Now that you have decided to go camping with your family, one of the next steps for you will be planning your camping meals. This always takes the longest for me because I try to make it as easy as possible without having to eat unhealthy pre packaged foods while we are gone. I have learned a few things over the years and I want to share with you a few ideas for easy meals that you can prepare for your family that will keep them full and keep you happy.
Breakfast Ideas:
- Pancakes- Bring along your favorite whole wheat pancake mix that just needs to have water added. This will make it much easier than needing to mix eggs and milk to make a batter.
- Breakfast Bowls- Scramble up some eggs, add in your favorite veggies, and some crumbled turkey sausage. Mix it all together until hot and serve in a bowl (or on a plate) and top with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese. You can start with frozen hash browns (cook until almost done) and then add in the eggs, veggies and sausage if you wish.
- Oatmeal- Cook your oatmeal how you like it and then add some homemade granola or trail mix to the top for some added flavor and staying power.
Lunch Ideas:
- Sub Sandwiches- Use whole wheat sub rolls and pile them high with your favorite sandwich toppings. If it’s hot out, you may want to avoid mayo…you don’t want sick campers! These are larger than regular sandwiches so they will help keep you full until dinner time.
- Hot Dogs- If you have a campfire, roast the hot dogs over the open flame. If the kids are old enough let them roast their own. If it’s hot out and you don’t have a campfire you can just grill or boil them. Serve them on whole wheat hot dog buns with some fruit on the side.
- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches- Make these according to your family’s taste and then toast them over the fire, or on the grill.
Dinner Ideas:
- Kebobs- Make your kebobs ahead of time if you can and store in a cooler or fridge. This way all you have to do is take them out and throw them on the grill.
- Slow Cooker Meals- Bring along your slow cooker if you are able and put your favorite meal on in the morning. By dinner time you will have a home cooked meal waiting on you with little to no work on your part. To make clean up easier, I buy the slow cooker liners that you just pull out and throw away.
Snack Ideas:
- Trail Mix
- Granola
- S’mores- You can’t camp really without at least making them once!
These are just a few of the meals that we use while we are on a camping trip. You can make any of your family’s favorites with a little planning. The idea is to do as much as you can before you leave home. Make your kebobs, brown your sausage, wash your fruit…the more you do before you leave, the easier it will be on you when you are at camp. Being away on vacation or camping doesn’t mean that your family can’t eat healthy meals. There is just something about eating outdoors while camping though…everything just tastes a little better!
Subscribe to our email newsletter, a must read for those of you who are trying to feed your family healthy meals in less time.
