Flickr Photo Credit: J.S. Lander

Stuck eating in the car and reading the road map? Taking turns getting nourishment on a multi day road trip? This tip’s for you.

The wife of an author constantly on the road for book promotion turned me on to this little trick. When needing sandwich ideas that were packable for road trips, she came up with hot dog rolls. Why? The bottom side is closed, preventing the usual “spilling of the filling” phenomenon. Bonus? The sides are also attached and vertical, further aiding road warriors in the quest for sandwich stability.

The woman swore by this when it came to having to hurry down the highway to the next book event, or heading on a road trip to the next guest lecturer engagement. In fact, she swore she’d used nothing else for road trip sandwich packing in years. Some ideas for simple affordable fillings?

• Tuna with mayo, celery and horseradish.

• Chicken salad filling with a bit of chipotle mixed in.

• Peanut butter and berry preserves.

• Ground ham with madras curry powder, chopped apples and mayo.

This is also a good idea for packing take along lunches you’ll want to enjoy on a hike or European city walking tour. So whip up the tuna salad and curried ham spread. Eating sandwiches on the road just got easier!

Flickr Photo Credit: Ninja Poodles

In almost any country we’ve ever been in, the following items have always been available. . .  Sliced bread, butter and cheese. Throw in some lunch meat and a slice of tomato . . . meal complete!

It may not be the fanciest meal option when sharing a hostel kitchen, but the ingredient list is minimal. This is particularly helpful when you are changing locations every other day and do not want to spend a large chunk of your daily travel budget on items you will need to leave behind. If you are looking for something more elaborate however, you can check here for more sandwich ingredient ideas.

Flickr Photo Credit: Moriza

With a huge loaf of French, Italian or similar type of bread and a selection of pot-luck filling options (peppers, sliced cheese, meats, condiments, etc.), this can make for a really fun gathering.

I was at a PTA meeting once where they did this. Everyone had a great time, and no one had to break from their budget goals. Add some fruit or other crunchy snack, some beverage options and paper products.

Your fellow travelers at the hostel will appreciate your throwing this evening activity together. Here are some additional sandwich ideas if you really feel like going the extra mile.

Have any pics or details from a dinner party you had on the road? We’d love to know about them.

This sandwich discussion was submitted to the September 23, 2009 edition of Wanderfood Wednesday.

Flickr Photo Credit: Blmurch

We hope to have this category grow to include some really nice yet simple meal ideas for use while traveling. For now, here are two quick ideas to have a little atmosphere with your nourishment.

In the park.

For this, you’ll need at least one collapsible travel cup, slim travel corkscrew, multipurpose tool, and if possible the large plastic cover from a coffee can (these are light, take up little pack space, and can be used as a plate or cutting surface). If you see a park or piazza that sparks your interest and it’s close to lunch time, hit the market and get the following items for an impromptu picnic. Wine, specialty cheese, bread or croissants, and fruit. Slice the fruit using the multipurpose tool and coffee can lid, spread the cheese on the bread, and uncork the wine. Simple romance at little more than a moment’s notice.

Flickr Photo Credit: Krossbow

Potato buffet.

This next idea is for an evening when you are at a hostel with kitchen access. Get a bag of baking potatoes and various topper options available at your location such as cheese sauce, broccoli, bacon, sour cream, chili, beans, scallions, etc. Scrub and bake the potatoes and set out the topper options with a spoon or two. Select an appropriate beverage for the evening. This idea would also be great if you have gotten to know your fellow hostel buddies. Everyone can bring an item or two  and join in for an easy social gathering at the end of the day. Here are more potato ideas for inspiration.

This post is part of the August 19, 2009 Wanderfood Wednesday carnival.