Sometimes it is too hot to cook in the van

There is something incredibly fascinating about van life. Downsizing everything in your life to live in a van and travel the world sounds like such a liberating and yet nerve-wracking thing to do. We reached out to Victoria Holder, founder of Victoria's Creative Kitchen, to find out what small space living on the road is really like. Victoria shares her journey from living in the comforts of her flat in London to embracing the van life and creating exquisite-looking and delicious vegan dishes while on the go.

Q: When did you decide to embrace the van life and why?

Two years ago life was very different. My husband Nick and I both had normal jobs and rented in a small flat in London but felt we were going round in circles, working all week and counting the hours until the weekend when we were free, if only briefly. I work online and was tired of the same view outside my window and dreamed of traveling the world.

Then, quite unexpectedly we were offered an old 16 seat minibus at a bargain price. Nick quit his London jobs, we gave our notice with the landlord and we went through all our possessions, keeping only what we really needed and taking countless sack loads to the charity shops. The adventure had begun and we converted the tired, old minibus into our dream home on wheels and named her Manjula.

In October 2016 we hit the road and began documenting Vegan Vanlife from each of the countries we visited. We aim to spread the joy of tasty vegan food and our Instagram page is a celebration of vegetables, nature, and freedom. Nick photographs my vegan creations and produces quirky videos showing that despite limited space and a life on the road, you can cook delicious food wherever you are.

We have found some amazing specimens on the road!

Q: What are the challenges to van life?

• Missing our family and friends back in UK. Having to miss some special family occasions or events.
• Learning to live with limited space.
• It really hots up in our van in the summer. The sun beats down on our metal rood and our huge windows magnify the heat. If we open our sliding door before long an army of mosquitoes and other flying insects will have moved in for the night. We use 12 v fans, but usually, they just push around hot air!
• Food shopping abroad can be a challenge, especially for a vegan when you can't understand the packaging and lists of ingredients. Clear vegan labeling is uncommon in many places so we rarely eat processed food and our diet consists mainly of whole foods that we understand and know are vegan without reading the pack.

Q: Is van life expensive?

For us, van-life is a lot cheaper, but how we spend and more importantly, save our money is what makes our lifestyle possible. We don’t pay rent or bills, we got rid of our mobile phones, we rarely dine out, don’t buy new clothes and manage to live well and travel on very little. Where we are in the world affects how far our budget will go. In countries like Morocco, Albania, and Bulgaria the living costs are much lower so we save a lot of money on our essentials like vegetables and fuel. To keep food costs low we buy what is grown and eaten locally rather than imported, or out of season produce. I am obsessed with reducing food waste, as this means more money for adventures. If we wasted resources we could not afford to live and travel as we do.

Nobake cherry crumble. A dessert in the desert

Q: How do you make a living?

I still do the same job which I did back in London. I manage a website, and we both spend hours on our laptops working in the van together. Work remotely and earning money online (wherever you are) is a modern life luxury and I am so lucky to have this opportunity. Our joint income has radically decreased since our change of lifestyle but luckily so has our outgoings.

Q: What is it like living in a tiny space and being constantly on the road?

• We love the nomadic way of life, the excitement of moving on and finding somewhere new. I love the sense of discovery. On the road I learn something new each day, about people, world cuisine, history or cultures.
• Our flat back in the UK was very small so adjusting to the limited space wasn’t as hard as you might think.
• To cope with the limited space, we have only essential possessions, no excess clothes or anything unnecessary. We only have what we need on board and in some ways this more minimal way of living makes life easier, removing all the endless choices and decision making.
• I must admit that sometimes it can be frustrating getting everything out of the cupboard to access something at the very back but we have become more organized which is vital for van life.

The Great St Bernards pass travelling from Switzerland into Italy

Q: How do you use the bathroom and shower?

We have a tiny bathroom/wet room on board which fits our chemical toilet and a shower tray. We decided not to bother with a hot water boiler so use a kettle to warm a bucket of water and use a simple 12V camping shower. Each week we visit a servicing area or campsite to empty our toilet cassette. In many countries this is very easy as they have many free servicing areas or Aires but in some countries like Greece and other parts of Eastern Europe these places are not available and during the Winter or out of season, most campsites are closed so we have to get more creative which usually takes longer and means detours. Sometimes when we cannot find anywhere to empty then we have to ask in a Tavern or somewhere similar if they do not mind us emptying there. At times like this, we avoid using our toilet where possible and always keep a lookout for public toilets or pop into a café for a quick espresso and bathroom stop!

The Biogradska national park in Montenegro

Q: What do you do on rainy days?

On a rainy day, we set up our mini office and tackle the next job on the list. Warm and dry in our cozy cocoon, we use the opportunity to get loads of work done so we have more free time when the sun is shining! As well as running the website, we also write articles and vegan recipes for magazines and are currently working on a book which includes vegan recipes and adventures from the road.

Q: How has van life changed you?

I think you learn to let things go. In a van, there is no space to hold a grudge. Any disagreement is dealt with and moved on from very quickly. Van Life has taught me to be more flexible as we need to quickly adapt to different places and cultures. Countries often do things in slightly different ways so we must learn how it all works and what is or is not available or acceptable in our new environment. Regarding cooking, I often have to adapt my recipes to suit ingredients that are available in a particular country. This experimental way of cooking has led me to develop food combinations that I may never have considered before and added greater variety to our diet.

Enjoying a cup of tea and dreamy sunset

Q: Tell us about one of your most memorable experiences on the road.

• We drove to Erg Chebbi dunes, part of the Sahara desert in Morocco on the border of Algeria. Here, we parked up right next to the dunes, at sunset the sand changed colour to orange and then red and glowed until darkness fell and stars filled the sky. At sunrise, a caravan of camels, trudged past our bedroom window.

A family of thirsty camels in the Moroccan desert

• Whilst in Morocco we decided that Manjula (our trusty van) deserved a shiny new paint job. We were touched by the overwhelming kindness and hospitality of Hassan, the a mechanic and his two sons who worked meticulously on removing rust dents and then the respray. They would invite us to join them at mealtimes and to drink mint tea together sat on paint pots in his garage. They organised special vegan meals and made us feel part of the family and I will never forget the experience.

A cyclone whips up driving through the Moroccan desert.

Q: What would you say are the best things about van life?

• The every changing view from our window.
• Bringing your home and kitchen everywhere you go offers many possibilities. I have all my spices and ingredients with me so can live off the grid, stopping in remote places and cooking delicious vegan food in weird and wonderful settings.
• Having my own comfy bed with me everywhere we go.
• Being inspired by local cuisine and ingredients in different countries and being able to recreate vegan versions in my camper kitchen.

A peaceful park spot in the Peloponnese Greece

Q: Can you name some of the most vegan-friendly places you have visited?

• Turin in Northern Italy is a paradise for vegans. The Mayor, Chiara Appendino wanted Turin to become Italy’s first vegetarian city and you can find many vegan eateries, health food stores, and even a vegan ice cream parlour. I was so happy to not miss out on the Italian Classic, Gelato al Bacio (chocolate and hazelnut ice cream!) During our visit we tried out two very different vegan restaurants. Soul Kitchen is a fine dining, gourmet vegan restaurant where each dish looks like a work of art. The service, atmosphere and food presentation is world class and could not be faulted. Perhaps the taste of some of the dishes were slightly less groundbreaking, and the pasta course a little plain but the Seitan main course was out of this world.  Veg & Veg, on the other hand, is a relaxed, cozy little restaurant with a lovely “old-fashioned” vibe. We chose the set menu and enjoyed several courses of Italian inspired vegan delights. This felt like more of an authentic Italian experience and I would highly recommend the homemade stuffed ravioli.
• Despite vegan eateries being rare (or unheard of) in countries like Albania and Morocco, they can be a paradise for a van life vegan as the vegetables are so cheap. I love to visit markets to check out the local produce and soak up the atmosphere. In Morocco, the bustling markets are alive with colour and full of cheap fruit and vegetables, piles of marinated olives and exotic spices, making it perfect for our traveling vegan kitchen.
• In Albania, traditional cultivating methods are still used and almost all vegetables are local, seasonal and organically grown (though not certified). With very cheap and delicious vegetables available it was ideal for vegan van life cooking! 

Q: What inspired you to start Victoria's Creative Kitchen?

• To spread the joy of tasty vegan food by sharing healthy and nutritious recipes as well as naughty vegan treats on our Instagram page.
• To show that delicious home cooking is possible even with limited space and with no oven. Whether you live in a tiny flat, caravan or bed sit, you can still produce mouthwatering creations.

Cooking outdoors in Croatia.

Q: What should our readers know before they embark on the vanlife?

• You will learn a lot. We have learned practical skills regarding electricity and solar power, and how to be resourceful with our limited supplies like water or money. But we have also learned about ourselves. How far can you push yourself out of your comfort zone yet survive, thrive and love it? Do you need many processions for happiness or could your money be better spent?
• It is not always as glamorous as what is portrayed on social media. It is hard work. There are some things that you take for granted when living in a house which you cannot in a van; endless running water, electricity, water waste removal and of course toilet emptying!
• When we first hit the road it was daunting and with so much to learn it was a challenge at times but it very soon became easy and almost second nature. If you are sharing a van life with someone else then I recommend that you both have your roles so that you can work together and become a well-oiled machine. For our dis-embarkment process, we both know our place so we can get everything done quickly and efficiently without getting in each other’s way!
• If you are going to live in a van with someone else then make sure you REALLY like each other and are happy to spend A LOT of time together. You will have no privacy and will have to share every intimate and embarrassing moment with them.

Enjoying a bowl of chilli on a wintery Portuguese beach

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Follow Victoria’s Creative Kitchen:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriascreativekitchen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriascreativekitchen/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/victoriascreativekitchen

Photography by Nick Holder