Your guide to healthy camping meals, snacks and menus

Looking for healthy camping food ideas that won’t sacrifice taste and fun?  Read on!

For many folks camping is a time to take a complete vacation from healthy eating and live off of hot dogs, chips, and beer by the campfire. Fortunately, you don’t need to choose between health or taste to be a happy camper.  With a little planning, you can really have it all.  Read on for some of our mouthwatering healthy camping meals and snacks.

Invest in healthy camp cooking equipment

·      You won’t need much to cook healthy foods but for cooking on open flame you will want to pack tinfoil and could benefit from investing in a grill sheet and grill basket which makes cooking meat, fish, poultry and veggies easy and tasty.

·      Popcorn is a healthy whole grain so consider investing in a popcorn basket which is a much healthier (and tasty) option than store bought camp packages full of strange ingredients your grandparents wouldn’t be able to recognize.   

·      Mountain pie irons offer lots of flexibility for making warm sandwiches for any meal of the day. Outside of standard grilled cheese try spinach, feta and onions or Hawaiian pizza with tomato sauce, ham, pineapple and mozzarella.

·      For food safety and freshness, a cooler with ice packs is essential.  Consider a cooler that plugs into your vehicle for additional flexibility.  Freeze juice boxes and prepared bolognese sauce, chili or soup which can double as ice packs and meals.

Prep and pack fruits and veggies that travel well

·      Often fruits are neglected when camping so try packing dried fruits such as dates, figs, apricots, cranberries and raisins as snacks.  Toss into snack mixes with dried cereal or whole grain crackers and nuts.  Chop and add to breakfast fare such as oatmeal, pancakes or yogurt parfaits.

·      Go for easy to pack (and easy to eat) fresh fruits such as grapes, apricots, plums, blueberries, melon, oranges, and watermelon.

·      Leave for your camping trip with bags or containers of pre-prepared veggies and dip or hummus. The pre-chopped veggies that travel best include carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, grape/cherry tomatoes and snap/snow peas.

·      Pre-wrap potatoes, corn on the cob, peeled diced beets as well as sliced carrots and parsnips in tinfoil to easily toss on the grill or fire.  

Try this Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe on our blog here

Balance heavier foods with lighter fare

·      If you love bacon for breakfast build that into the menu but round out the meal with a large fresh fruit salad and whole grain pancakes. 

·      If you are planning on roasting chorizo sausages for dinner, balance the meal with whole grain buns and grilled asparagus with red pepper slices on the grill.

·      Use fresh-prepared beef/bison burgers or ground poultry burgers instead of boxed frozen burgers and deep fried chicken burgers.

·      Instead of synthetic flavoured potato chips go with whole grain taco chips with salsa and guacamole. 

Enjoy healthier snacks and desserts

·      Grill slices of fresh pineapple with a pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon on your grill sheet (or skewer on a stick over the fire).

·      Make healthy banana boats. Leave the peel on a banana and make a deep cut on the long side of the banana without cutting all the way through. Stuff the inside with chocolate chips, coconut, and chopped nuts.  Wrap the banana in foil and place on the grill for a few minutes until the inside is warm and delicious.

·      Make popcorn in a popcorn shaker over an open flame and drizzle a little butter mixed with fresh lime juice, chili powder and a pinch of salt.

·      Shelling peanuts, pistachios and pumpkin seeds by the fire is better than pre-shelled versions to help slow down how quickly these are consumed.

·      Baked cinnamon apples. Core and slice an apple so that you can still fold up to the apple shape. Transfer the apple to tinfoil and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Add a pat of butter (and granola if you like) to the center of the apple. Wrap the apple tightly with tinfoil and place on the grill, turning sides every few minutes.

·      Enjoy my favourite grilled dessert this summer when peaches are in season. Slice peaches in half and take out the pit and place cut side down on a greased grill pan and cook a few minutes until grill lines appear.  Fill with mascarpone cheese mixed with a drizzle of honey and pinch of cinnamon.  Grab the recipe for Grilled Peaches with Honey and Mascarpone Cheese here.

This article on Registered Nutritionist healthy camping food ideas was originally published in Calgary Herald Newspaper 

Where can I get more support on healthy snack ideas and meal planning?

If you are looking for nutrition support on meal planning and healthy snack ideas for work, home and on-the-go we can help. We also provide online nutrition counselling support for health concerns, emotional eating and family meal planning from the comfort of your home.

We’ve been offering virtual online nutritionist support by our Virtual Dietitian team for some time and can hand hold you through the process. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to use even if you are not technologically savvy. Read more about our personal nutrition counseling services here: In-person and Online Nutrition Counseling

PS: Don’t forget to check with your insurance provider, health spending account or private health services plan and see if you are covered for Registered Dietitian services.