PATROL MENU PLANNING GUIDE

A " First Class" cook not only knows how to cook, but he also PLANS his meals well. This includes the following steps:

1. He plans the meal in general
   • Breakfast Burritos
   • Tang
   • Hot chocolate
   •  
2. He checks with his Patrol to make sure the meal is OK
   • No one is allergic to any of the foods (or just hates eggs)
     • A Patrol may decide to still have a food if one member can't eat that food, BUT they must make arrangements to give that Scout an alternative meal, and make sure it is "OK" with him.
   • That there is time in the program to cook the meal
3. He makes a written Food List and an Equipment List with amounts necessary to feed his Patrol. Use the menu planning sheet below to write things down so that nothing is forgotten!
   • Tortillas (2/Scout)
   • eggs (1.5/Scout)
   • grated cheese  1.5 oz/Scout)
   • sausage (3 oz/Scout)
   • Potatoes  (0.5/Scout -prebaked in foil the night before)
   • Green Chili (1oz/Scout)
   • Salsa (2 oz/Scout)
   • butter (2 oz/Scout)
   • Salt & Pepper (some)
   • Etc.,etc.
   • Frying pan (2)
   • Spatula/turner (1)
   • Pots (2)
   • Aluminum foil (3'/Scout)
   • Etc., etc.
4. He then goes to the store and prices the food to make sure he stays within his budget ($2.50/meal)
   • Frequently food in small amounts can be obtained from Scouts homes. Just try to make it so that all Scouts contribute and the burden doesn't fall on one family all the time.
   • Sometimes one can get a Scouts family to purchase the extra when one has to buy a quantity larger than is needed for the Patrol.
   • Sometimes extra food can be saved by the grubmaster for another campout. Be careful doing this because it is easy to loose track of foods and not all foods keep well.
5. Then (usually a few days before the campout) the food is purchased, repackaged, and divided amongst the Patrol.
   • Once the food has been purchased a Scout must pay for the food even if he can't attend the campout. So, if you can't go at the last minute be sure and call both your grubmaster and your Patrol Leader.
   • Buying the food and seeing that it is ready is the responsibility of the Patrol Grubmaster even if he isn't going on the campout. Also, sometimes another Scout needs to assume the Grubmasters duties in order to pass of a cooking requirement. However, the Grubmaster is still responsible to see that this Scout does the job and the Patrol is taken care of.
   • It is frequently wise to do some "preparation" of foods before campouts in order to make cooking chores easier.
     • Some foods like bacon, sausage, and potatoes can be precooked or partially cook at home
     • Repackaging foods in zip lock bags usually makes meals lighter to carry and quantities can be adjusted. Just remember to either write the directions on the bag or cut them off the package and put them in the bag. Many foods can be mixed/rehydrated in these bags.
     • Package all the ingredients for each meal in a separate bag to make finding foods easier on the campout.
6. The Patrol Grubmaster is not usually the "cook" for all the meals, but, on the campout, he should get the food out ready for the cooks.