Budget-Friendly Food for Train Journey: Save Money, Eat Better

Train journeys are cost-effective and sometimes cheaper means of transportation to different places. When it comes to food as a part of your traveling, a short journey or intercity becomes a key element in ensuring your traveling becomes comfortable. However, sometimes, purchasing food from the train stalls or street stalls near the stations is expensive and unhealthy. If you too are seeking ways to have delicious and healthy food on a train budget scale, then this guide can assist in selecting the right food for train journey without going beyond your budget.

1. Pack Your Food: Healthy and Affordable Choices

Bringing your own food during a train journey could be the most cost-effective and hygienic way to eat. It is cheaper, and you also have fresh and healthy food.

Home Prepared Food Ideas:

• Sandwiches

Healthy whole-grain sandwiches prepared quickly using paneer or raw vegetables are great for grab-and-go lunches.

• Fruits

Having fruits like oranges, apples, and bananas kept in your travel bag guarantees you a healthy, longevity-filled snack.

• Homemade Chips

Replace store-bought chips, which are expensive and unhealthy, with homemade banana or potato chips stored in plastic containers so that they will stay crunchy and fresh.

• Sprouts

A combination of sprouted beans or lentils, a pinch of spices, and lemon is a protein-rich snack that can be preserved fresh for travel.

• Dry Fruits and Nuts

Almonds, cashews, raisins, and walnuts require no effort to store but provide an instant energy boost whenever hunger pangs are experienced.

• Kaju Biscuit

These creamy, rich biscuits are not just delicious but also turn out to be a filling and travel-friendly snack.

2. Online Order Food for Train Travel: Handy and Cost-Effective

Ordering online is the best bet when carrying food becomes impossible. Online food ordering apps bring your food to your seat in the train, with freshly prepared, budget-friendly options available.

A few of the popular Food Ordering Apps to order food online for train journey:

• RailRestro
• RailRecipe
• TravelKhana
• IRCTC eCatering

Here, you can order pocket-friendly meal options like:

• Veg Thali:

A balanced meal including rice or chapati, dal, vegetables, and a dessert is just perfect for consuming a full-filling and well-balanced meal. It will cost you between ₹120 to ₹150.

• Mini Thali or Jain Thali:

A thali with less quantity, suitable for people who want less or are on a Jain diet.

• Chole-Rice Combo:

A high-protein and filling meal, which makes you full for hours, at just ₹120.

• Aloo Paratha Combo:

Relish two tasty, stuffed parathas accompanied by fresh curd, priced between ₹90 and ₹110—a wonderful comfort food option.

• Masala Dosa:

A traditional South Indian favorite, crispy and spicy, priced around ₹100—ideal for a light but filling meal. By taking advantage of these, you can order food online for train journey and have a few options without any hassle of quality and hygiene issues.

3. IRCTC Economy Meals: Railway Station Budget Food

Lowest-cost-aware budget tourists can go for Economy Meals at designated railway stations under IRCTC. These are:

• Priced at least ₹20
• Located near the general coaches
• These meals are nutritious and hygienic
• The meals include sabzi, dal, and rice.
  

These affordable meals are the ideal way to eat healthily without going over budget for those on a limited budget.

4. Healthy Snacks for Long Travel

For the people who prefer light meals and not heavy thalis, healthy and convenient to carry snacks must be kept at hand.

Best Food for Train Journey - Snack Options

• Mix Bhel

A spicy blend of puffed rice, peanuts, and spices, which is the best for a night snack.

• Poha

Flattened rice flakes sprinkled with herbs can be eaten in the morning as breakfast.

• Popcorn

A fiber-rich snack that's the best for kids and adults.

• Kaju Biscuit

A blend of crunch and sweetness that's just the best to eat during tea time break.

• Makhana (Fox Nuts)

A nutty, roasted food item with high fiber and protein levels. 

5. Group Order: An Economical Option

While traveling with your friends or family members, do some bulk order on food with train food app delivery. Food delivery apps sometimes introduce family packs or group meal schemes at pocket-friendly prices. 

Some of the group meal packs include:

• Biryani Family Pack

A bountiful serving of spicy biryani is ideal for sharing and usually at lesser costs.

• Bulk Thalis

If you are looking for a group budget-friendly option, consider bulk thalis, as they are less expensive and more fulfilling.

• Combo Meals

Convenient ready-to-eat portions with curry, rice, and bread, especially for mass meals.

6. Summer-Specific Food Items

Eating light, water-based food while traveling on trains in summer is necessary to stay fresh and not develop any type of stomach discomfort.

Best Train Food During Summer:

• Curd Rice

A light, easy-to-digest South Indian meal that is stomach-friendly and within the price range of ₹ 100 to ₹150 can be a good choice.

• Kadhi-Chawal

Choose a spicy, curd-based curry served with rice. It is delicious and comforting at a reasonable price of ₹100–₹150.

• Fruity Salad

 A revitalising concoction of seasonal fruits to keep you hydrated and full of energy while travelling.

•  Buttermilk 

 A fresher and healthier alternative to cold desserts that will keep you cool throughout the summer.

Money-Saving Tips on Train Food

Food is a part of traveling but needs to be spent wisely in order to relish your travel without extra cost. Some smart tips follow:

• Make the Most of Offers and Cashback Offers

Railway food apps commonly offer holiday offers, coupon codes, and cashback offers.

• Use Reusable Water Bottles

Spending money on bottled drinks is often a waste of money. Fill water bottles from railway station water purifiers instead.

• Pre-Book Food Online

 It avoids spending extra money on highly priced food available on the train.

• Don't Make Last-Minute Purchases

Eating in a rush always leads to poor decisions and overspending.

Final Words

By combining home-cooked food, online food ordering, and IRCTC options, you can have a good, cost-effective train journey without compromising on taste. Apart from home-cooked food, packed food items are also available in the market, like frontier biscuits that are healthier and tasty. You can try them as well. So, next time you travel, order your food sensibly and save money by eating well!

FAQs

1. How is food to be kept fresh on a long train journey?

Dry fruits are to be stored in air-tight packets, sandwiches in butter paper or foil, and have an insulated bag for spoilable items such as curd or salads.

2. Are vegetarian and Jain food options available on the train?

Yes, vegetarian, Jain, and even sattvic options such as mini thalis, poha, and sabudana khichdi are also available on some train food-ordering apps.

3. What are some non-chilled snacks I can carry?

Roasted peanuts, murmura (puffed rice), energy bars, besan ladoos, and khakhra are light, durable snacks that can be included.

4. Is there some regional or local food available at railway stations?

Yes, as a general rule, one can retail local cuisine by street vendors in train stations like North Indian samosas, litti chokha of Bihar, and Maharashtra's vada pav.

5. What are some good affordable breakfast options that can be taken aboard while taking a train? 

Idli with chutney, upma, boiled eggs, stuffed parathas, or theplas made at home are affordable breakfast ideas.