One of the few good things about camping while homeless is that you get to cook your own food. This not only saves you a lot of money but also allows you to stay healthy. Shelter food is often times unhealthy and you never get enough to stay full. Eating fast food will just drain your pockets. If you are going to sleep outside in your tent or car, you should learn how to cook and store your food properly to keep it from spoiling. Whatever you can store in a fridge, you can store outside.
The first thing you’ll need is a good thermos that is double-walled and vacuum-sealed, preferably a gallon-sized with a wide opening. I currently use the Ozark Trail Stainless Steel one-gallon thermos. Next, get a cheap cooler or plastic storage bin. The thermos needs to be able to sit inside standing up.
Fill the thermos with at least 25% of ice. Place your food inside the thermos, leaving room at the top to add more ice. Make sure the food is well sealed to avoid smells and cross-contamination. Use plastic wrap or sandwich baggies. Double or triple seal. Add more ice on top, and seal the thermos. Place the thermos inside of the cooler or storage bin. Fill up the cooler or storage bin with water until it reaches at least 25% height of the thermos. Water is cooler than air. This will keep the outside temperature of the thermos cool in warm weather. Keep the thermos set up in a shaded and cool place. If you do not have any shade, wrap everything in an emergency blanket.
This setup will keep your food from spoiling for 2-3 days in warm weather, lasting longer in cooler temps. A one-gallon thermos will hold 3.5 to 4 pounds of ice without food. Add a little baking soda to the water surrounding the outside of the thermos to keep it from smelling over time. Change the outside water once every week, or as often as possible. Drain the water inside the thermos that melts. Use it for cooking, drinking, etc.
The half-gallon version of this thermos is small enough to fit in your backpack and will perform just about the same.
