Healthy Camping Meals

Posts: 643
5/26/10 4:29 P

Great thread happening here. Thanks for posting all your great ideas. I found the link for healthy camping recipes.

recipes.sparkpeople.com/great-recipes.asp?
food=healthy+camping+recipes

Posts: 506
5/26/10 4:03 P

Another good thing that keeps me away from my high calorie beers that I used to drink while laying by the lake is vodka and watermelon! Yum! Two days before you go cut a hole in the top of the watermelon and let the watermelon absorb the vodka! Vualla! Yummy fruit that doesn't contain as many calories as beer and a big smile on my face! (Refreshing also!)

PS Just make sure if you have kids they know thats the ADULTS watermelon, lol! Happy Camping!

Posts: 21
5/26/10 3:57 P

The egg beaters in ziplock bag is a great idea! I'm going to try that.

For some reason I have trouble sticking to my daily calories when camping/hiking - I get hungry because I'm so active, so anything looks good. And camping foods that I like (like trail mix and granola bars) are yummy and healthy but dense nutrients, so can eat hundreds of calories so quickly! I'm learning that less dense foods are also good for camping. Like lots of veggies and fruit (of course) and my baybel light cheese :o) Also veggie burger and whole wheat sandwich thins for the bun! Can feed more hearty stuff to my husband, who is bigger and burns more calories. :]

Edited by: CALLIOCA at: 5/26/2010 (15:59)

Posts: 533
5/26/10 3:36 P

Nuts mixed with cranberries and raisins for the trail, water, veggies all cut and ready to eat for the cooler, whole pieces of fruit for snacking, fish for grilling, turkey burgers perhaps?

Posts: 379
5/26/10 2:47 P

Camoing is great, but the whole trying to eat healthy is always a challange. This year i will pack some turkey burgers, aspaagus, some fresh fruit, and some other things that i can just pre make and reheat ove the fire. NIce topic!

Posts: 2,232
5/26/10 2:40 P

When we go camping, I will precut fruits & veggies for the first few days, then we go to whole produce or canned stuff.

I don't understand the parents in this string that are only feeding themselves in a healthy mannor. Your kids/spouse could benefit from eating healthy too. Kids usually will happily eat what ever the rest of the family is eating.

Posts: 1,101
5/26/10 2:30 P

I like fresh fruits and veggies, trail mix, hot dogs, and burgers.

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Posts: 10,905
5/26/10 2:30 P

Egg beaters-place the equivalent of one or two eggs in ziplock bag. Add any of the following: crumbled cooked bacon, ham, cooked sausage, chopped bell pepper, onion, jalapenos, mushrooms, favorite kind of cheese shredded, black pepper. Seal top and drop on it's side in a pot of gently boiling water. Cook until done - about 5 to 8 minutes. Fun for everyone to make. I have had these with as many as 20 people while camping. The adults had mimosas with them. The kids had orange juice!

Edited by: DAISY443 at: 5/26/2010 (14:31)

Posts: 3,040
5/26/10 2:25 P

Having my special blend trail mix handy keeps me away from the really bad foods.

To make it I mix almonds, dried berries, dark chocolate chips and Kashi cereal.

Posts: 122
5/26/10 1:37 P

Your ideas are great, I will make sure to pack the chocolate graham crackers, that sounds fun.
I am bringing my grandson who has never camped. I am trying to convince him that tent camping will be fun.
I will remember too to plan the vegetables ahead of time since every thing has to be cooked over the camp stove. No electricity for me. Roughing it.

Posts: 3
5/26/10 12:38 P

healthy Camp eating is always hard for me. I like to bring food that is easy to prepare and easy to pack around. The fish in foil is a good idea, as my kids and I like to go fishing. This weekend I plan on bringing my protein shakes with me so I am not as tempted to get into junk food. breakfast burritos made with whole grain tortillas, egg beaters (can buy in single serving containers), fat free cheese, and just a tad of salsa is yummy, add some fruit and there is your breakfast!!

Posts: 137
5/26/10 12:31 P

Depends on what kind of camping you do. I have a recipe for Fish in Foil, it can be cooked on a grill or oven. Put Fish fillets in middle of foil add thinly sliced potatoes, fresh or frozen green beans, thinly sliced onions, season with salt and pepper, dill and lemon juice. Fold up the foil, put in oven or on grill for about 30 minutes. Everything you need for dinner, all in one dish, easily disposed of and very good. My daughter who doesn't like fish will eat this meal.

Posts: 1
5/26/10 12:18 P

we are also going camping this weekend. I intend to keep the whole family in line with the eating. I have Turkey dogs with 98% FF Turkey chilli, ff cheddar cheese with fresh raw vegetables. corn on the cob roasting on the grill to go with our Salmon burgers with whole grain buns. I really like the smore idea, I think I will try the banana idea who doesn't love grilled bananas. Maybe grill strawberries with them :-). For snacks, nuts, peppers, salsa, whole wheat chips, I think we can do this ! I know we can

Posts: 24
5/26/10 12:12 P

Camping dinners are usually fun. We go with another couple or two couples and for each day of the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) a different couple gets to prepare a meal for everyone. We have a couple of coleman stoves and we usually make a nice salad to go with our particular meat (fish, chicken, pork).

One of my favorite things while camping is to bring a bunch of fresh veggies and chicken breasts if you can keep cool in the cooler and make wraps. It's easy to bring all the fresh veggies camping and then you just cut them up, stir-fry and serve.

Any veggies left over can be used for a tasty omelet with toast (those portable toaster thingies are decent if used right)

Posts: 1,795
5/26/10 12:00 P

We make the hobo dinners, too. We do the usual hot dog/hamburger meals with baked beans and a lowfat pasta salad. For breakfast my husband makes pancakes or potatoes/eggs on the portable coleman stove.

Posts: 143
5/26/10 8:54 A

When we go to the cabin, we always have crock pot meals for our main meal (usually in the evening). If you have electricity and a crockpot, you can make main meals or even desserts...go to allrecipes.com or flylady.net and check out the crock pot recipes! I bet you will find some great ones to use...we always do...one of our favorites is the catalina chicken...

Posts: 33
5/26/10 8:26 A

Those foil packets sound like they would also be great on hot summer days at home when I don't want to cook in the house!

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Posts: 1,894
5/25/10 11:59 P

I love camping! The food is always my challenge as well so I am happy to see this message board topic for all the great ideas.

I love the idea of making those foil pouches with fish and veggies. YUM!

Posts: 1
5/25/10 11:51 P

I LOVE camping and also try to eat healthy when I do so, even if others around me aren't quite as health-conscious. Here's a couple of ideas/foods I like when camping:
1. Veggie dogs and sausages (sometimes I'm not a huge fan, but some varieties are much tastier than others)
2. Instead of smores, cut a banana in half length wise, lay it in tinfoil and place a couple of marshmallows between the pieces. Crumble in a graham cracker and fold edges up to make a pouch. Cook over the fire, then open carefully and eat with a fork! So yummy and satisfying (plus a serving of fruit!)
3. Oatmeal - Quick and easy to cook on a camp stove, also very filling and nutritious. Plus, people can add other ingredients to suit their individual tastes (cinammon, etc)
4. Almonds and raisins - Great snack.
5. Apples - they keep pretty well even if they're not kept cool.
6. Veggies and pitas with hummus.

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5/25/10 11:24 P

Tea, oatmeal, pancake mix, unsalted almonds, jiffy pop, water, hot dogs for the family (veggie dogs for me), burgers.

And beer.

With lots of hiking to burn it all off.

Posts: 10,339
5/25/10 10:09 P

We are camping this weekend too, but we use a camper so I don't have to get as creative as if we were in a tent. For breakfasts we will eat eggs and Canadian bacon or chicken sausages. Lunches will probably be mostly burgers and dogs, but I did not buy any chips this time, and no potato salad. We have some cans of no-sugar-added baked beans that we can have as a side if we want them. I am bringing some pork sirloin and chicken breast that we will cook on the grill and have with a bagged salad. I also am bringing some sweet potatoes and some microwaveable bags of veggies, since we are staying at a campground with electricity so I will actually be able to use the microwave. We will eat almost the same as we would at home, except that I don't usually buy bagged salads or the microwave bags of veggies for home. I figured they are quicker and easier while camping. We also plan to do some walking and light hiking, so we should burn off some calories.

Posts: 45
5/25/10 9:50 P

Oh how hobo dinner rock. It would be pretty easy to get creative and roast chicken pieces over an open flame, while ears of corn in foil cook right in the fire.
Grill, Grill, Grill.
In Papua New Guinea I once had lobster for breakfast that was smoked over an open fire!!
I know a stretch for camping food.

Posts: 4
5/25/10 9:47 P

Camping is the best. For meals all is good but you have to be willing to plan,plan,plan!! Anything is a go if you do it right. I use to plan for all the junk food, now it will be the right food. Thanks for all the ideas of what that can be for those night by the fire, under the stars.

Posts: 106
5/25/10 9:38 P

I worked as a counselor at a Girl Scout camp for three consecutive summers, and one of the healthiest things I can think of would be "hobo dinners" - potato chunks, carrots, celery, onions, and either (pre-cooked) ground beef or (pre-cooked) chicken. They were surprisingly filling. Put them on the coals in foil pouches (the inside sprayed with cooking spray, of course), and check them once in awhile...

Kebabs in foil were good...we had done baggie omelets before, too...I could go on!!!

Edited by: SHIMMYSHAKER at: 5/25/2010 (21:39)

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Posts: 10
5/25/10 9:06 P

Large piece heavy duty aluminum foil

shiny side up

brush olive oil in a 7 inch circle in the middle, layer in your protein i have used tilapia, chicken, beef, shrimp, sprinkle with salt and pepper then pile on the veggies, thin sliced potatoes, carrots, onions, broccoli, asparagus, peppers....be creative.
Fold in two sides, folding down the foil until a packet is formed then, fold in two opposite sides until you have a tight little bundle. Throw on the grill or bury in hot coals. about 15 -20 minutes depending on protein selection unwrap and enjoy. throw the dishes away.

Posts: 65
5/25/10 7:53 P

We have a camping trip next weekend, and I hadn't even thought of how to do it healther (last time donuts were involved, kids want them again, so clearly I need a plan for myself lol).

Thanks everyone for all the ideas. I wish I had more healthy camping food ideas, about all I have is maybe hummus? good with all those veggies mentioned.

Posts: 506
5/25/10 6:21 P

Wow what wonderful responses... Love the eggs, turkey bacon wrap aka breakfast burrito...Ohhh and the chocolate grahmn crackers with marshmellows is GENIUS! I am taking lots of notes and promise myself I won't gain a pound camping this weekend because no BAD snacking for me! Thanks Spark Friends!!

Posts: 13
5/25/10 6:12 P

Depends on whether we're carrying our food on our backs or in a vehicle. Sandwiches for the first meal on the trip, then graze on raw carrots and celery, apples or oranges, cheese, eggs, bread rolls. Water. Then into the canned tuna packed in water, canned beans, potato flakes, dehydrated soup mix, skim milk powder, dried fruit, trail mix, cereal, etc. We replenish as we can and as necessary.

Posts: 1,898
5/25/10 5:46 P

We just returned from a week's RV vacation. I planned and tracked my meals on Spark and printed them out. I tweaked it a little each day due to fresh fruits/veggies available. I've done this on a prior trip and it worked out great. I didn't pack junk foods or wasted calorie foods. It wasn't a hassle and I didn't find it difficult to stay on at all.

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Posts: 180
5/25/10 5:28 P

We go tent camping often every summer and the food part of it is always a challenge!

Some of what I do is: Uncured hot dogs in whole wheat buns with baked beans and baby carrots. Whole wheat rotini noodles with Ragu light pasta sauce, unsalted canned green beans and single-serve jello cups. S'mores using lowfat graham crackers, marshmallows and Hershey's dark choc bars. Instant oatmeal for breakfast and single serve applesauce cups. Lots of fruit and cut-up veggies.

We walk/hike a lot too when camping so a s'more or two gets burned off. :-)

I'm looking forward to hearing what others do too!

Edited by: BETHMOMOF2 at: 5/25/2010 (17:29)

Posts: 151
5/25/10 4:50 P

For breakfast its good to have an iron cast skillet and you can have your egg whites with some light cheese and turkey bacon wrapped in a corn tortilla. Lunch or Dinner My favorite thing is fresh corn on the cob wrapped in foil with a spray I can't believe it's not butter and sea salt then just let it roast slowly. A nice chicken breast with sazon seasoning and pepper and what ever other veggies you like wrapped the same way as the corn on the cob mmmmmm it so good. All of this can be made on the grill or an open fire for the skillet make sure you have a stand so you dont burn your hands.

Posts: 361
5/25/10 4:47 P

Do a search in this message board for camping foods, there was a thread on it a few weeks ago with lots of great ideas.

chicken sausages, premade and frozen turkey burgers, 3 bean salads, just mostly pre-prepared foods, so when you get there all the dirty work is done, just open up or grill, and enjoy.
Have a great time!

Posts: 62
5/25/10 4:42 P

Cook brown rice, barley or quinoa ahead and put it a gallon bag. Take canned black beans and fat free re-fried beans, salsa and low fat wraps---yum and easy!
Try a chocolate Quaker Quake snack with a roasted mallow for a low fat treat!
Take instant Quaker weight control oatmeal, all you need is to boil water.
Fiber One bars
tons of fruit
Make ahead-whole wheat pasta salad with Greek yogurt, garlic and or curry spices.
whole raw almonds

Posts: 160
5/25/10 4:17 P

Today was "clean out the leftover day." Baby lima beans. broccoli and spinach over a baked potato. I got my veggies in. But now I gotta wash all of those empty containers.

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Posts: 22
5/25/10 4:07 P

What a great topic! I'm going camping next weekend and we've been trying to come up with a way to stick to a healthy meal plan. We didn't want to do just the normal burgers and dogs approach.

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5/25/10 3:21 P

When camping, prep is key more than at home. I prep gallon sized zip lock bags with already washed grapes, strawberries and cut up melon. I also make sure to prep lots of fresh veggies... walking salad Mom used to call it. It is so much easier to turn on the faucet at home to wash fruit for a weekend, than to do it at camp, and cutting and peeling is also much easier at home.

Roasted veggies in foil on the camp fire with a little evoo and some Mrs. Dash are also wonderful. And super key, don't forget to take lots of fresh water... camp water never stands up, and the tap at home is much cheaper than buying individual bottles once you arrive at camp!

I'm jealous, wish I was camping this weekend... Enjoy!

Posts: 246
5/25/10 3:17 P

Depends on whether it's a car camping trip or a backpacking trip!

For a car camping trip, the same as we eat at home pretty much. Eggs and granola, sandwiches, soups, crackers are all good for car camping.

For backpacking, some favorite foods are fruit, carrots, avocados, and hardboiled eggs for the first day or two, and couscous, lentils, crackers, cheese, smoked salmon, nuts, and dried fruit for later days. I like trail mix or granola with hot cocoa or cider for breakfast on the trail. For lunch, we usually do crackers with cheese and salmon. Couscous and lentils cook up fast for dinner, which saves fuel. Hard cheeses like parmesan, or in little packages like laughing cow cheese last for a week without refrigeration. I also like to harvest edible mushrooms and miner's lettuce on the trail when I can find them. The nice thing about backpacking is that you can eat a little more because you're exercising a lot more!

Posts: 1,233
5/25/10 3:07 P

scrambled eggs with lots of veggies, cheese sticks, high-protein-low-sugar jerkey, baked apples (in tin foil in the coals), hobo dinner (in tin foil place low fat meat such as chicken breast or ground beef and cut up veggies, cook in the coals).

Posts: 690
5/25/10 2:47 P

First I must say what an EXCELLENT thread!! I am going camping this weekend too and six other times this summer and I'm the only camper watching what I'm eating.

I'm planning on bringing Boca burgers and light turkey dogs to go with their fuller fat versions.

Us two couples go shopping together before the trip so when we're in the snack isle and they're grabbing the chips and dips I'll be reaching for baked versions and bringing fruit and veg sticks with me!

For the items that I won't be able to adjust on my own such as mayo salads I will just have a taste and fill the plate with veggies!!

One night my BF and I are making our signature camping dinner which is chicken breast with chopped zuchini and summer squash marinated in italian dressing (I'll be using the FF version when I prepare it) and we let it marinade during the day and then cook in a disposable pan on the grill!

Happy Camping!!!

Edited by: SCORPIO1026 at: 5/25/2010 (14:49)

Posts: 507
5/25/10 2:12 P

When you need the crunch...baby carrots/celery chopped in baggies.
Convient but more pricey ...some stores carry apple/grape pre-sliced baggies. Nice, can throw sm. serving in cooler and not have to have chopped up while driving and not brown from pre-slicing myself.

Yogurt (so many varieties and great w/ sliced apples.

Bake turkey early and slice. Take fresh turkey slices for sandwhiches.

Posts: 264
5/25/10 1:27 P

couscous with fruit or veggies

Posts: 81
5/25/10 12:57 P

What a genius idea using chocolate grahams instead of chocolate for the smores! I can't wait to try it out this weekend.

Posts: 32
5/25/10 12:00 P

My biggest challenge is not the meals but the snacks. We typically pack crackers, chips, granola bars, etc. for the kids. Plus, just about every campground has an ice-cream shack...

This year?
~ almonds
~ baby cut carrots
~ grapes
~ watermelon
~ cheese
~ oranges
~ red, green, yellow pepper slices
~ rice crisps - butter popcorn flavour for when you just NEED the crunch!

For me, the trick is preparing in advance. I plan to pack meals and/or snacks ahead of time in portioned baggies so the temptation to munch too much isn't there.

Wish me luck & happy camping!

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5/25/10 11:47 A

I take marinated petite cut (4oz) steaks, canned chili, lots of precut/washed veggies, granola bars, bags of fruit!

Posts: 17
5/25/10 11:43 A

I love summer sweet corn cooked on the grill. Season with lemon pepper for sweet-tangy-spicy goodness!

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5/25/10 11:41 A

I have been thinking about this, as we are going camping in a couple of weeks!

I was trying to think of things that pack well, and are a healthy alternative to other usual camping foods:

Egg substitute (will definately travel better than eggs!)
Veggie kabobs (maybe add some marinated chicken instead of the usual burgers and dogs)


I'm interested in what others have to say, because that's all I've got right now! =)

Posts: 79
5/25/10 11:38 A

Wrap different veggies, and chicken breast strips or chunks in foil and place on the grill or campfire. YUMMY! I might just make one of those tonight!

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5/25/10 11:37 A

Grilled chicken and fish is great and any grilled veggies is mouth watering. I make homemade ice cream with skim milk and fresh fruit and splenda.Yum yum
Oh yeah I mix the chicken and veggies and add Italian dressing made with olive oil wrapped in foil and let the grilling begin.

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5/25/10 11:31 A

Grilled Veggies
Dark Chocolate Graham Crackers cut the calorie in Smores.(less choc.)
Enjoy

Posts: 506
5/25/10 11:15 A

Well with Memorial Day weekend upon us I was just wondering what all you Sparker's would pack for a camping trip?

For me...

1) Lots of fuit
2) Turkey burgers
3) Coffee
4) Egg whites
5) Hot coco
6) Oatmeal
7) Salad
8) Black beans

My weakness will be smores...I don't know how I am going to only have 1!