Beyond the Drive-Thru: Mastering Healthy Eating & Scratch Cooking on the Open Road (Even in a Tiny RV Kitchen!)
- Kayla Mathieu
- Jun 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 9
There’s nothing quite like the freedom of the open road, is there? The changing landscapes, the unexpected detours, the constant sense of discovery – it’s why so many of us fall in love with full-time RV living. But let’s be honest, alongside the breathtaking views, there’s often a nagging question: How do we keep ourselves fueled with genuinely healthy food when our kitchen is smaller than some people’s closets?
I recently had an incredible chat with Sarah from "Running From Normal," a seasoned full-time RVer who has truly mastered the art of nutritious eating and cooking from scratch in a small RV kitchen. Her journey and practical tips are game-changers for anyone looking to ditch the unhealthy habits of constant eating out and embrace a more wholesome nomadic healthy lifestyle.
Grab a cup of your favorite brew, because you're going to want to soak up every one of her amazing healthy RV cooking tips!
From Life's Detours to the Open Road: Why "Running From Normal" Chose RV Life
You know how sometimes life throws you curveballs that change everything? For Sarah and her family, a series of profound events made them realize that life is short and precious. They wanted to seize every moment, make lasting memories with their kids, and truly live. The pandemic, coupled with the shift to homeschooling, created the perfect window of opportunity to embrace a lifestyle of travel and exploration. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, the biggest adventures begin with a pivot.
Harvesting Health: How a Homestead Background Fuels RV Wellness
Before their wheels started rolling, Sarah was knee-deep in homesteading – raising chickens, turkeys, goats, keeping bees, and nurturing a vibrant garden. This background wasn't just a hobby; it instilled a deep-rooted passion for sustainability, knowing where food comes from, and, most importantly, eating healthy. This foundation proved invaluable, giving her a unique perspective on sustainable food sourcing for nomadic life.
The Hunt for Healthy: Smart Food Sourcing While Wandering
One of the biggest hurdles for eating healthy while full-time RVing is consistent access to quality ingredients. Sarah’s strategies are brilliant and totally doable for us:
Go Local, Always: Her top priority? Finding locally sourced food. This means frequenting charming butcher shops for high-quality meats and making the most of farmers' markets in every new town.
Bulk & Big Box Balance: For pantry staples, Walmart and Costco still serve their purpose. And here’s a pro tip: Sarah keeps a dedicated deep freeze at her home base for bulk meat purchases. Smart planning for future adventures!
Roadside Treasure Chests: She absolutely loves the honor system roadside produce stands, especially prevalent on the East Coast. Fresh, seasonal gems often appear when you least expect them!
Strategic Travel Day Meals: To avoid unhealthy impulse stops, they meticulously pack lunches for travel days and excursions. Think good quality beef sticks and delicious homemade sandwich wraps – easy, satisfying, and good for you.
Unlocking the RV Kitchen: Revolutionary Tips for Tiny Spaces!
This is where Sarah truly shines, showing us that a compact space doesn't mean compromising on homemade goodness.
The RV Oven Game-Changer: If you’ve ever had a burnt bottom and an undercooked top in your RV oven, listen up! Sarah’s secret is a pizza stone placed between the oven rack and the gas line. This simple RV oven hack for even cooking is revolutionary for dispersing heat evenly.
Yes, You Can Bake Sourdough in an RV! We were seriously impressed! Sarah makes sourdough bread from scratch on the road. She says it’s simpler than it seems, and the enzymes in the starter can actually make it easier to digest. She even compares keeping a starter alive to a Tamagotchi – a fun, living companion for your travels!
Homemade Staples for Flavor & Health: Their commitment to scratch cooking extends to so many essentials:
Fresh Tortillas: Elevate any taco night!
Custom Spice Blends, Dressings, & Sauces: By keeping around 10 bulk organic spices, she creates endless flavor combinations, bypassing unhealthy additives in store-bought options.
Nourishing Broth: Using rotisserie chicken carcasses or soup bones, along with veggie scraps, she whips up nutrient-dense chicken or beef broth, often in an Instant Pot. Talk about minimal waste, maximum flavor!
Getting the Crew Involved & The "Start Small" Philosophy
It’s inspiring to hear how Sarah's daughter loves helping in the kitchen, and her son is even learning kitchen self-sufficiency! This shows that meal prep for RV travel can truly be a family effort.
Her most valuable piece of advice for anyone looking to incorporate more homemade food into their life – RV or not – is to start small. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to change everything at once. Master one thing, like making your own tortillas or a favorite spice blend, before adding another. This builds confidence and makes the process enjoyable, not daunting.
And, of course, she stresses the importance of best food storage solutions for RVs – think creatively and use every nook and cranny!
Keep Wandering, Keep Cooking, Keep Thriving!
Sarah from "Running From Normal" is an absolute powerhouse of inspiration, showing us that a life of adventure doesn't mean sacrificing health or the joy of delicious, homemade meals. Her practical RV kitchen hacks and dedication to a healthy RV lifestyle are a testament to what's truly possible on the road.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into her world, be sure to find "Running From Normal" on most platforms!
Happy trails and happy cooking, fellow adventurers!
If you found this summary helpful, don’t miss the full interview with Sarah on our YouTube channel! We dive even deeper into how to eat healthy while traveling, from simple meal prep ideas to road trip nutrition tips and staying balanced during long travel days. Whether you're full-time RVing or planning a weekend getaway, Sarah shares practical advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle on the go. Watch the full video below—and be sure to subscribe to Wandering Past Limits for more content on healthy RV living, travel hacks, and life on the road.
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