What I Ate Today Living in My Van (75)
This isn't the version of van life you see online.
There are no fancy meals laid out on a wooden table.
No perfect lighting.
No pretending.
This is just real life.
This morning, I cooked eggs and bacon in my van.
I made oatmeal and a piece of toast.
And I made my smoothie—the one thing I try not to skip.
That smoothie matters to me. It’s one of the ways I make sure my body is getting what it needs, especially at my age.
Because at 75, I don’t have the luxury of neglecting my health.
I don’t eat the way most people expect someone in a van to eat.
I don’t live on junk food.
I avoid as much sugar and salt as I can.
And I don’t just grab whatever is cheap and easy.
I’ve learned something very clearly:
Food is medicine.
Later in the day, I checked my crock pot.
I had a pot of pinto beans going.
I make them a few times a week—not just for myself, but because if I come across someone who’s hungry, I want to be able to offer them something warm.
That matters to me.
Even living like this, I don’t want to lose my kindness.
People assume you can’t really cook in a van.
But I do.
I’ve made it work because it’s important to me.
I use a small setup:
A hot pot
A crock pot
A foldable kettle
And a small propane burner if my power runs low
I even keep a refrigerator and freezer.
That alone changes everything.
I keep eggs, meat, frozen fruit, and ingredients for my smoothies.
I keep fish.
I keep food that will actually support my body—not just fill me up.
Because this life is already hard enough.
Your health shouldn’t make it harder.
There are days when it would be easier to just not bother.
To eat whatever is quick.
To let it slide.
But I know what’s at stake.
Strength.
Energy.
The ability to keep going.
So I choose to take care of myself anyway.
This life strips a lot away.
But it also makes you more aware of what matters.
And for me, food is one of those things.
If you’re thinking about van life, or already in it, I’ll tell you this:
Don’t give up on your health.
Find a way to cook—even if it’s simple.
Eat in a way that supports your body.
Because you’re going to need your strength.
I wrote a short guide sharing exactly how I eat each day, how I cook in a small space, and how I stay healthy living this way.
You give hope & encouragement to many who are going to make, or have made an extreme life style change. Have a Blessed Day everyday.🌻
Food is most definitely medicine and such a priority for you. So many of us scrimp to save on food yet it is our lifeline.