What about cooking, eating, and
water in Mexico
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Cooking & Eating
Cost of food is not covered in your group fees. A furnished kitchen and dining hall is provided for you to
prepare your meals. Meal prep can be very easy if you consider the following options:
1. Most groups have each person bring their favorite box of cold cereal for the week in Mexico. Milk and
fruit can be brought with you, or purchased here in Mexico. This provides a quick, healthy breakfast with
little cost and work. We should also mention, that it is best to purchase your main groceries in the States
before crossing the border. Things like milk, bread and fruit can be purchased
in Mexico if you like.
2. We provide an option (highly recommended) of eating the Sunday evening meal and the noon meals at
the church you will be serving at (Sunday - Thursday). They are tasty meals that will be prepared and
served by the women of the church. We will prep the church so that meals are traditional, healthy, and
prepared with the utmost care in cleanliness. This also is a wonderful way to save time (you won't have to
return back to the base between work time and VBS. Sometimes you might be 30 min. or more from the
ministry base). It also saves money, and lets you get to know the people and culture of Mexico . It’s a
popular hit among all groups (you will be hard pressed to buy and cook a meal for less than the
recommended donation). We recommend a minimum donation of $3.00 per person per meal for this
option. This amount also includes enough money so the Mexicans who are ministering with you can eat
with you as well.
If you choose the option of eating at the church where you'll be serving at, the schedule would look like
the following:
Sunday Evening - Dinner
Monday - Lunch
Tuesday - Lunch
Wednesday - Lunch
Thursday - Lunch
3. Also, many groups like to eat out several times during the week which cuts down on meal prep too.
There are very tasty, inexpensive places to eat here. Fish tacos and Carne Asada are among the most
popular. Each cost about one dollar per taco.
4. The remainder of the meals can be prepared at the base. The facilities are very accommodating (two
stoves, refrigerator, freezer, large work areas, large serving bar & more). An option to consider if you
don’t have a cook, is to designate a kitchen and meal coordinator to oversee the meals and kitchen.
Divide the group into food teams and allow them to plan the meals (with the oversight of the kitchen and
meal coordinator). If you like, meals can even be pre-cooked in the States and then prepared in Mexico.
Make sure you have healthy meals as you will be exerting extra energy while on your trip.
Your kitchen should have all the pots and pans you’ll need. It will also have two refrigerators, a freezer,
two stoves, coffee pots, microwave, and other misc. items. If you plan on having special meals that are
out of the ordinary, you might want to bring along some of your own utensils. You might plan meals for a
few extra people as sometimes Mexicans might be present and would be honored to eat with you. Also,
we as missionaries find it very helpful to be able to eat with the groups as well. Our schedules are very
busy while your group is here and we find virtually no time for preparing our own meals (just for some
lunches and/or dinners). It also provides us with a time of fellowship with your group. We recommend
bringing disposable paper plates, bowls and cups for eating. This will save you a lot of time and work.
Suggested shopping list for items other than food
Following is a recommended shopping list for items you will need for your group in Mexico while on the
ministry base. Main items should be purchased in the States before crossing the border.
Cleaning Items
3 liquid hand soaps
1 bottle dishwashing liquid
Scrubber pads for pots and pans
Paper & Plastic Items
Small bathroom trash bags (10 gallon)
Large trash bags (30 -40 gallon)
Toilet paper
Paper towels (bring plenty)
Napkins
Paper plates (we recommend using paper plates, bowls, cups & etc. this cuts down on work & time)
Paper bowls
Paper cups
Baby wipes for cleaning hands after V.B.S. and etc. (put in vans)
First Aid Kit & Medicines
Hand lotion
Neosporin
Hydrogen peroxide
Tylenol
Imodium AD
What about purified drinking water in Mexico?
We will have at the Ministry Base 5 gallon bottles of purified drinking water for your use at the base.
These bottles can be filled with purified water at all grocery stores for .80 cents each. It will be your
group's responsibility to purchase your own water. There is no need to bring purified water with you as
the purified water is readily available and safe.