Provisioning for Bahamas (With Free Meal Plans – Totally Doable!)

Provisioning for Bahamas, for weeks, maybe months… No Way! Too stressful!

Let me take away the stress of planning a menu and figuring out groceries for your tropical journey!

In this post, you will find provisioning items, recipes, tips and ideas for what to buy where! I am also including our meat and vegan family menu plans with shopping lists!

Remember, what we do, you can do too!

Boo-Boo hill Bahamas. Provisioning for Bahamas should not take you away from the adventure!
This is what should be on your mind before, during and after the Bahamas!

Get that shopping done and check out the cool things you can do in the Bahamas, in our:

Posts dedicated to the Bahamas

I am offering you two weekly meal plans – meat and vegan, as well as the lists of provisions, as well as items you will find useful, as well as tips! Absolutely free!

Why?

Because I love organizing menus and cooking!

Because I have already done it, so I don’t mind sharing at all.

Because I really need a long, detailed post to improve the SEO of this blog, and if you decide to buy any of the products I recommend, we might get a little cash!

Preparing to provision…

I hate shopping, there is nothing therapeutic about shopping. It takes a long time and is a waste of time, which can be allotted to far more useful and fun activities. But, it must be done.

Preparing for a Bahamas adventure does require some thought and organization, because rushing things is never fun, and ends up being very expensive!

Take some time, read through this post, there is tons of useful information. Print the menu plans, print the shopping lists. Be inspired to create your own or take notes right over mine!

It is worth it and will save you the headache of running to the grocery store for one more thing you forgot!

So, I am offering you a less painful version of shopping – provisioning for the shop-a-phobic!

Provisioning for Bahamas, in the US.

Buying food and groceries in the Bahamas is expensive. Eating out is even more expensive and I am not covering it in this post, because we don’t eat out.

In fact, when I was researching Bahamas in the most popular travel guides, all I was able to find were excellent marinas and restaurants!

But we did not want either!

Yet, we wanted to have a great time in the Bahamas, while not staying at marinas and not eating out!

And we did just that – we had an amazing time and it did not cost us a fortune at all!

While in the US, we shopped for most of our groceries in Aldi, Walmart and Costco. Aldi was my favorite, because it was small and had almost everything you would need for the menu plans below, without the extra-long lines and isles!

It also helped keep the cost low, because there were no fancy snacks to grab, while heading to the check-out line.

Shopping in the Bahamas

If everything is so freaking expensive in the Bahamas – how do the locals eat! They don’t pay what tourists pay, that’s how.

It is not an official piece of information, but we did someone a small favor, at one of the islands, and he told us to mention his name next time we went shopping, to pay the “cheap” prices, for the locals! We never did, as I had already provisioned for the Bahamas, so I cannot tell you exact numbers.

Before I proceed to the actual meal plans, it is important to point out that all of the basics for a healthy meal are readily available and affordable in the Bahamas. We have found them in every single grocery shop along the way.

Available and affordable in the Bahamas:

  • onions and garlic
  • carrots, peppers, potatoes
  • bananas, plantains, roots
  • salt, sugar
  • rice, flour, bread (white sandwich bread, which we don’t like at all)
  • eggs (a bit pricy, but we love eggs)
Provisioning for Bahamas does not need to include essentials. Grocery stores like this one have all the basic ingredients you may need.
A grocery shop in Grand Harbor, Bahamas. Not a terribly great selection, but enough to start a meal.

Tip about grains in any island shop – do not over-buy, or you risk a possible infestation. If you must stock up on rice and flour, do it from the US. But buying a couple of bags of rice and flour has been fine for us.

Meal Planning for Bahamas

If you have a few weeks, or even a few months to spend in the amazing Bahamas, that is a lot of food and meals to plan!

So, don’t!

Don’t plan for weeks of menu ideas. Plan for just 10 days! Is that too long? Plan for just a week! Then multiply the products times the number of weeks you will be in the Bahamas – done!

You don’t want to plan a menu at all – don’t! Let me do it for you.

Below are two weekly meal plans, for a family of five (with teens aboard, who eat as much as adults, maybe more). You can scale the provisioning up or down, depending on the number of people you are traveling with.

I am offering a meat, and a vegan version! You can adjust as needed, for diet or allergy needs.

Our menu aboard is slightly different, including traditional Bulgarian meals, which I have replaced with more familiar alternatives. I am happy to share menu ideas for those who do not have a freezer aboard (we had none for the first three years of cruising life).

Meat Meal Plan and Provisioning List for a family of five (for us, that is five adults)

DayMenu
Large lunch means leftovers for dinner, less cooking for you!
Provisions from US. This is NOT ingredients list
All cans/jars are 15oz (or about)

Mon
Breakfast – toast with spreads; scrambled eggs; fruit bowl
Lunch/dinner – chicken chili with rice
Snack – frozen fruit smoothie
2 cans fruits, 1/3 jar of spread
3 cans of chicken, 2 chili spice mix, 2 cans of beans, 2 can corn, 2 cans chopped tomatoes, 1/2qt chicken stock.
5 servings of frozen fruit and 1 quart boxed milk
* We like the canned chicken from Costco
* The rice is cooked on the side, for the chili.
* Boxed milk is cheapest in Dollar stores.
TuesBreakfast – hash-browns, eggs and toast
Lunch/dinner – sour kraut and rice casserole with pretzels.
Snack – PB&J sandwiches
10 hash browns/potatoes, butter and jelly
2 cans sour kraut, 2 cans meat, 10 pretzels
peanut butter, jelly
* Home fries work fine, instead of hash browns
* sour kraut recipe below

* You can substitute small buns for pretzels
WedBreakfast – oatmeal and fruit
Lunch – Spinach pesto Pasta
Snack – hummus and veggies
Dinner – hummus platter with rice, salad, falafel and pitta.
5 servings of oatmeal, raisins, nuts, 3 cans fruit
2 cans chick peas, tahini, 1 can stuffed vine leaves, falafel mix
1 box of whole wheat pasta, pasta sauce, 1/2 jar pesto, 1 can spinach, or mushrooms
* Hummus recipe below (super easy)
* I make my own pitta (just bread dough that you stretch and cook in a pan, on both sides, without oil)
ThuBreakfast – breakfast burritos
Lunch/dinner – tacos/burittos
Snack – fruit bowl over rice pudding
1/3 jar salsa, 5 tortillas
10 tortillas, 2 lb meat, 1/3 jar salsa, 1 can corn, 2 pkg taco seasoning, 1 can beans grated cheese (easy to use frozen),
2 cans fruit, half quart milk
* Guacamole can be made in advance, separated into plastic bags and frozen. Sour cream is expensive in the Bahamas, so we skipped it.
FriBreakfast – oatmeal and hash-browns (yoghurt and granola)
Lunch/Dinner – curry/coconut lentils and rice on the side
Snack – PB & honey sandwiches with slices of banana
5 servings of oatmeal, raisins, nuts
1qt milk (for yoghurt making)
16oz dry lentils, curry powder, 2 cans coconut milk
peanut butter and jelly
* Any meal with rice – rice is cooked separately and mixed as served.
SatBreakfast – crepes or pancakes
Lunch – pizza
Snack – frozen fruit smoothie
Dinner – salad with bread and butter
Your favorite recipe, or a pancake mix; honey/jelly, 2 cans fruit, milk
5 servings of frozen fruit, 1 qt boxed milk.
butter/spread for the bread
* Pizza making will use whatever you already have on hand.
* Dinner bread is home-baked, not packaged. I make it by hand, but most of our friends use a bread maker. Or you can make a bit more pizza, and eat that with the salad.
SunBreakfast – breakfast burritos
Lunch – sweet/sour veggies with rice and dumplings
Snack – coconut rice with mango
Dinner – chicken salad sandwiches with a side (potatoes or rice and plantains)
5 tortillas, sweet/sour sauce (I use this recipe, super easy)
2 cans of mixed vegetables, 1 can/lb meat (optional)
1 can coconut milk, 1 can mangoes/fruit
2 can chicken, cranberries, 1/3 c mayo, mustard
* Coconut rice is best cooked as a risotto with a can of coconut milk and some sugar/honey added towards the end.
All the meals will still need garlic, onions, carrots, peppers, celery, etc. Again, these are easy to find in the Bahamas.

To save you time, I have included all of the provision items as a list below. Remember to scale up or down, based on the number of people aboard! This is enough to feed five adults, for one week.

Multiply the list by the number of weeks you will be in the Bahamas – done!

Meat Provisioning List, for 1 week, for 5 adults

  • 10 cans fruit – 1 of which mangoes, for coconut mango rice
  • 5 cans of chicken – We bought from Costco, but other grocery stores have them as well.
  • 5 cans other meat of your choice (or 5lb fresh meet, if you are freezing)
  • 3 cans of beans (I only use canned, dried are fine, if you have a pressure cooker)
  • 3 cans corn
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 qt chicken stock (I tend to buy a bit more and use it instead of water when cooking)
  • 3 qt milk (I’d buy a bit more, it lasts for a long time. I only use for cooking)
  • 2 cans mixed vegetables Asian mix.
  • 2 cans sour kraut
  • 2 cans chick peas
  • 3 cans coconut milk (I prefer whole, rather than light)
  • 8oz mayo
  • 1 box pasta
  • 1 can pasta sauce
  • 1 small jar pesto, or powdered pesto mix (I mix some pesto with the pasta sauce)
  • 1 can spinach (frozen spinach takes up space, we found canned spinach in Walmart)
  • 1/2 parmesan cheese (optional)
  • 16oz dried lentils
  • 1/2 jar (16 oz) peanut butter
  • 1/2 jar (15-16oz) jelly and honey
  • 1/2 jar savory spread (we like eggplant, or pepper spreads and we mix them with pesto)
  • 10 servings of oatmeal
  • 1 jar salsa (check below how we store our glass jars aboard – none broken!)
  • Guacamole divided and frozen, or in jars (avocados were pricy in the Bahamas)
  • 20 tortillas (we love wraps and they don’t take up much space in the freezer)
  • 1 can vine leaves stuffed with rice/meat (aka Dolmas – at any ethnic grocery store)
  • 1 cup falafel mix (international section of grocery store, but they are a bit spicy)
  • 10 hash brown patties (they do take up space, but we are often vegan, so we like them)
  • 5 servings of frozen fruit (our favorite are strawberries, then we buy bananas fresh)
  • 16oz cheese
  • raisins (we plan for around 2 cups per week, over oatmeal and in cookies)
  • cranberries and dried fruits for oatmeal, rice pudding and salads.
  • nuts (we eat a lot of nuts, so I plan for at least 1.5lb per week)
  • 2 packs of taco seasoning (you can mix your own, but why bother?)
  • 2 packs chili seasoning
  • Tahini (I use it to make hummus and salad dressings). 15oz jar lasts us a month

Vegan Meal Plan and Provisioning List for a family of five (for us, that is five adults)

We fast from all meat and animal products for around half of the year, so we are used to becoming vegan when needed, which is why I am offering our typical vegan menu below.

DayMenu
Large lunch means leftovers for dinner, less cooking for you!
Provisions from US. This is NOT ingredients list
All cans/jars are 15oz (or about)

Mon
Breakfast – oatmeal and fruit
Lunch/dinner – vegan chili with rice
Snack – frozen fruit smoothie
3 cans fruits, 5 servings of oatmeal, nuts and raisins
2 chili spice mix, 2 cans of beans, 2 cans corn, 2 cans chopped tomatoes
5 servings of frozen fruit and 1 quart box non-dairy milk
* We provisioned almond milk from Costco
* The rice is cooked on the side, for the chili (and always)
TuesBreakfast – home fries, avocado, toast with spreads
Lunch/dinner – sour kraut and rice casserole with pretzels.
Snack – PB&J sandwiches
spreads for the toast
2 cans sour kraut, 10 pretzels, mustard
peanut butter, jelly
* Home fries work fine, instead of hash browns
* sour kraut recipe same as above, but without meat
* You can substitute small buns for pretzels
WedBreakfast – oatmeal and fruit
Lunch – Spinach pesto Pasta
Snack – hummus and veggies
Dinner – hummus platter with rice, salad, falafel and pitta.
5 servings of oatmeal, raisins, nuts, 3 cans fruit
1 box of whole wheat pasta, pasta sauce, 1/2 jar vegan pesto, 1 can spinach (or 1 can mushrooms)
2 cans chick peas, 1/4c tahini, 1 can Dolmas, 1cup falafel mix
* Hummus recipe below
* I make my own pitta (just bread dough that you stretch and cook in a pan, on both sides, without oil)
ThuBreakfast – avocado and hash browns breakfast burritos
Lunch/dinner – vegan burritos
Snack – fruit bowl over rice pudding
1/3 jar salsa, 5 tortillas, 5 hash browns
9 tortillas, 1/3 jar salsa, 1 can corn, 2 pkg taco seasoning, 1 can beans, 1pkg frozen guacamole
2 cans fruit, half quart non-dairy milk (for rice pudding)
* Guacamole can be made in advance, separated into small plastic bags and frozen.
FriBreakfast – oatmeal and fruit
Lunch/Dinner – curry/coconut lentils and rice on the side
Snack – PB & honey sandwiches with slices of banana
5 servings of oatmeal, raisins, nuts, 3 cans fruit
16oz dry lentils, 2 cans coconut milk
peanut butter and honey
* Any meal with rice – rice is cooked separately and mixed as served.
SatBreakfast – vegan pancakes
Lunch – veggie burgers
Snack – frozen fruit smoothie
Dinner – salad with bread and savory spread
I use flax “egg” instead of real eggs in pancake recipes
frozen vegan burgers, or your favorite recipe
5 servings of frozen fruit, 1 qt boxed non-dairy milk.
spread for the bread
* Dinner bread is home-baked. I make it by hand, but most of our friends use a bread maker.
SunBreakfast – avocado/hash browns breakfast burritos
Lunch – sweet/sour veggies, rice and dumplings
Snack – coconut rice with mango
Dinner – sweet potato casserole
5 tortillas, 5 hash browns/potatoes
2 cans of mixed vegetables, sweet/sour sauce (I use this recipe, super easy).
1 can coconut milk, 1 can mangoes/fruit
2 cans of veggies for sweet potato casserole
* Coconut rice is best cooked as a risotto with a can of coconut milk and sugar/honey added towards the end.
All the meals will still need garlic, onions, carrots, peppers, celery, etc. Also, essentials such as bread, bananas, potatoes, rice, flour and eggs are to be purchased fresh. Again, these are easy to find in the Bahamas.

Vegan Provisioning List for 1 week, for 5 adults

  • 12 cans fruit – 1 of which mangoes, for coconut mango rice
  • 3 cans of beans (I only use canned, dried are fine, if you have a pressure cooker)
  • 3 cans corn
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes
  • 3 qts non-dairy milk (I buy a bit more, because we prepare our oatmeal with almond milk)
  • 2 cans mixed vegetables Asian mix.
  • 2 cans mixed vegetables (to mix with sweet potatoes, for a bake)
  • 2 cans sour kraut
  • 2 cans chick peas (buy a bit extra to throw into pasta and salads)
  • 3 cans coconut milk (I prefer whole, rather than light)
  • 1 box pasta
  • 1 can pasta sauce
  • 1 can spinach (frozen spinach takes up space, we found canned spinach in Walmart)
  • 1 can mushrooms
  • 16oz dried lentils
  • 1/2 jar (16 oz) peanut butter
  • 1/2 jar (15-16oz) jelly and honey
  • 1/2 jar savory spread (we like eggplant, peppers and garlic spreads)
  • 15 servings of oatmeal
  • 1 jar salsa (check below how we store our glass jars aboard – none broken!)
  • Guacamole divided and frozen, or in jars (avocados were pricy in the Bahamas)
  • 20 tortillas (we love wraps and they don’t take up much space in the freezer)
  • 1 can vine leaves stuffed with rice (aka Dolmas – in grocery stores carry and Trader Joe’s)
  • 1 cup falafel mix (international section at grocery stores; they are a bit spicy)
  • 10 hash brown patties (they do take up space, but we are often vegan, and we love them)
  • 10 servings of frozen fruit (our favorite are strawberries, we buy bananas fresh and blend)
  • raisins (we plan for around 2 cups per week, over oatmeal and in cookies)
  • cranberries and dried fruits for oatmeal, rice pudding and salads.
  • nuts (we eat a lot of nuts, so I plan for at least 1.5lb per week)
  • 2 packs of taco seasoning (you can mix your own, but why bother?)
  • 2 packs chili seasoning
  • Tahini (I use it to make hummus and salad dressings; 15oz jar lasts us a month)
  • ground flax seed (I use as an egg substitute, or in salads and breads).

Recipes we love (and used in the Bahamas)

We do not eat out. We are not complaining. We are unemployed by choice and I love cooking!

There is never going to be lemon grass soup served aboard, sadly, but the adventures compensate for the lack of good Asian cuisine, and Sophie is such a fan, that we still enjoy amazing Asian treats. However, provisioning for such cooking would be a nightmare for me.

A plastic container of kimchi in the cockpit.
Sophie still made kimchi aboard; I cannot stand the smell, so the kimchi lived outside for a bit, before transferring to the fridge.

We try to incorporate as many local dishes into our menu as possible, because the ingredients for these are cheaper and fresher in the Bahamas, as well as in other countries and islands.

Below are a few recipes, which use ingredients from the lists for provisioning for the Bahamas.

Sour Kraut and Rice Casserole (aka Kapama)

We love sour kraut, it is also good for you! There is a traditional Bulgarian dish called Kapama, which I tweak a bit for an easy casserole aboard.

Super forgiving recipe, add a bit more or less of the ingredients or spices, and it still tastes great!

Here is how we make it:

In a very large bowl mix 2 cans sour kraut (rinsed), 1 chopped onion, chopped garlic, 1.5 cups rice and 2lb meat (or skip the meat if vegan) and some sliced prunes (optional, but so yummy).

Add spices – 1 Tbsp. cumin, 1 tsp oregano, 2tsp paprika, 2 tsp allspice, 4 bay leaves1/3 c oil (sour kraut can take it), a little bit of salt (sour kraut is salty), black pepper, 3/4 C red wine, 2 C water (or chicken stock).

Mix everything really well (use your hands), poor in a large pan, cover with foil and bake for an hour at 350/375, then leave in the oven for an extra hour, without taking out, or uncovering. Tastes even better reheated!

Serve with a scoop of sour cream (optional), mustard and pretzels on the side. Goes well with red wine and beer.

Hummus

Another very easy and forgiving recipe. I never measure anything, so it tastes a bit different each time, but the greatest batches are one-of-a-kind, because I have no idea what the proportions were…

In a large yoghurt container (works perfect with a hand-held blender), mix 1/3c olive oil, salt, pepper, 1/4c lemon juice, 2 Tbsp tahini, 3 cloves garlic (optional) and one can chick peas without the aquafaba. Puree well and pour into a bowl.

In the same container, pour the other can of chick peas with the aquafaba and puree. Then mix the two together. You can add a third can of chick peas, if the flavor is too intense. The only reason I blend them separately, is so the mixture does not spill out of the container as I blend.

Pour everything back into the yoghurt container, or jar and store in the fridge.

Vegan Aquafaba Merengues

If you save the aquafaba from the chickpeas, you can add sugar, vanilla and some cream of tartar, blend and bake at very low temp (around 200), for a vegan treat. They do taste a bit sour, so if you are a merengue snob, you might not like the taste.

Here is a recipe, listing the same basic steps.

Three vegan merengues on a plate.

TIP – Save the aquafaba! If you don’t want to make merengues, use the aquafaba in the next meal, or to boil rice, or mix with some sugar and use as the sweetener for granola.

We prefer egg-white merengues, when we are not on a vegan diet, and since provisioning for the Bahamas cannot possibly include the super fragile treats, we have to make our own, occasionally.

Curry-Coconut Lentils

Ready? Another easy dish and so tasty!

Sautee 1/4 C coconut oil, 1 onion, 1-2 peppers, 6-7 cloves chopped garlic and 2-3 chopped carrots for a few minutes. Add 16oz lentils and around 2Tbsp curry and stir everything well.

Add water to barely cover everything and boil until lentils are cooked (around 45min). Then add two cans of coconut milk. Add salt to taste. Serve over rice.

Done!

Favorite Tahini Lemon Salad Dressing

You may have guessed it – very easy and no exact proportions. Here is how I make it.

Mix 1Tbsp tahini, 1/4 c lemon juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp mustard, salt and pepper. You can make a bigger batch and store in the fridge.

I am giving you optional amounts above, feel free to adjust to taste. Tahini is a bit strong, but we love the flavor.

What about fish and seafood?

It would be absurd to include fish in our provisioning for the Bahamas list!

We like to catch our own fish and lobsters. If you catch fish, or lobster, just make a quick side and scrap the menu for the day.

Bahamas has great sites for catching lobsters, the fewer people around, the better. We found some huge and tasty lobsters in the Berry Islands. Make sure you have a large enough pot to boil the lobster and a very sturdy knife to cut through the shell.

Spear fishing is amazing in the Bahamas. Stay away from reef fish larger than a dinner plate, to avoid Ciguatera Poisoning. We also avoid barracuda altogether, even if caught away from reefs.

Tip: If you have to fly with a harpoon, just remove the tip and call it a walking stick, (Thank you, Uncle Gene, for the tip!)

What about milk and yoghurt?

Provisioning for the Bahamas does not include yoghurt. I make my own yoghurt aboard, always from whole boxed milk, never from powdered milk. The warm, humid environment is perfect for culturing yoghurt, so why not take advantage of it!

You can make your own granola, any recipe will do, very easy. Then store in an airtight container.

Home-made yoghurt with granola

I have a very forgiving recipe, without any thermometers and a secret, which yields thick yoghurt every time!

How to Make Yoghurt With a Story

We only eat cereal in the US. If we don’t eat cereal, we don’t drink milk; we get our calcium from other, better sources. It also takes up too much fridge space, just for drinking. The kids still grow perfectly fine.

TIP – The Dollar stores in the US have the cheapest boxed milk we have found. It stores well at warm temperatures too, just check the expiration dates.

What about pizza?

We love, love, love pizza and we make pizza aboard every once in a while. I did not include it in the menu above, because it does require a bit more preparation, so it is not a weekly dish.

I use a bread recipe for pizza and just bake them over parchment paper, on a cookie sheet, in the oven. A boat friend of ours, premade a bunch of smaller pizza crusts and froze them. When the kids felt like a pizza, they would take one out, put toppings and bake or grill it – what a great idea!

Pizza workshop aboard.
Pizza workshops are a favorite time aboard!
Mini calzone pizzas

Remember to pack the pizza cutter!

Condiments and spices

Spices

Contrary to popular belief, we have never had soggy spices aboard. As long as the containers are closed tightly, the spices store just fine.

To prepare the dishes above, you will need: cumin, curry, allspice, paprika, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, cream of tartar, vanilla, cinnamon.

We love everything-bagel seasoning, which goes great on avocado/tomato sandwiches. We purchased ours from Aldi and Trader Joe’s.

Mini calzone pizzas
You must make your own bread for these, it makes a big difference!

Condiments

Buy in the US:

  • ketchup
  • mayonnaise
  • barbeque sauce
  • soy sauce
  • mustard
  • coconut oil
  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar
  • lemon and lime juice
  • marinating sauces

I cook a lot with lemon and lime juices, so I bought the bottled ones when provisioning for ther Bahamas. Lemons and limes are reasonably priced in the islands, but I am too lazy to deal with squeezing fresh fruits.

Cooking oils are not expensive in the Bahamas, but olive oil and coconut oils are. Buy these from the US.

Marinating sauces are also expensive, so purchase your favorite sauces in the US. Feel free to buy them in glass bottles, check below for storage tips – nothing broke aboard Graceful!

Baking ingredients

I would buy the following items from the US and not deal with having to find them in the Bahamas. They are available, but take no time and space, so why not check that off the list!

  • Rapid dry yeast – individual packets store better aboard.
  • Baking soda and baking powder – buy containers with plastic lids, rather than cardboard ones. Thank me later.
  • Chocolate chips – these are expensive in the Bahamas, and a bit hard to find.
  • Brownie mix – because it is easier.
  • Cocoa powder – I use it for a vegan chocolate desert we often make.
  • The largest baking pan you can fit in the oven – thin batter cooks faster!
  • Cake mixes and frosting – for that birthday party you just remembered you forgot to provision for!
  • Canned pumpkin – who says pumpkin bread is for fall, tastes just fine in the forever-summer too!
  • A good, sturdy whisk.
  • Baking paper (parchment paper) – we wipe and reuse it!

TIP – Measure your oven and buy the largest possible baking pan, you can fit inside. Everything from cake batter to breads bakes faster and uses less propane when spread thinner.

Snacks, Deserts and Junk – buy in the US!

We love snacking. In fact, I rarely eat a full meal. Snacks are very, very expensive in the Bahamas. So, you have a few options:

1 – Buy all of your snacks in the US and figure out how to store chips aboard, without crushing them.

2 – Buy overpriced snacks in the Bahamas

3 – Make your own snacks (doable, but it takes time)

4 – Skip snacks – our choice, and we lived to tell the tale.

While provisioning for the Bahamas, we bought plenty of nuts, chocolate chips and dried fruits aboard, for a quick trail mix, oatmeal cookies and granola bars.

Deserts are easy to make aboard – brownie mixes, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raising cookies and simple treats, not requiring much cook time, work well.

To Do List:

  • Print the menu plans, or make one of your own for just one week.
  • List all the items to buy from the US, based on the menu for one week.
  • Multiply the provisioning list by the number of weeks you will be in the Bahamas.
  • Remember important tools you will also need in your galley, and for fishing.
  • Go and buy the provisions.
  • Remove all paper packaging and labels, and mark the cans and bags with a sharpie!
  • Make a simple diagram showing what goes where, as you start putting provisions away.
  • Take a breath, provisioning is doable!

I hope this post will help you plan your Bahamas adventure; I put a lot of time into it. Please, let me know if there is something you are not seeing, and I will improve it!

conch salad in a bowl

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