getting on I have to make my weekend meals. Cereal and toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and an easy meal like a can of stew to nuke and a potato to boil.

You will need to work around those ideas you can use in a motel room. Chat to the owner as he may have provision for guests to heat something, perhaps a communal kitchen

Chetak

Eat more beans and rice with spices/sauces. Saves a lot of money.