Sustinance for the Long Journey Ahead

As a Greyhound bus driver, I experimented with all types of road food.
Of available options, I most disliked relying on fast food and convenience food along the way. There are just too many reasons why it’s never a good idea to depend on the ability to get something to eat on the road. Especially when you’re vegetarian. I’ve been forced to eat Chicken or fish almost constantly while eating to go, from rest stops. (Thankfully I wasn’t vegan. I would’ve starved or lost my principles!)

I later found some of these options are good for riding trains and planes. Basically, going anywhere where you can’t cook, and don’t want to eat out.
Although it’ll look to you like I can’t cook, you’ll realize that it’s pretty hard to travel with gourmet stuff made from scratch, and usually, with me anyway, time doesn’t permit it before taking off somewhere.

So, some of my experimentations have included:

Military MRE’s-

I got a whole case in Montana, during a long layover; well, not an actual case but a dozen vegetarian meals, and I have to say that rations are great for the road. The self heating part is really cool. I remember one really long night when I didn’t have any sleep prior, and taking a meal in Spokane kept me going. I don’t know if I could’ve made it without that high-cal peppy stuff. And that would’ve meant that my passengers wouldn’t have made it either. Until, at least a while. I think these are the only meal options that would make it on my long two-four day trips.
I’d always recommend them as travel food, because you can make a few meals out of them, but I’d repack them. They’re pretty bulky. And not entirely cheap. The military-issue ones are actually illegal to sell, but somehow there’s always a surplus. Expect to pay $8-9 a pop, for a complete envelope, or maybe 5 apiece if you buy a dozen case. If you buy the whole meal pouch instead of a single entrée from within, don’t accept it without a flameless heater. I went to a shop that sells ‘em like that, and that’s just BS. You’re paying for that heater packet, and could use it- cold MRE’s are pretty gross.
Also, if you care about yourself image, you probably won’t want to use this option because it can make you look like a little of a bum. At least that’s how I felt munching on a cold veggie burger (yuck!) from a foil envelope in SFO airport. Of course, I did have a full travel bag and back pack, and was wearing a ragged white undershirt. On a bus or train, or in a car, I’d say these actually make you look kind’ve cool, but people might think your former or current military. Anyway, what I break it down to is, “who cares what they think? I’m eatin’ over here!” Although I do caution you that this can have the worst flatulent repercussions of all available choices. (Oh man- MRE farts—whew! Smells almost like you ate some nasty stuff out of a metal bag!)

Vietnamese Bahn Mi-

Vietnamese tofu sandwiches , I’ve noticed, keep pretty well (although you may want to be aware that they do contain mayonnaise, so I didn’t tell you to keep ‘em out and eat ‘em,) and taste good. Generally, I needed a couple, though. One wasn’t very filling. They’re about $3 from your local Chinatown or Asian neighborhood. Packing a couple of these in my driver bag made good sense, but I think I was still getting chips and things at gas stations. Also, because of crumbs, you have to take care when eating these, if you want to keep a semi-professional image.

Burritos-

Burritos make pretty awesome portable fare if you just get beans and rice. I can’t guarantee the freshness after a while, if you order meat. But the vegetarian ones will keep a day or two in your bag, and are awesome. Most burrito places are $5 a pop, which is usually a pretty good deal, but it wouldn’t hurt to roll your own burros if you can.

Compleats-

Ready meals of different brands, like Dinty Moore’s Compleats, can be purchased at drug and convenience stores, and offer some nutritional value. But, they are not vegetarian, and they cost at least $3, while not being very filling. Also, they’re probably nasty cold. Almost no better than eating along the way.
Fruits and Vegetables-
The problem is you can’t take a banana or an apple across Canadian, Mexican, or other borders, but for domestic travel, they’re a good option. Healthy, too. Just not very filling.
Nuts-
I like to travel with unsalted cashews, but they’re not cheap, go quick, and leave you wanting something more. Anyway, there’s plenty of nuts on the bus, so, the more the merrier, I guess. Offer the nuts some nuts, and maybe they’ll leave you alone. But probably only bother you more.

Quick Grabs-
When I did have to eat stuff from gas stations and the like, here’s what I got:
Sun Chips- Low in additives, but not in sodium. Not likely to relieve hunger to any real degree, but healthier than preservative and chemical rich alternatives like Doritos, and without the skuzzy orange mess on your fingers.
Pop-Tarts- Really not too satisfying cold, but a reasonable start or boost when you need it. Beware of the heartburn in these!
Jo Jo Potatoes- I always like to get jojo’s on the road. A jolly good comfort food. But they don’t sell them everywhere. The Northwest is the only place I know of where every gas station has such fried comforts.

Pre-Prep It
On my last train trip, my food supply from home, including a container of prepared Stove-Top stuffing, some cut veggie sticks with ranch dressing, and some veg chop suey. This works, for the first few hundred miles or so, and/ or a whole day of air travel.
I’m also told, by a reliable source, that you can heat up microwavable noodles using water and sunlight from a window.

Gimbob
'Korean Sushi,' keeps a while, sealed on a plastic foam tray, from some Asian supermarkets.

So- those are my ideas about catering for your long distance trip.
Bon voyage and bon appétit.