Sneaking Nutrition into your Picnics and Camp Trips

by Registered Dietitian, Andrea Holwegner | Sep 19, 2011

Tips About Food

Before the S’mores…

Sneaking Nutrition into your Picnics and Camp Trips

By Andrea Holwegner, Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc.

Camping, picnics, sports events and road trips… These are summer essentials for the whole family, but they can often be poorly planned when it comes to packing food! While these are great times to enjoy those marshmallows and potato chips, having nutritious foods on hand can greatly improve the mood and energy levels of everyone in your group. Before this summer comes to a close, be a hero at your next outing by filling your cooler with easy and delicious energy-boosting food options

Fuel up with Fibre

High-fibre foods help regulate your blood sugar and keep you fuller longer. This gives you longer-lasting energy and can help curb the desire to graze on less healthy snack foods all day. Also, fibre helps with digestion and keeps everyone “regular”, which is great on trips for obvious reasons!!

• Choose whole wheat or multigrain hamburger and hot dog buns
• Heat beans over the fire or BarBQ as a side-dish or main entrée.
• Throw some yummy high-fibre veggies on the grill or campfire, like corn on the cob, baked potatoes, or yams. Just wrap them in tin foil.
• Pack high fibre granola bars, crackers, or trail mix as snacks

Be Savvy with Snacks

Instead of the usual chips and dip, experiment with fun and healthy alternatives. Try to get a variety of foods, especially fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Some suggestions to try are:

• Baked or multigrain tortilla chips and salsa
• Whole wheat pitas and raw veggies with hummus dip
• Whole grain crackers with almond butter and apple wedges
• Refried beans, salsa and grated cheese wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla
• Enjoy the colorful fruits of summer such as cherries, apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums, watermelon and berries. Dip them in your favorite yogurt for extra flavor.

Don’t Forget the Dairy

• Pack individual yogurt or cottage cheese cups to snack on between meals.
• Chocolate milk is always for snacks or at breakfast. Choose the plastic jugs with screw tops to transport them more easily in coolers.
• Yogurt tubes can be frozen in advance, helping keep your cooler cold, and providing a nutritious ice cream-like dessert.
• Grate your favorite cheese in advance and pack in zipper baggies to sprinkle on hamburgers, hot dogs, potatoes or salads.

The Bottom Line:

While sound nutrition is always important to help keep everyone energized and active, don’t forget to enjoy your favorite treats as well. True health is about being good to your body, both nutritionally and emotionally!