How to Save Money on Food on Holiday (and Still Eat Well)
Holiday food and drink can cost more than your flight – here’s how to eat well without blowing the budget or feeling restricted
With prices still high, many people are booking cheaper flights but then finding their main spend is on food and drink. Starling Bank found that 29% of people overspent on food and drink while away – and of those who did, 65% said it was because they ate out more than planned.
For the average person, food, drink, entertainment and accommodation costs are estimated at £1,080 per person for just a nine-night holiday, according to analysis by NimbleFins of ONS data. This figure drops per person when travelling as a family, due to room sharing and children typically eating less than adults.
Now, I’m not one for saying don’t enjoy meals out – they’re part of the fun. But a few smart tricks mean you can eat well, feel better in your body, and spend less overall – without feeling like you’re missing out.
A few things that work for my clients, and that I use myself:
Bring snacks for the airport – things like fruit, veg sticks, nuts, roasted edamame beans and roasted chickpeas. It stops you paying £7 for a snack that won’t fill you up. These fibre-filled, nutrient-dense foods are often more satisfying than grab-and-go options, help reduce cravings, and support gut health – so you’re not constantly reaching for more food or overspending on snacks that don’t satisfy.
Pack dried ingredients for overnight oats – for example - oats, chia seeds, and plant protein powder. Swell this up with hot water in a mug or bowl in your hotel room, or even in a Tupperware at the airport. Get it through security dry, then ask for a mug of hot water. Add fruit, nuts or seeds on top. It’s a quick, filling breakfast that can help keep energy levels steady and help cut cravings later.
Make use of local supermarkets – oats, bread, peanut butter, fruit, salad, hummus, plant milk, sandwich bits or precooked lentils and beans can give you breakfast and lunch for just a few pounds a day. You don’t need a kitchen to make this work. Just make sure you’ve brought a Tupperware with you.
Ask for a fridge in your room – it means you can keep fruit, sandwich fillings or leftovers fresh. If your room doesn’t have one, some hotels will let you store some food in their main kitchen fridge – worth asking at reception.
Make some quick sandwiches, like peanut butter and banana, or avocado, salad and marinated tofu (e.g. teriyaki) – which you can find ready-flavoured in many supermarkets.
Prep your own sandwich or lunch bowl before heading out for the day – it’ll help you feel better and save £10–15 a time.
Pack a couple of pre-flavoured lentil pouches in your suitcase. They’re cheap, last ages, and turn into an easy meal with some fresh salad, bread and a handful of nuts.
Making your own meals even just some of the time not only saves money, but can be more filling, help reduce snacking elsewhere, and support your gut when the food is high in fibre. Only 1 in 10 people in the UK get enough fibre, yet it’s key for gut health, digestion and reducing the risk of major lifestyle-related diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It can also help you maintain a healthy weight – not through restriction, but because it keeps you fuller for longer.
This isn’t about cutting out joy. It’s about having flexible, satisfying options that work with your body, your energy and your budget. You’re still free to enjoy that fancy dinner – but you won’t feel like you have to eat every meal out.