Springtime is a great time for camping. Lots of us think of S'mores or hot dogs over the campfire, but what if we could show you some camping food that would put hot dogs to shame? Stay tuned for a delicious, and healthy campfire recipe and tips for sticking with your healthy eating habits on the go!
For a lot of people, eating healthy can feel like a full-time job. Making grocery lists, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning up, purchasing tools, investing time into learning new recipes, etc.
After putting all that time and energy into adapting to this new routine, there comes the fear of falling out of it when traveling. It's pretty easy for habits to slip when we're taken out of our normal environments and routines.
With warmer weather and spring/summer break on the horizon, camping will probably be a top pick amongst younger children. Well, I'm here to tell you, eating healthy while camping is actually not as difficult as it's cracked up to be. There's no need to sacrifice your or your kid's existing eating habits just to enjoy a couple of days outdoors. All it takes is a little bit of planning before you leave.
1. Plan, Plan, Plan
Planning is truly key. Sit down and make a list of groceries you can buy that are camp friendly so you already know everything that'll be going into your meals.
This way you won't be tempted to reach for processed snacks when you go to the store.
Write down all the meals you plan to have once you make it to camp to double-check that every meal has been accounted for. Instead of scrambling at the last minute for snacks for your kids, you can enjoy your time with your company/planned activity instead.
Some on-the-go ideas
It's easier to do things like cook rice or grill vegetables at home before you leave. Bring produce and snacks with you that have a long shelf life, such as:
apples
carrots
celery
nut butters
legumes (like canned chickpeas or steamed edamame)
dehydrated fruits
hummus
nuts
seeds
2. Breakfast
If you want a quick, no-fuss option, you can pack protein bars. But if you want something more hearty, breakfast burritos can be made at home and easily heated up when you're ready to eat. Try these egg-less breakfast tacos! Since we don't have to worry about meat, there's no need to worry about the burritos going bad quickly. (These are packed with fiber and protein.)
You can also bring along pre-made oatmeal, or pre-measured oatmeal in a bag, and chia seed pudding. Chia seed puddings are great because all they require is a liquid before consuming, no prep or cooking necessary. It's a great way to keep yourself full for the day while exploring the outdoors.
3. Lunch
Curries taste even better after they've sat for a while, so don't be afraid to make some simple curries at home and transport them to your campsite in flask containers. You can even pack some pitas and sprouted wraps to pair alongside them.
Or try mason jar salads or meals in a jar - pre-prep them and home and pack them away to enjoy at the campsite!
4. Snacks & Dinner
Snacks
Trail mix: a popular go-to for camping, but you can definitely get more creative with your snack ideas. It's important to pack well-rounded snacks that will keep your energy levels up.
Apples and oranges: hold up for a camping trip, but if you're willing to bring along a cooler, pack some berries, bananas, and grapes as well.
Veggies & hummus: a great snack idea to ensure you aren't lacking in protein during your trip. You can slice up carrots, celery sticks, and cucumbers at home and bring along single-serving cups of hummus.
Date/Nut Balls: If you're willing to make them before you leave, date/nut balls are also great to have as a sweet but fulfilling treat. They're full of energy and they usually stay good for a few days unrefrigerated.
Dinner idea
Enter our delicious campfire foil fajitas! This is a super simple and delicious recipe you can make at home before leaving for your trip. They pack a punch of flavor and they're pretty easy to heat up on a campsite with minimal equipment. You can pair them with rice and beans and grilled tofu too, all of which can be easily transported to a camping site.
If you have leftovers, and they make for great leftovers too, you can have them again for dinner.
Serve with:
flour tortillas
guacamole & salsa
fresh cilantro/parsley
non-dairy cheese and sour cream, or cashew sour cream
Don't hesitate to make extras of your lunch to have for a later meal or bringing side ingredients to spice up existing meals.
Remember to drink your water!
This one goes without saying, but make sure to drink plenty of fluids!!! And there you have it, healthy eating while camping made easy. It's really all about planning and making the conscious effort to make healthy decisions in a new setting.
