Easy Camping Meals Your Whole Family Will Love

Camping season is just around the corner! When we think of camping we think of burgers, chips, pop and s’mores. While those are tasty treats, they’re usually packed with sugar, sodium (salt) and calories. There are many healthy and delicious alternatives to a hotdog on a stick! Meals and snacks should help fuel your outdoor activities like hiking, hunting, fishing, and games. With a bit of planning, a cooler, and some aluminum foil, you can create delicious and healthy meals for your next camping adventure!

Tip: use a cast iron skillet to minimize use of aluminum foil

Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Start up the fire or kettle and go!

Camp Oats

Measure 1 cup (250 mL) of water into the saucepan.
Bring to a rolling boil over the fire.
Add 1/2 cup (125 mL) rolled oats (and a handful of raisins and/or a pinch of cinnamon if you like).
Reduce heat.
Simmer for about 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat.
Ladle into a bowl.
Top with any or all of the following: milk or milk substitute, fresh or canned fruit, raisins or nuts.

(Makes one portion)

Tip: Pre-portion bags of rolled oats with your favorite toppings and put them in a plastic bag or plastic container for easy portioning and transporting.

Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt is high in protein and easy to keep cool in a cooler with ice. Add dried granola and dried fruit for extra energy.

Eggs and Whole Wheat Toast

A staple breakfast that’s usually not so easy to pack. Before you leave, crack as many eggs as needed into an empty glass jar to avoid eggs cracking in your bag. This will save you on clean up, messy accidents and can stay cold in a cooler bag. Eggs and toast can be easily cooked in a pan over a campfire or using a camping barbeque.

Lunch

Lunch is an important meal to refuel after a morning of outdoor activities. Here are some meal options when the campfire is lit or not!

Pita Wraps

Delicious and easy to make and pack! Grab some whole wheat pitas or whole wheat tortillas, spread on your favorite hummus, and add carrot, celery, and red peppers cut up into sticks. This is an easy prepared lunch that is full of fibre and protein.

Campfire Bannock

This bannock recipe can be made while camping without using a single dish! Just prepare the mix ahead of time and you are ready to go.

Mix the following dry ingredients together at home in a zipper-lock bag and seal:

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt

Add olive oil and water to the dry ingredients:

¼ cup olive oil
¾ cup warm water

Work dough until smooth and wrap a portion of dough around a clean stick and cook over the fire until brown or about 5 mins.

Health Happy Tip: Add peanut butter and raisins to your bannock for protein and fibre.

Mix it up!

Picnics are an easy and fun activity to do with the family. Grab a blanket, find a cozy spot and enjoy! These picnic staples can be washed, cut and prepared before you hit the trail. Be sure to keep everything in an air tight container and in a cooler bag.

Hard boiled eggs (boil and peel at home and store in a container in your cooler)
Baby carrots, celery, and snap peas with your favourite dip like Italian dressing or hummus
Tuna or salmon sandwiches (add 1 tbsp of mayo to canned fish and mix well, serve on whole wheat bread)
Cut up apples, oranges and pears

Supper

The sun is setting and everyone gathers around the fire for stories, fun and food. These simple camping dinners are easy to make and just require some cooking utensils and a roaring fire.

Fish Feast

Fish is full of healthy fat and high-quality protein. Pick your favourite fish like walleye, salmon or cod; or catch it yourself!

Lay your fillet on the tinfoil and rub with olive oil. Sprinkle salt over the fish to taste and layer with sliced lemon. Cover with foil and place on a grill or a pan over the fire. Cooking time depends on the thickness of the fish but should take about 10 minutes to cook fully.

Side dishes

It doesn’t get any easier than this! Wrap the ingredients for each side in tinfoil then place on the grill or pan over the fire. Add spices to the sides to cut down on salt and to add flavour! Shake the foil every few minutes to avoid burning your vegetables.

Baked Potato

1 large russet potato
1 tsp. butter

Peppers and onions

1 Bell peppers, sliced
1 tbsp. Olive oil
½ onion chopped

Dessert

Here is a Health Happy take on traditional s’mores! Fun for the family to make and more fun to eat!

Campfire Banana Boats

Ingredients:

bananas (1 per person)
marshmallows
chocolate chips
aluminum foil
Extras: nuts, peanut butter, coconut etc.

Cut open the banana on one of the seams from about 1 inch from the bottom to 1 inch on the top.
Sprinkle in chocolate chips and marshmallows.
Close tightly and wrap with aluminum foil.
Cook over a fire by tucking it in the logs (not directly on the flame). Let cook for about 4- 5 minutes. Remove with caution, open and serve!

Other great snack ideas!

Be sure to eat when you feel hungry and these snacks will help you have fun and stay active all day. These snacks can be prepared before the trip and saved in a container in a cooler or bag.

Mixed unsalted nuts
Fruit: Banana, apple, pear
Greek yogurt
Bison or beef jerky
Chopped celery with peanut butter

Camping can be an opportunity to eat Health Happy and make choices that will help fuel your activities. Choose meal and snack items based on your preferences that will keep you energized and full. Happy camping!

Michelle Stevens, RD
Michelle Stevens is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition from University of Manitoba. Michelle has been providing nutrition counselling for 2 years. She has experience working with clients for diabetes management, kidney disease management, weight loss and has inpatient and outpatient experience. She is excited to bring her knowledge to northern communities to help provide healthy options and nutrition education to families

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