What to stock up on....

[garfieldelric]

OK, with the con a few weeks out, I need some ideas.......... as to what kind of food items to stock up on for con, as I am gonna try to save some $.

So far, all I can think if is sandwiches, soda, energy drinks/bars, and maybe even some antacid (Maalox, Tums, the like)- that last one, of course, you never know what will come your way.

This is a thread for everyone who wants to save some time/money with food.

[superjaz]

Hello my name is Jasmine AKA superjaz and I am a couponer
things I stock up on for con includes drinks pop juice boxes caprisun bottled water, crackers, chips, cookies, candy, some cup o noodles, .  Other things I plan to bring are bagels cream cheese , and milk, maybe muffins this year, oh and fruit.

No not the most healthiest stuff, this is not meal replacement, these are the the things that my peeps are likely to munch and don't spoil (not counting milk and cream cheese), and by buying ahead of time, saves you a lot by not buying in vending machines and minute marts during con, and con is vacation, how health do you eat on vacation.
here is a site I use

http://www.frugallivingnw.com/
examples
right now there is a coupon at Safeway for gold fish crackers for $1 and the site has a printable coupon for .35 off of one, making it .65 for goldfish grams
Also at safeway they have a drink deal where save .50 for each of specific items when you buy 10, included in it is 32oz bottles of gator aid for .49 cents and 6 packs bottles of 24 oz Pepsi products for 2.49.= bottles important because you can close them in a crowded hallway and avoid spills and pop is one of the most over priced.
I have a small stock pile for con put aside right now tho this is when I get more into the nitty gritty for it.  Manufacturers coupons come out in Sunday papers and food ads in Tuesdays papers start being good Wednesday *except freddys and special deals*

Also I know red lion has fridge and microwaves but for those who don't, and want to pack sammich stuff, some fast food places, heck even the snack stand at targets have condiment packets like mayo and ketchup ect, i would recomend saving and bring to con instead of having to lug jars, and they don't have to be refrigerated.
*I highly recommend couponing I have gotten like tons of free pasta and bbq sauce this summer since I have started*

[Kimiski]

I usually stock up:

Breakfast Bars

Lunchables
Chicken Biscuits (crackers)

Cup o Noodles (Hurray coffee pots)
What Thins (crackers)

and something for snacks, stuff you can take in little packages like fruit snacks or something. Oh and of course, pocky. xD

[TalaRedWolf33]

From my experiance, Id say you want to stock up on these BEFORE the con, so you dont buy them there :

Pocky
Ramune
Ramen

What I usually bring with me is :

Gatorade
Fig Newtons
Kitkats
Oragne Soda
Coke (vanilla mmmmm)
cup of noodles
Healthy Choice lunches (most hotel rooms will have a microwave, or one downstairs you can use)
Hot chocolate
a small thing of milk (vanilla soy milk for myself)
Oreos (the bitesized ones that come in the bag)
5 hour energy shots (none for me though, just for friends. just make sure they help you pay for them)
Your favorite ice cream (mines green tea)
Strawberries and whipped cream (or coolwhip)

If you need help saving money on food, I suggest shopping at costco or wil co. And walmart! If your local to vancouver, the walmart on mill plain is the best, they have a good stock of pocky.

Also, for anyone else who likes Pumpkin flavored Pocky, can someone tell me where to buy it here in portland or vancouver? I only one of one place down in Bend that has it.

[The_Emo_Schemer]

I usually bring hot chocolate packets, energy bars, crackers of some sort, basic snackage, and anything that can be eaten on the go basically. Oh and ibuprofen and a first aid kit. I'm accident prone and something always happens. ^^'

[@random]

Vanilla soymilk from Costco, possibly the same stuff TalaRedWolf33 mentioned. About $1 each for a box of 12 quarts. Sterilized to keep just about indefinitely, no need for refrigeration, easy on the stomach. Also good for people trying to lose a potbelly, like me... 400 calories in the whole quart, and it makes a decent substitute for a meal if you so choose. Aaaaaaand, it makes a healthier/faster substitute for Tums - literally instant relief.

The only drawback is that it gets heavy if you try to carry more than one or two, even in a backpack... they're a couple of pounds each.

[DancingTofu]

I usually get lots of stuff that comes in 12-packs for cons, because they're easy to ration out for either 3 days or 4 days.  I like getting Little Debbie Oatmeal creme pies as my main source of grain and sugars because they're cheap and made of oatmeal, so despite being junk food they're pretty healthy, then I'll pick up a 12-pack of some drink (usually Cream Soda or Root Beer) and a dozen bagels.  That usually covers my food needs for the weekend for under $10

[Saki-the-cat]

I'm not too sure what i'm going to bring for con. I know my mom is planning on taking me to the store a few days before con to get some cheap food, but it really depends on what we find when we get there.

[TalaRedWolf33]

I just remembered! If anyone has foodstmaps in WA and is using them for some con food, Im going to walmart the weekend before the con to stock up on what I need. If anyone wants to have an awesome cosplay at walmart shopping spree for con food with me, lemme know lol Ima totally wear my panda cosplay for that day

[superjaz]

Just got some chex mix and bugals for con, on sale for $1, I had 4  .50 off  1 coupon and 2 .50 off 2 coupons, and  safeway doubles (limit 4 doubles per trip) so
for 6 bags of chex and 2 bags of bugals  I paid $2

They also have those cereal golden gram cereal bars for 1.5 when you buy 4, I have 4 x .50 cent coupons so after doubling it will be $2 for 4 boxes

[Fachion-pari]

It's always smart to bring your own water, especially if you get thirsty at the hotel. The water bottles they offer can be $3! Save your money and bring your own, and use the water bottles to hotel provides as wig stands, haha. Not to mention this will keep you hydrated.
I skimmed briefly through this thread, but I wanted to include fruit. Apples, Oranges and bananas are always great to have handy. Not only are they healthy, but they can give you a proper energy boost, rather than drinking an energy drink.
At Sakuracon I brought a cooler filled with juice boxes, fruits, and granola bars. I even brought along a bag of chips. Whenever someone felt weak or hungry, the snacks really came in handy. (:

[EmAino]

Last year, at Akicon, one of my friends lived off of wraps from WinCo and those little tuna/chicken salad mixes in a can....we'll probably repeat this this time around.

[TalaRedWolf33]

Also, i think safeway still has their 49cent gatorade sale. Just buy ten or more and theyre 49cents each. Thats a good deal if youre going with friend

[Tanuki19]

BLUE KOOL-AID BURSTS.

[Nando-KiT]

i was just going to go dollar tree shoping for food for our hotel. just some snacks like chips and crakers and those water jugs they have.  plus  i know its not so healthy, not healthy at all, but im buying like 10 rockstarshopfully. i like to keep up. plus they're yummy~

[Jacob_Blackfeather]

i was just going to go dollar tree shoping for food for our hotel. just some snacks like chips and crakers and those water jugs they have.  plus  i know its not so healthy, not healthy at all, but im buying like 10 rockstarshopfully. i like to keep up. plus they're yummy~

Bro get more of those >< I need to be up!

[Nando-KiT]

i was just going to go dollar tree shoping for food for our hotel. just some snacks like chips and crakers and those water jugs they have.  plus  i know its not so healthy, not healthy at all, but im buying like 10 rockstarshopfully. i like to keep up. plus they're yummy~

Bro get more of those >< I need to be up!

then pitch some money in and i will, the king rd market in milwaukie has them 2 ofr 3$

[EveofAbyss]

Cereal, milk, bread, peanut butter, jelly, chips, crackers, hummus, soda.......this is the Kumoricon shopping list every year since 2006, lol.

[Jacob_Blackfeather]

i was just going to go dollar tree shoping for food for our hotel. just some snacks like chips and crakers and those water jugs they have.  plus  i know its not so healthy, not healthy at all, but im buying like 10 rockstarshopfully. i like to keep up. plus they're yummy~

Bro get more of those >< I need to be up!

then pitch some money in and i will, the king rd market in milwaukie has them 2 ofr 3$

Hey I am paying for the hotel room lol

[Nando-KiT]

-pout-still alot of money by my self

[Jacob_Blackfeather]

I was joking.

[Nando-KiT]

then your helping me shop!

[Prinz Eugen]

And I thought this thread was going to be about "prepping..."

- Berkley water filter
- Sacks, 50lb each rice and pinto beans, how to keep bugs out of,
- 10 to 25 year sealed cans of dried milk, egg, peppers, TVP
- Growing your own food, raising / slaughtering livestock
- How to can/preserve food to last for 1-2 years
- propane refrigerators or solar power to keep things cool if the grid goes down
- how to hide stuff/necessities/valuables on your property in case you are robbed while you are away or at work
- firearms, booby traps (to the extent of what's legal) to protect your stash(es)

What does it take to survive for:
- 3 days
- 3 weeks
- 3 months
- 3 years

THAT"S "what to stock up on..."