When I was a kid, camping meant eating non-stop junk food.  Hot dogs, potato chips, s’mores… it was amazing, but if I ate like that all weekend now, my gut wouldn’t like it so much.  Nor would my waistline, energy levels, sleep quality, performance… (getting older and wiser isn’t always fun!)

But who wants to eat salads, plain chicken breast and rice when you’re out in the wilderness?!  You want that char grilled – or better yet, open fire roasted food that smells like the outdoors.  I get it.

So we’ve put together some ideas so that you CAN eat healthy and feel all rustic and outdoorsy at the same.  Foil pack meals, one pan breakfasts, fired up pancakes, energy balls, homemade BBQ sauce for all your grilling, even the campfire classic desert.

We’ve even built in the convenience factor.  Many of these can be made in advance and just reheated at the fire too – which I highly recommend.  Food prep is what saves the day, my friend – at home and on your camping trips.

Enjoy!

 

Foil Packs

Nothing new here.  This is quintessential to camping.  I’m also about the easy one pan dishes, and anything that you can throw on one pan at home, you can wrap in a foil pack when out camping.  Put everything in foil, season and seal it tight, and stick it over the fire.

Easy Foil Pack Chicken Meal

One Pan Breakfast Hash

 

Skillet Meals

Just like above, but even more rustic when done in a skillet over the open fire!

Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet

Taco Breakfast Skillet

Lasagna Skillet

One Pot Meals

Anything you can throw in a big pot is campfire worthy.

Bison Pumpkin Chili

Squash & Lentil Chili

 

Skewers

It’s super easy to keep skewers healthy. Just pop on your favorite chopped meat and veggies!

Cumin Chicken Skewers

Homemade BBQ Sauce

 

Salads, you might still want some!

Make them ahead of time in easy mason jars.  Pro tip: kids like salads more when they’re in a jar.  Go figure.

Antipasto Salad Jar

Cobb Salad Jar

 

Overnight Oats & Breakfast Bowls

Any combination of oats, fruit, yogurt – add in chia or other seeds or nuts – and you’ve got a quick and easy snack or breakfast idea.  Keep in mind that any mason jar recipe idea can also just be made in a plastic meal prep dish as well, making it lighter in weight and easier to track into your camp site.

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

Yogurt Overnight Oats

 

Protein Pancakes

Make ahead of time or mix ’em up and fry over the fire!

Blueberry Banana Pancakes

 

Snacks

If you’re like many of the clients we work with, snacks are the biggest challenge.  My best suggestion is to have them PREPPED in advance.  Just like your meals, if they’re prepped and staring at you when you open the trailer cupboard or camp cooler, you’re more apt to eat them (and leave the chips alone)!

Some of our favorite go-to snacks for outdoors include:

Trail Mix

Energy Balls

Ultimate Hiking Cookie

Veggies & Hummus Dippers

Snack Boxes

 

And finally, we saved the best for last… because every camping trip needs these!

 

S’mores

Okay so this is part of your treat meal!  Layer a pack of chocolate chips on the bottom on a skillet, put over fire or grill for about 4-5 minutes to melt them.  Watch they don’t burn!  Then layer with marshmallows and put back on the heat to lightly melt them.  Use graham crackers to dip in.  You’re welcome!

 

 

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