Healthy and delicious cooking in the van: tips and tricks

Kira Zabe

September 9, 2024

Cooking in the van can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be complicated. With the right ingredients and a few clever tricks, you can conjure up healthy and tasty meals that will keep you energized and happy on the road. In this blog post, we share useful tips and recipes on how to cook healthy and delicious meals in the van. We'll also show you how the pantry app helps you to always be well prepared.

Planning is the key

Good planning makes cooking much easier:

Meal planning:create a weekly meal plan and write down the ingredients you need.

Shopping lists:Use the pantry app to create shopping lists and make sure you have all the necessary groceries on board.

Simple and healthy recipes

Here are three simple and healthy recipes that are perfect for cooking in the van:

Recipe 1: Vegetable stir fry with quinoa

Ingredients: Quinoa, zucchini, bell bell pepper, carrots, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, herbes de Provence.

Instructions: Cook the quinoa according to the packet instructions. Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces and sautรฉ in olive oil. Add the quinoa and season with salt, pepper and herbes de Provence.

Recipe 2: Tuna salad

Ingredients: Tuna (canned), chickpeas (canned), tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper.

Instructions: Drain the tuna and chickpeas. Cut the vegetables into small pieces and mix everything together in a bowl. Season to taste with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Recipe 3: Overnight oats

Ingredients: Oat flakes, plant-based milk, chia seeds, honey, berries (fresh or frozen), nuts.

Instructions: Mix the oats, milk and chia seeds in a jar and leave to soak overnight in the fridge. In the morning, garnish with honey, berries and nuts.

Store food correctly

Correct storage extends the shelf life and freshness of food:

Fresh food boxes and storage containers:use airtight containers to keep food fresh.

Cooling facilities:Invest in a good cool box or small refrigerator to store perishables.

Dry storage:Store dry foods such as rice, pasta and nuts in sealed containers.

Cooking with little water and energy

It is important to save water and energy in the van:

One-pot dishes:these are not only easy to prepare, but also save water and energy.

Prepared ingredients:Cut vegetables and meat before cooking to reduce cooking time.

The Smantry.app: your kitchen helper in the van

The Smantry.app is the perfect companion for healthy and efficient cooking in the van:

Inventory management:keep track of your food and get reminders for expiry dates.

Shopping lists:Create shopping lists to make sure you always have the ingredients you need.

Download the Smantry.app today and discover how easy and delicious cooking in the van can be!

The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes ๐Ÿฒโœจ

Hand on heart: Each of us has them โ€“ those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.

Here are our favorites:

๐Ÿฅฃ 1. The powerful blender

Smoothies, soups, dips โ€“ a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.

๐Ÿ”ช 2. A sharp chef's knife

Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.

๐Ÿณ 3. A cast iron skillet

The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread โ€“ everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.

๐Ÿฅ• 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater

A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.

๐Ÿฅก 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars

Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.

๐ŸŒฑ 6. Kitchen Scale

It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.

๐Ÿฅ„ 7. Personal Blender

The little brother of the blender โ€“ perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.

How Smantry additionally helps you ๐Ÿ“ฒ

With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.

September 4, 2025
2 min read

New laws on food waste in Spain

Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.

Key provisions of the law:

Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.

Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.

Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.

Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.

Sanctions for violations:

Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.

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Critique and Outlook:

While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.

Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.

Join in and reduce food waste! ๐ŸŒฑ๐Ÿ“ฒ

Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! ๐Ÿ’š Try it now!

August 27, 2025
2 min read

Sharing supplies together โ€“ why the Shared Economy is now moving into the kitchen

The concept of Shared Economy has long been more than a short-term trend โ€“ it's changing our everyday lives. More and more neighborhoods, shared apartments, and community projects are discovering how practical it is to organize groceries together and manage supplies transparently.

Why sharing supplies is becoming increasingly popular

  • Save on costs: Bulk purchases become cheaper when more people participate.
  • Save space: Not everyone needs their own package of rice or pasta.
  • Better organization: Digital tools make it easy to see what is available.
  • Experiencing community: Food brings people together โ€“ as does camping together.

From the flatshare to the neighborhood

Especially in shared apartments or families with multiple households it pays off to keep a communal stock of supplies. But neighborhood projects or small communities are also recognizing the added value: shopping, storing, and using together.

How Smantry helps

This is where Smantry comes into play:

  • Community Feature: Supplies can be managed collectively.
  • Transparency: Everyone can see which items are available.
  • Efficiency: Duplicate purchases are avoided, leftovers are used up in time.
  • Flexibility: Soon it will become even easier to manage entire communities (including new features such as categories or the option to completely delete communities).

๐Ÿ‘‰ The shared economy doesn't stop with cars โ€“ it moves right into your kitchen. With Smantry sharing supplies becomes easier than ever.

August 27, 2025
1 min read

At last, it's here: The categorization of articles ๐ŸŽ‰

Over the past few months, we have collected numerous feedback from you โ€“ and the request for better organization of supplies was one of the most frequent wishes. Soon, it will be possible to sort your items into individual categories, so that you can keep track of everything even more quickly.

Why categories are so practical

  • ๐Ÿฅฆ More organization in your pantry: Instead of a long list, you can structure your products into categories such as "Vegetables", "Beverages", or "Household Goods".
  • โฑ๏ธ Faster Finding: No more long scrolling โ€“ jump straight to the right category.
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ Improved collaboration: In communities or family households, everyone can immediately see where things belong.
  • ๐ŸŒ Customization: You can create your own categories that suit your needs โ€“ whether for meal prep, stockpiling, or just your everyday life.

Your wish will become reality โœจ

We know how important this feature is to you. That's why our development team has implemented categorization as a high priority. It will soon be available step by step in the app โ€“ fulfilling one of the biggest wishes of our community.

We are thrilled that we can make everyday life even easier for you with this. Stay tuned โ€“ as always, we will keep you updated on when the feature will be officially released.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Do you already have ideas on how you want to structure your categories? Feel free to send us your suggestions or requests โ€“ your input might directly influence the ongoing development.

August 20, 2025
1 min read