Instant oatmeal is the frugal traveler’s friend. Oatmeal packets are small enough to fit anywhere: in carry ons, in your purse, your manpurse, or even on person. Instant oatmeal packets don’t make a mess if broken. Nor do they get smashed up like crackers or melt like chocolate powerbars. (Non chocolate Cliff bars are ideal but they still get sticky in hot weather.)

Oatmeal offers a substantial meal or snack while lounging in airports or on planes. All you need is hot water, easily found at any Starbucks or airplane galley.  “A six dollar snack box? Why no thank you I’m all set here with my cup of hot water and stir stick.”

If you’re lost in the jungle and already dined on bugs you can grab a twig, stir in some rainwater and eat it cold. Kroger’s brand has 27 carbs each so it’s certain to keep you going in circles until you collapse from insanity.

I keep about 10 variety pack flavors in my bag. I always grab some fresh fruit before traveling, and eaten with apples or a banana, (separate or stirred in,) it makes a complete and healthy meal. If you’re thinking oatmeal is too depression era-esque for you then remember the Quaker and store brand variety packs include apple, maple and brown sugar, and cinnamon. And sugar or sweet and low is available everywhere. (Except the jungle.) Frugality is hip, oatmeal is cheap, thus oatmeal is hip.

Recently I was waiting in line at DIA’s Paradise Bakery at 7:30am. The totals of the two people in front of me were about $8.50 and $10. One had an oily muffin and large coffee, the other a yogurt and bottled orange juice.

I ordered a hot coffee, requested a cup for ice water, a cup of hot water and snagged a small bowl. My total was $2 for the coffee. I felt quit proud. Multiply this by three to four airport snacks or meals and it really pays to be prepared.

If you really want to splurge ask for some hot milk. If a clerk makes a stink about giving away free cups of hot water, (or heating up milk,) just point to a baby and say it’s for them.

I could write this exact same post about Sunmaid Raisin packs, also found strewn about my carry on, but the same concepts apply: Cheap, stays fresh and no mess.

Hooray for instant oatmeal.

Somehow blending fruit, or whatever is added to it, results in an incredibly higher glucose content than if you just ate the fruit itself.

I like these though, and it’s a good deal.  These 12 ounce cups of oatmeal are $2.95 – and come in apple cinnamon, blue and blackberry, and banana.   I had the apple, but the berry one, like the smoothies, appears quite sugary and syrupy.  (You can always skip the toppings.)

Here they all are in their oatmealy goodness.