My girls recently went to a very active, outdoor all-day camp in some crazy southern heat. A few of the days they were there, the high temperature was inching toward 100 degrees! So I wanted to be sure I kept them fueled with plenty of wholesome food (and lots of cold water too, of course).
Here's a little recap of what I packed for them each day, although I was told I packed a little too much food a couple of the days because they couldn't always eat everything. Better safe than sorry though when they're away from home for that long! For more ideas, check out these Healthy Snack Ideas!
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A Week's Worth of Lunch and Snack Ideas for Camp
Day 1 Contents:
- Leftover slow cooker pork carnitas tacos (served cold)
- Homemade corn tortillas wrapped in the foil
- Sour cream and lime cole slaw
- Watermelon chunks
- A whole-wheat carrot applesauce muffin
- Whole-wheat graham crackers
- Homemade peanut butter and oat bars (recipe coming to the blog later this year)
- A LARABAR (of their choice for this day)
- Apples
- Grapes
- Check out My Favorite School Lunch Supplies post for details on some of the containers we like.
Day 2 Contents:
- Plain yogurt mixed with a little pure maple syrup and blueberries
- Homemade granola
- Noodles
- Salad with parmesan cheese and olive oil
- Frozen peas (they defrost by lunchtime)
- Apples
- Popcorn
- Whole-wheat banana bread
- A cheese round
- Homemade trail mix.
- The pink container is our Yumbox (save 15% with code SWEET15) and we also used a Lunchbox Love Card.
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Day 3 Contents:
- Tomato and mozzarella layers
- Trail mix (nuts + raisins + whole-grain cereal)
- Cucumber salad
- No-bake peanut butter dessert bars for a special treat
- Homemade whole-wheat banana walnut bread (2 of them)
- Peanut butter oat bars (recipe coming to the blog later this year)
- A cheese round
- A cashew cookie Lara Bar
- A peach
- Check out My Favorite School Lunch Supplies post for details on some of the containers we like.
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Day 4 Contents:
- Frozen green smoothie pop
- Homemade whole-wheat wrap filled with hummus, lettuce, cheese and some leftover smoked sausage
- Rainbow carrots
- A couple of apple slices
- Black bean, corn, and tomato salad
- Organic potato chips (a treat!)
- A popcorn, nut, and raisin trail mix
- Also pictured: Our PlanetBox and a Lunchbox Love Card
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Day 5 Contents:
- BLT sandwich
- Veggies with homemade tzatziki sauce for dipping
- A fruit mix (grapes, mango, raspberries)
- Apple slices
- A piece of cheese
- Whole-wheat banana bread
- The last of the peanut butter oat bars
- Check out My Favorite School Lunch Supplies post for details on some of the containers we like.
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What other ideas do you have for camp lunches and snacks? Please share in the comments! :)
Vandana says
I love these ideas! I think I will be sending these for my boys. Also, I make a spicy trail mix they like. It has chex corn, and wheat kind, potato stix, corn flakes, and if you like you can add peanuts or not. You heat oil (approx. 1 tablespoon), add mustard seeds, (and curry leaves, if you have). Then add 1/2 box of each cereal and stix. along with salt, turmeric, hot pepper to taste. saute until lightly toasted. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in airtight container.
Mar says
I don't think any of those ingredients qualify as "real food"
Vandana says
Technically speaking neither do "Raisins" as per the original recipe. The point is it's better than chips, cookies and the plethora of prepacked snacks out there. and other snack foods. You can use any whole grain cereals if you want to sub. If you decide, you can use almonds or any other nut.
Laura says
How do you keep the food cold? What lunch bag do you buy to go with these?
Looks like a great product and I hope to purchase them with the coupon. Thanks for sharing this idea.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi there. You can find Lisa's favorite lunch box here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/.
Gretchen says
Love all the ideas...loath the idea of washing all the containers. Ugh. But question - is each picture what ONE KID eats in a day? It looks like a TON of food. 3 homemade peanut butter squares, plus a Lara bar, plus graham crackers, plus apples, plus a well balanced lunch that includes salad, fruit, pork tacos & a muffin? It seems like lunch + 4 different snack items. This is more than I would eat as an adult in a day. So, just checking - this is food for a single kiddo in a given day?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi there. Yep, Lisa is just making sure they have everything they need to get them through a very long and active day of camp.
Leah says
My son is at summer camp from 8 am until 5:30 pm...gotta love being a dual-working family.... :-( He would eat this and more most days - they are outside ALL DAY running around, playing games, and being active. I struggle fitting all of his lunch and snacks in a single lunch box many days! Kuddos to Lisa for being able to get some much whole food in there. I will take some of these ideas with me.
Britt says
My favorite post yet!! What great ideas! My little guy is in camp this week and I so wish I had this on Saturday to prep! But a couple days left to incorporate! Thank you!
Lisa says
Hi Lisa! Wow! Looks all delicious and healthy at the same time! Please let us all know where you got the food organizer for Day 4 Camp lunch! That one looks like the best!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi there. That is a Planet Box. You can find them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/09/product-review-lunchboxes/. :)
Annie says
I seriously want you to adopt me and feed me!!! lol Thank you for the great blog!!!!
Jen says
I apologize ahead of time if I am missing something, but why can't we see the Peanut butter and oat bars recipe?
Susan says
It says under the first picture that the recipe is coming to the blog later this year.
Rachel says
This is probably the best post I've seen of REALLY GREAT ideas for truly real, whole foods for kids lunches! My kids would just LOVE opening up a box to find all those little packages and partitions. This is awesome to have these ideas.....and don't forget to post those recipes you've promised for later this year! :)
kerri says
What do you pack all those lunchboxes and various containers in along with drinks etc. That looks like a lot of stuff for a kid to lug. I'm trying to figure out how I would even pack that many things. The lunches look so delicious! And yes, we are nut free for school and camps here too.
Andrea says
Some great ideas. Sadly every where here (school/ camps etc) are all nut free. So that eliminates a ton of healthy foods. So very frustrating.
Maria says
I wish every school was nut free.
Kiran says
Word! Nut free spaces wherever kids mingle, eat whatever you want at home.
Marcia says
Nut free does make it a challenge. Our family eats a lot of nuts!
Amber says
Spoken like someone blessed with food allergy-free kids! Be grateful, not frustrated.
Alicia says
More frustrating for a parent of a child with a nut allergy. Believe me. Greatly diminishes our options ALL the time, but of course my child's life is dependent upon it.
Dana @realfood-realfamily.com says
Those look like some delicious lunches! All great ideas. My kids love homemade lunchables (organic cheese, nitrate free ham, and multigrain crackers). We also do hummus with veggies and multigrain crackers. Whole wheat pita sandwiches are also another favorite.