Getting closer to nature can pose nutritional difficulties for modern campers. We are so used to the convenience of home cooking appliances that some campers find it difficult making meals without them. Especially on a single stovetop or lonely campfire.
What results is that our camping adventures turn into junk food fest. Relying on packed foods like chips, chocolate and canned produce instead of properly cooked meals. Eating healthy in the outdoors doesn’t have to be hard. Here are the top foods to take camping that won’t disappoint your expectations or your taste buds.
Consider Easy To Assemble Meals
Sandwiches, wraps and salads can all be easily put together and require little cooking or food prep area. When shopping for your camping supplies, look for pre-cut fruit and vegetable portions. Pre-packaged options designed for throwing into a bowl, mixing and serving. Options such as grated cheese and pre-cooked meats are excellent for added flavour and fit conveniently into a cooler.
Think of how you can use single food items for multiple meals. Consider a hearty breakfast sandwich or french toast with that loaf of bread. Throw in some peanut butter for good measure for a quick snack sandwich. The spread is also great to eat with some of those pre-cut celery and carrot slices.
Bring Frozen Food For Your Meals
Most campers bring an esky or ice bath for their camping adventures. This allows food to stay chilled for the first few days. Frozen foods provide additional cooling as they defrost in the cooler, helping to keep other food around them fresh.
The perfect frozen items to bring is anything that reheats in one pot. Meals such as pasta and sauces, stir fry, curries and stews. Once you need to cook the meals, they’re usually already defrosted. Or if not, can be defrosted quickly just by removing them from the cooler.
Some meals can even be cooked directly from their foil packs or in a fire-top dutch oven. Think campfire Christmas turkey! Just pack a little salt and pepper for extra taste in your camping trip kitchen kit.
Make Trail Mix Your Best Friend
Foods that require no heating or refrigeration are the best for camping. They won’t go sour, nor will you need time to prepare them. Campers attest to making trail mixes with a combination of dried fruit, nuts and sweets.
As an easy go-to, a trail mix can be prepared days in advance in large quantities. Stored correctly, the mix won’t spoil for the duration of your camping adventure. They’re also ideal for taking on long hikes. Trail mix doesn’t weigh you down on the long walks and it provides the required sustenance.
Taking a wander through the healthy food aisle at the supermarket is also wise. There are many low-calorie, healthy packaged foods, such as vegetable crisps and nut bars, that will suffice on the go. Dehydrated foods such as dried mango and jerky are easy to pack hits with adventurers of all ages. They also make for a good road-trip snack on your way to and from your campsite.
Meal Plan Ahead Of Time
Knowing what you’re going to eat ahead of time is best for any camping adventure. Especially with a large group of people, or for those will allergies and intolerances. With careful meal preparation, you can find healthy recipes that suit camping.
Simple planning avoids snacking on junk food or turning to unhealthy alternatives in desperation. Having a list of basic foods to take campings also ensures you’ll be well prepared for future adventures.
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