There is more to quickly silencing grumbling tummies (and mouths) in the bush than two-minute noodles and a tin of meatballs-and-spaghetti.

There is no excuse for choosing mates with a predilection for travelling 10 000 km in eight days. After all, unlike your family you actually get to choose your friends.

You will pay for succumbing to this oversight by having to pack a few packets of instant food. Braaiing is nice and all, but eight consecutive days?

Here are a few ideas for instant meals. Just keep in mind, what you find tasty and filling, might abhor your brother-in-law. You should therefore first try the instant food before cramming it into the ammo boxes.

Some people don’t mind eating fruit only all day long, but most of us carnivores make no bones about preferring something more substantial. We prowl around supermarkets, hunting down the host of instant foods.

So don your sneakers, and venture into the exciting world of the supermarket … It may do more than arm-wrestle your camping food challenge into submission − at home you’ll also have to tie on your apron less often.

Breakfast before sunrise

If you’ve had no time the previous night to boil a few eggs for the next morning’s breakfast, and you’re fed up with coffee and rusks, try the following:

O ’t(i)s so easy.
It’s unnecessary to buy instant oats − normal oats works just as well.
Measure the desired portions into porridge bowls, cover it with hot water and let it stand a few minutes until the water has been absorbed.
Sprinkle sugar over, add milk and enjoy.

It tastes … Real oats has more oomph than the instant type in any case, and much less salt.

Price?

• A 1 kg pack costs R17 and feeds a whole platoon of touring soldiers;
• Instant oats: R28 for a pack of 10 sachets.

The quickest bar none.
Bokomo’s Up & Go Liquid Breakfast, Granola bars and Jungle Yoghurt breakfast bars are also a quick solution, although not quite as filling as oats.

It tastes … Nothing much to rave about, but if time is limited, it fills a spot for a little while.

Price?

• Up & Go: R24 (three boxes per packet);
• Granola: R20 for 12 bars;
• Jungle Yoghurt bars: R4 each

Playing eco ball.
Fresh or dried fruit are always a winner.

You may not want to take oranges to Botswana though − elephants could turn your 4x4 into a soccer ball.

Moreover, if you don’t want your family to contribute too much to global warming, use dried fruit sparingly.