Feeding the Family Without a Kitchen
When your kitchen’s out of action, mealtimes can quickly turn into chaos. The oven’s unplugged, the hob’s boxed up, and the kettle’s probably buried under a bag of grout. Feeding the family without a kitchen suddenly becomes a full-blown logistical challenge.
But don’t worry — this phase won’t last forever, and you can keep everyone well-fed (and mostly smiling) without relying on takeaways every night. With a few smart appliances, some meal-planning tricks, and a little creativity, you can stay on top of family mealtimes while your dream kitchen is taking shape.
This guide is packed with practical, real-life advice to help you navigate breakfast, lunch and dinner without the usual tools — and come out the other side still talking to each other.
1. Set Up a Simple Prep Station
When your kitchen’s out of action, mealtimes can quickly turn into chaos. The oven’s unplugged, the hob’s boxed up, and the kettle’s probably buried under a bag of grout. Feeding the family without a kitchen suddenly becomes a full-blown logistical challenge.
But don’t worry — this phase won’t last forever, and you can keep everyone well-fed (and mostly smiling) without relying on takeaways every night. With a few smart appliances, some meal-planning tricks, and a little creativity, you can stay on top of family mealtimes while your dream kitchen is taking shape.
This guide is packed with practical, real-life advice to help you navigate breakfast, lunch and dinner without the usual tools — and come out the other side still talking to each other.
👉 For a full guide to choosing the right spot and what to include, check out How to Set Up a Temporary Kitchen During Renovation.
Here’s what to include:
-
Work surface – wipeable and sturdy. Cover it with oilcloth or a plastic tablecloth if needed.
-
Cutting board & knife – you’ll be amazed how much you can do with just those two.
-
Washing-up bowl & sponge – even if you’re using disposables, there’ll be something that needs a rinse.
-
Bin or bag for rubbish – keep it close by to avoid clutter.
If you’re short on space, use crates or baskets underneath the table to store dry goods, paper towels, or extra cutlery. Label them if you like — it’ll help everyone else in the house know where to find (and return) things.
2. Go for Low-Fuss, Family-Friendly Meals
When you’re feeding the family without a kitchen, this is not the time to get ambitious with your cooking.
Save the soufflés for later — what you need now are simple, filling meals that keep everyone happy and don’t require a mountain of pans or a functioning oven.
Here are some tried-and-tested ideas to keep things tasty and stress-free:
-
Sandwiches, Wraps & Pitta Pockets
The classics for a reason. Load them up with cold meats, cheese, hummus, salad — whatever’s in the fridge. Add a bowl of crisps or chopped fruit and you’ve got lunch sorted.
-
One-Bowl Wonders
Instant noodles, microwave pasta pots, rice bowls, tinned soups, couscous mixes — all heroes in a no-kitchen situation. Add some pre-cooked meat or veg to make them more substantial.
-
Plug-In Meals
If you’ve got an air fryer, microwave, or slow cooker, use them! Jacket potatoes, sausages, veggie bakes, rice dishes, even pasta bakes can be cooked in one of these. Bonus points for anything that needs minimal clean-up.
-
Breakfast-for-Dinner
Cereal. Toast. Scrambled eggs (if you’ve got a microwave or plug-in hob). Kids love it. Adults do too, secretly.
-
Embrace the (Occasional) Takeaway
Let’s be honest — sometimes you just need a break. No shame in leaning on a pizza or Chinese when the week’s been chaos. You’re not failing — you’re surviving.
3. Keep Kids (and Fussy Eaters) Fed Without the Fuss
Let’s face it — keeping kids happy at the dinner table is hard enough with a kitchen.
When you’re juggling renovation chaos and trying to assemble meals from a microwave and a box of clingfilm-wrapped spoons, it can feel like an uphill battle.
Here are a few tried-and-tested tricks:
-
Keep It Familiar
Now’s not the time to introduce quinoa or experiment with blue cheese. Stick to what they know: pasta, toasties, chicken wraps, cereal, fruit, yoghurts. Familiar food = fewer battles.
-
Get Them Involved
If they’re old enough, get them helping out. Let them build their own wraps or decorate flatbread pizzas. It gives them a bit of ownership and keeps them busy while you prep.
-
Pre-packaged Isn’t the Enemy
Fruit pots, cheese sticks, crackers, oat bars, snack-size yoghurts — these are your friends. Think lunchbox-style bits you can combine into a meal with minimal effort.
-
Keep the Routine
Try to eat at the same time each day, even if the location changes. That little bit of structure helps ground the chaos and keeps hangry meltdowns to a minimum (yours and theirs).
4. Store Smart, Stay Sane
Without the usual cupboards and fridge space, storing food during a renovation can feel like a game of Tetris. Here’s how to stay one step ahead of the chaos:
-
Use a Mini Fridge (or Two)
If you’ve got room, a tabletop fridge can be a lifesaver. It doesn’t have to be fancy — just enough space for milk, butter, sandwich fillings, and a few meals’ worth of fresh bits.
-
Stackable Storage Bins
Clear, stackable tubs are a great way to group similar items — snacks in one, tins in another, breakfast stuff in a third. Label them so you’re not rummaging around every time someone wants a banana.
-
Create a Pantry Box
Use a deep plastic crate or box to store dry goods like pasta, rice, cereal, stock cubes, jars, and oils. Keep it somewhere cool and dry, and treat it like your temporary pantry.
-
Bread Bin (or Bread Bag)
Bread goes stale fast if it’s left out or stuffed in a random drawer. A simple bread bin or breathable cotton bag will keep it fresh longer — and stop it getting squashed under the microwave.
-
Keep Essentials Close
Store your most-used items in a crate or basket on your makeshift counter — think tea, coffee, UHT milk, spoons, bowls, chopping board. No one wants to go digging when it’s 7am and the caffeine hasn’t kicked in.
5. Washing Up Without a Sink (Yes, It’s Possible)
Let’s face it, this is the bit everyone dreads — but it’s not as grim as you might think (especially if you’ve read our full guide on how to survive without a kitchen sink during renovation >>)
If you’re not lucky enough to have a utility sink or second kitchen, don’t panic — here are a few tried-and-tested tips:
-
Use the Bathtub (Smartly)
Wash up in the bath using a washing up bowl — just pop a rubber mat underneath to protect the surface, and place the bowl on a raised board to save your back. A clip-on hose for your taps can make rinsing 100x easier.
-
Go Camping Style
Set up a camping-style basin in your temporary kitchen. Many of these come with a built-in water tank and waste container, so you can wash up wherever there’s space.
t’s not glamorous, but it works.
💡Helpful tip: If you want to go a step further, we’ve included a link in our other article to the Boxio Mobile Sink, a portable solution that offers surprisingly good value for money and could save your sanity.
-
Cheat When You Can
Don’t feel bad about using eco-friendly disposables — it’s all about reducing the number of times you have to go full scrub mode. Save your water (and your energy) for the essentials.
6. You’ve Got This — Keep It in Perspective
Living without a kitchen can be frustrating, but remember: this is temporary.
In a few short weeks, you’ll be cooking up a storm in a stunning new space that’s been tailored to your family and your lifestyle.
So take a breath. Eat the sandwiches. Lean into the chaos a little. Whether you’re dining on paper plates or washing up in the bath, know that every small inconvenience is one step closer to a kitchen that makes your heart (and stomach) happy.
If there’s something you’re still wondering about, get in touch — we’re always happy to help. You’ve already made it this far — the finish line (and that gorgeous new kitchen) is just around the corner.
