We sat down with the effervescent Jess Willow, our latest swoon-worthy recipe creator and van life adventurer behind @Kynd.to.all.kynds to find out more behind her love for a road trip as well as her tips and tricks for cooking well, making new pals and keeping your fur baby safe whilst travelling.
What are some ingredients you couldn’t live without on the road?
Popcorn is our ultimate road snack! We also always have lots of fresh fruit on hand, which you can often pick up roadside. My top pantry essentials are nutritional yeast, oats, maple syrup and peanut butter of course. Tofu is also super versatile, I love adding to stir fries and curries, scrambling in replace of eggs or even making creamy pasta sauces. And of course Cocobella Vanilla Coconut Yoghurt is perfect for dolloping on fruit, pancakes and granola for an easy and delish breakfast.
Let’s talk packing essentials, what are some items you wouldn’t live without on the road?
Alfred (our fur baby and best travel pal), Monopoly Deal (our Deal battles are a daily occurrence on the road), a coffee machine (one of my favourite daily rituals), beach umbrella, bikinis and a snorkel!
What is your favourite road trip destination in Australia?
Western Australia is all kinds of magic! I’d have to say it’s a close tie between Exmouth and Broome. The beaches, national parks, sea life and sunsets are truly out of this world. But it really is the people who make the places so special, we have some beautiful lifelong friends we made while living on the road.
Why do you love van life ?
To me, van life is about sharing new experiences with Sam (my husband) and Alfred (my gorgeous Airedale Terrier), embracing the unknown that life on the road brings, connecting with others who share similar beliefs and values, and immersing myself in the beauty of new places. It has truly changed my perspective and helped me prioritise what really matters. I think I’ll always be a van-lifer at heart!
Any other travel tips you’d love to share?
Don’t lock yourself in with too many pre-booked plans. Some of the most memorable experiences and memories we created were because of being spontaneous and seeing where the road took us! We wouldn’t have met some of the beautiful people we did if we went into van life with rigid plans.
If you’re travelling with your pet, install a thermometer and invest in high quality insulation, ventilation and fans. Wikicamps is amazing for mapping out your next stay and finding water filling stations and dog-friendly accommodation.
Lastly, what Cocobella product are you coveting right now?
Can I have two? I’m obsessed with Cocobella Chocolate Coconut Water and Cocobella Plus Protein Passionfruit Coconut Yoghurt which I recently used to create a Passionfruit Protein Cheesecake recipe!
Thanks Jess for your time, we love following your adventures and recipes at kynd.to.all.kynds
