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If “camping” is on your Labor Day agenda and you’d like to do it without straying too far from real food then you are in luck. Car camping is a lot of work (blow up beds, fluffy mattress covers and all!), but at the same time it’s SO much fun.
We go once or twice a year ourselves and I just love spending time outside with family and friends and best of all being truly unplugged. It’s also hard to beat the excitement of the kids when taking them on such an adventure!
We just went camping with two other families a couple of weekends ago (we scored a great campsite right on the lake) and before we left I made a list and took photos of all the food we brought, which is detailed below.
I divided up the food into three pictures: pantry goods, perishable items, and non-real food. Yes, even the “100 Days of Real Food” family would never go camping without bringing along some marshmallows to roast! Plus sugary treats are definitely okay on occasion and I think camping is the perfect time to indulge in our weekly treat. :)
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The pantry goods we brought camping (from left to right):
- Homemade whole-wheat banana nut muffins
- Ak-mak crackers
- Multi-seed crackers (original)
- Peanuts
- Organic milk boxes (we thought this would be easier than dealing with one of our glass milk jugs in the cooler...I agree it's weird these things fall under the "non-perishable" category!)
- Balsamic vinegar (for Caprese Salad in the next pic)
- Apples
- Trader Joe's whole wheat hot dog buns (these have more ingredients than I'd like, but they are an occasional food for us)
- Lara bars (just in case)
- Homemade granola
- Sandwich bread (just a few slices) and small hamburger buns both from Great Harvest Bakery
- Raisins
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The perishable food we brought camping:
- Prepared vegetable kabobs
- Prepared burgers (in foil)
- Trader Joe's organic hummus
- Homemade pimento cheese (yum)
- Eggs (next time I'll bring these in a styrofoam container so it will hold up better in the cooler)
- Raw spinach leaves
- Diced fruit (mango, peaches and grapes)
- Pre-made caprese pasta salad
- Plain yogurt (I mixed it with a little maple syrup and vanilla extract)
- Applegate organic bacon (we also sometimes buy local bacon as well)
- Sliced cantaloupe
- Butter
- Blueberries
- Trader Joe's havarti sliced cheese (have I mentioned how much we LOVE this cheese?)
- Applegate organic hot dogs
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The "non-real" junk food we brought camping:
- Cheese puffs (Oh yeah, yummy cheese puffs. This was my second time buying these since cutting out processed food, and I confirmed they are still awesome. This was my special treat for myself. :) )
- Dark chocolate
- Whole-wheat graham crackers
- Marshmallows (without artificial flavoring or high-fructose corn syrup)
Okay, so now the question is...what meals did we make with all of this food? Here's a run down:
- Friday night - Our family grilled vegetable kabobs and the other family brought a yummy quinoa/black bean side (if you try the recipe she recommends adding the cilantro at the end).
- Saturday morning - Egg breakfast pictured above.
- Saturday lunch - Caprese whole-wheat pasta salad (my kids prefer theirs without the balsamic vinegar), pimento cheese on whole-grain crackers and fruit. Oh and this is when we dug into the cheese puffs.
- Saturday dinner - Our family grilled burgers for the adults and hot dogs for the kids, another family wrapped potatoes and squash in foil and cooked them in the campfire (it was delicious!), and the other family brought condiments and a yummy avocado/tomato salad. Then of course we had s'mores after dinner.
- Sunday morning - Granola, yogurt, and berries.
- Sunday lunch - This ended up being at home because the last day got rained out, but we had hummus/cheese/spinach sandwiches with fruit.
Katrina the Poorganic says
You probably know this, but if you get Farmer's Market eggs or other "straight from the chicken" eggs that have not been washed and refrigerated, they can be kept at room temperature for several weeks. There is a protective coating on them after they are laid that keeps them from spoiling. It seems very strange, but it is handy not to have to refrigerate them, especially at times like camping trips.
Addy Rae says
Where did you find marshmallows without HFCS? Brand? We haven't been able to find them, and my fiance has a corn allergy. Please tell! :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Addy. I don't remember the brand at the moment, but, I know I've seen them at Whole Foods and my guess is Lisa got them at Earthfare. Good luck. Jill
Addy Rae says
Thank you!
Shannon says
Just wondering how you deal with GMO's? Mostly because I see that you eat Larabar's. Their parent company sinks millions of dollars into lobbists that are fighting against labeling GMO's. They are listed in the 'Dirty Dozen' companies that call their products 'natural' and 'organic' but are using GMO crops. (Organic Consumers Association) Do you research before buying a new product or only buy after being recommended? I'm obviously new here, so I'm just wondering! Thanks for all the great ideas for camping, we do a lot of camping and the same old thing gets old!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Shannon. Correct me if I'm wrong, but, I thought if something was labeled as organic that it is free of GMO's. I'm not saying that's the case with the Lara bars, but, you mentioned below things being labeled as organic yet using GMO crops. As for products, I think you were asking specifically about things Lisa and her family consume and recommend on the blog? While she receives lots of recommendations, she always looks at the products and ingredients closely to see whether or not they fit into "the rules". I hope that helps some to clarify things. Glad you are enjoying the blog. Jill
Victoria says
Shannon,
I am so glad you brought up Larabars and there support and use of GMO products. I dont' understand why stores like Whole Foods even carry their products. Maybe Larabars should be taken off the 100 Days of Real Food.
Kim says
Larabars are GMO free, even if the parent company isn't. If you're worried about it, just make it yourself. Lisa already covered how to do that:
https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/07/01/recipe-homemade-larabars-4-ways-including-nut-free/
Kerry says
THIS post alone is exactly why I subscribe. It is the striving to eat as clean as possible, while being "real" and down to earth enough to still indulge. I have subscribed (and unsubscribed) to other sites that also promote clean eating, but the almost unattainable and overly strict views have soured me. The reality is that many of us are moms, with school aged children, and want to navigate our way through a culture of pizza snacks and soda. Your goals are like your subscribers: to attempt to change and educate our families, especially our children. Thanks so much, Lisa.
Alicia says
I was looking for a post just like this about a month ago! I made veggie, sausage foil packs using applegate farms sausage for dinner. It was my first time trying that brand, and they were delicious! I also pre-made sandwiches for lunch (pbj, and chicken salad) and froze them. I used the ranch dip recipe from this site and bought kettle chips for snacking. The dip was a big hit! I did splurge and buy donuts and oreos (mine and my husband's favs), but I was happy that we got through the majority of the trip eating unprocessed food and didn't feel deprived at all!
LessSugarNaturally says
This was my first year doing camping sugar-free and with very little processed food. I have to say it went really well. Camping in the past was so focused on food for some reason and this time we just brought healthy cereal, sandwich stuff, tons of fruits, larabars, our favourite chips, and I had my favourite 70+ chocolate bar for a treat. I made all my homemade salads ahead of time and then we just cooked the meat. It was so much simpler and relaxing. I also didn't buy any pop...and with 7 teenagers coming along, it didn't seem to be an issue.
I don't know why but camping food in the past seemed so complicated and the grocery bill was always exhorbitant. Not anymore!
Kristin says
Since firewood in WI has to be local, we try to stick to meals that don't require a long cooking time. Sometimes the local wood we buy is damp and we have trouble getting the campfire started. Pasta and marinara is one of our favorites. We pre-boil the pasta, then reheat it in boiling water over the campfire. Hot dog are also fun to roast on toasting forks and can be pre-boiled as well. Glad to see you still do s'mores. My girls went backyard camping with Daddy last weekend and I made some homemade graham crackers for the s'mores. Yum!
Claudia says
We just got back from a four-day camping trip and had the best food, sometimes I wish we could have camping food all the time :D
Mary says
Hey, love your blog. I wanted to share this recipe for camp burritos (think hot pocket breakfast version but real food!). I've made them twice now and they are SOOO nice cause all the prep work is done and you can just pop them on hot coals and warm them up. they are filling and wonderful.
http://www.ninthandbird.com/2011/07/campurritos-because-camping-should-be.html
A few notes. This makes ALOT more than it says. You can opt to half it, or do the whole thing and freeze what you don't use. I have frozen them and they come out fine, if possible, even better. And I suggest using a cooking spray or lightly buttering/oiling the tinfoil. They stick otherwise.
Have fun camping!!!
DaNelle Wolford says
What a great post! I love that you still bought some "fun" packaged things. That's so important because it make you and the kids feel like you're splurging a bit, not to mention it just makes camping easier!
DaNelle recently posted...Copycat PF Changs Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Victoria@Snailpacetransformations says
I am currently on a camping trip right now. My family is not a fully whole foods family, but I do eat a minimal amount of junk and right now I am feeling the effects of being off my regular diet. I love the ideas you shared as well as the ones shared in the comments. It gives me great ideas for better planning for better eating next time.
Annie says
We have an RV with a complete kitchen, as well as a table-top gas grill, so cooking at camp is really no different than cooking at home for us. Still, I make a lot of our foods ahead of time, especially things like breakfast burritos, pasta salads, baked goods, etc. But like you, camping is a special event and is a time when I'm more likely to allow a little junk food.
Robin Jingjit says
I have thought about making homemade marshmallows just for the sake of making s'mores. I don't have any problem with some sweet treats from time to time, but it's all the additives that we can't have around here. The joy of seeing them enjoy the s'more wouldn't be worth the meltdowns and seizures afterward.
The other thing I keep reminding myself is not to project my own childhood 'special memories' on to my sons. They are 2 and 3- eating a s'more for them is just a food that tastes good. It isn't a tradition or a memory that reminds them of a happy time like it is for many of us... We are forming the special memories that they'll cherish later, and they don't have to be centered around junk food.
Deidra says
Good point about projecting our special memories on our kids. Just because smores (or anything for that matter) reminds us of a special memory, it doesn't mean it does the same for our kids. They're in the midst of forming their own special memories now!
Katie A says
Well, I wish I'd seen this before we spent two weeks camping up the Rocky Mountains from the top of New Mexico to Montana! Camp food is always a challenge for me; I can't ever seem to think of anything other than fajitas or burgers. I got a little tired of fajitas after two weeks, although it's really the perfect camp food since it doesn't require silverware. We bought store bought fajitas but could have used these - https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/05/26/recipe-whole-wheat-tortillas/
Everything else was real food - sauteed chicken, fresh avocados, onion, peppers, and some local cheese we found at a shop on the way.
Sara says
I just want to know where you got the tin plate pictured? I need something like that for our camper....
Lisa says
Oh I wish I could tell you, but we've had it (came as part of a set with cups and silverware) for almost 15 years!
Florence Walter says
We just returned from a camping trip. Some of our camping staples not mentioned are tuna fish in olive oil, Amy's refried beans, Hodskin Mills mixes - corn bread, pancake, muffin mix.I also bring veges that
I've dehydrated - zuchinni chips, onions, tomatoes, green peppers. They don't take up much room and don't spoil quickly.
Economiesofkale says
Thanks for all the suggestions :) I used to go hiking a lot, carrying all of our food. Some of my friends used to bring those packet meals that you just add boiling water to, but I always tried to stick with mostly real food.
I usually ate muesli and powdered milk for breakfast, flatbread with salad, humus and avocado for lunch, pasta with cheese and veggies for dinner, and scroggin (trail mix) for snacks. Everything was fairly light and very tasty :)
Christine says
This sounds yummy, especially if you have a cooler. We're going canoe camping this weekend, though, and will have to fit our gear and food and the four of us in a canoe. Any suggestions?
Diane says
You are awesome! We have a boy scout camping trip coming up and this is so helpful. Thank you so much!!!
Vettie says
Where did you get your Marshmallows? What is the brand name?
Thanks =)
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Vettie. I don't have the brand in front of me right now, but, I know I've seen them at Whole Foods and my guess is Lisa got them at Earthfare. Jill
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} says
My kids are still little (8 months and 3), but when they get older I would love to take them camping. This is a fun look at your food choices for your camping adventures--looks like a delicious weekend. :-)
Laura says
Don't know if someone already said this, but you can buy egg containers for cooler camping that work really well and are super cheap (your eggs seriously NEVER break):
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Egg-Container-12-Count/dp/B0009PUR0E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346278209&sr=8-1&keywords=camping+egg+containers
Lani H says
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am camping this weekend and now I have a list of things to pack. I so appreciate this timely post!!
Jenifer says
I love the ideas for more real food while camping! We love to go every fall, but its the one weekend a year I let the kids go a bit crazy with crappy food. I know... 50 lashes with a wet noodle for me. But seriously, it's the one time a year I let my kids get bologna (blech) & pop tarts and they really look forward to that "treat" every year. And it gives me an answer when they shop with me and ask "can we get bologna?"... "Nope, not until we go camping." ;o)
Dawnielle says
love it!!! thanks...and the metal plats in the photo are our everyday plates around here!! With 5 kids we went as durable as could be!!
Laura says
I just made some whole wheat, homemade graham crackers today and they are SO GOOD!!!! A total upgrade from the store bought, and not may ingredients at all! I highly recommend them for a camping trip!!
http://whisksandwhimsy.com/2012/06/28/homemade-graham-crackers/
Megan says
We are going camping this weekend so thanks for the ideas! I saw those marshmallows at the store the other day and was about to buy them until I saw Tilapia as one of the ingredients. Kind of freaked me out a bit. Not sure I can get past that...how did they taste?
Lisa says
They tasted like regular marshmallows to me...like pure sugar! :)
Kristen says
Hold on a minute. I'm saying take the chocolate out of the "non-real food" and put the hotdogs in there. :) I could go the rest of my life without a hotdog, but chocolate - no way. The rest looks great.
Jordan says
I also premake a couple of our dinners and freeze them. They then cool the cooler until they are defrosted and ready to eat. Just got back from a 5 day trip of tent camping. I made chili verde (and froze it in a big glass container) and served it with tortillas and grilled veggies. Also made spaghetti sauce (freezes great) served with noodles and salad. Tacos with premade and frozen ground beef mixed with corn and black beans. For breakfast I made whole wheat English muffins with eggs, cheese and natural bacon. Wrapped individually and froze. Then just put them on the grate on the campfire to heat. No dishes!! Homemade granola with fruit and yogurt, breakfast burritos with premade and frozen potatoes onions and peppers. I'm all about premakiing as much as possible!!
Allison D says
Such great recommendations! Did you use dry ice again in your cooler to keep everything cold, or was plain ice enough to keep the temperature in your cooler low enough for more than one day? Thanks for the great tips!
Lisa says
We just used regular ice for this trip and it worked great!
Jennifer Knox says
Thank you so much for sharing. These all sound tasty and easy. We are novice campers, and I've been thinking hard to come up with good camping food that doesn't take a long time to make (or a ton of different ingredients).
We have two camping trips planned this fall so far. Will be trying some of these!
Amanda says
Have you tried making your own marshmallows? It's really easy and well worth it.
Amy says
I would love your recipe for homemade marshmallows!!
Chika says
Shouldn't the organic hot dogs go in your "non-real" junk food category?
Kristin says
Try reading the label (or their website), the applegate farms all beef hot dogs are made from real grass fed, humanely raised beef, no nitrates, fillers, etc. I get similar ones from a stand at my local farmer's market. I classify both as "real" food.
Margaret says
Our family has camped together a lot over the years, and even though we're all mostly grown up and married we still get together for an annual family camping trip. We are all foodies and we're all, to varying degrees, concerned with eating real food. Each year we experiment with new fun and delicious things to make over the fire. This year, the huge hit was fish camper packets. We diced up a bunch of veggies (zucchini, onion, mushrooms, asparagus, etc.) and each made our own.
Here's how: put a piece of fish on a big piece of foil, season with your choice of seasoning (we brought about 6 different gourmet seasonings, cajun was my choice) put a small bit of butter on top of that then put all the veggies you can fit on top of that, add a little more butter and lots of fresh squeezed lemon juice. Wrap it all up tight throw it on some good coals for 20 minutes or so, unwrap and enjoy with a quinoa pilaf. We were all loving it! It's fun because the kids can personalize it and everyone is involved in the food prep.
Heather Horton says
To keep the eggs safe in the cooler for long weekends/camping, I've always cracked the eggs I need into a mason jar with lid (at home) without stirring or shaking them (so you can make fried eggs or scrambled). This way the inevitable water in the cooler will not effect the eggs, they are safe and protected and pre-cracked so they are fast and easy to use and there is no waste to dispose of etc. Just bring the mason jar home and use it again the next time. We also find it is easier to prep and cook as much of our food ahead of time here at home, and then just reheat things that need warming when using your propane stove or campfire.
Our typical camping meals:
For breakfast we do meals like yogurt/fruit/granola, oatmeal, pancakes, scrambled eggs with goat cheese, avocado, tomato and peppers or kale and side of sausage.
Lunch: PBJ, Almond butter and nutella sandwiches, GF Teft tortilla wraps with goat cheese, avocado, roasted red peppers and walnuts, Cold veggie burger sandwiches (cooked earlier), with avocado, havarti, roasted red peppers, and sprouts. We also do homemade rice cakes with sushi rice and add in bacon & eggs for savory, or fruit and nuts, choc chips for sweet (you mix all ingredients and spread in brownie pan to cool, then cut squares which can be individually wrapped for hikes, etc.
Apps: we make bruscetta, homemade tomatillo salsa and chips, hummus with veggies and rice crackers.
Dinner, you can precook chili, crock pot shredded chicken or beef for tacos, chicken satay and veggie kabobs, shrimp with fettucini sauce and rice pasta, veggie or meat stir fry, or a cold salad made from Aztec red Quinoa with mexican ingredients of your choice: corn, cilantro, black beans, red onion, chicken, green chilis, etc.
There are so many fun things you can bring car camping if you precook at home -- don't feel you have to limit yourself to just hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.
Laura says
Thanks for this post. I am a vegetarian and think that you can definitely have a more well rounded diet without all the meat - especially processed meats like hot dogs. Your meals sound well rounded and delicious!
Norma Parkinson says
Corn on the cob. You can cook it on the grill or boil it, whatever you prefer.
Jennifer Hansen says
We've gone car camping twice this summer (well my husband and son went a 3rd time when I was away for the weekend) and I still stress real food. I think it would be weird to be out in nature and loading up on garbage. We did have some junk like marshmallows and a bit of gummy candy. But for the most part we do oatmeal for breakfast, bring lots of fruit, milk, peanut butter, whole grain bread, cheese, veggies for sandwiches (spinach and tomato), etc. For dinner we've done veggie chili which is just various beans, tomato sauce, hominy and spice. It's SUPER easy to make. We've also done 'hobo dinners' which is just a bunch of chopped and seasoned veggies and potatoes that are wrapped in foil and thrown onto the fire. Those are easy enough to prepare the morning of and use that night for dinner.
Amanda says
Camping is my favorite thing to do! But I still can't convince my husband he can take a camping trip without eating a cup o' noodles.
Stephanie @ Food and Fitness 4 Real says
You have me running to check the weather this weekend to see if we can go camping! However our camping would most likely take place in the backyard, but we would still sleep in a tent under the starts and grill hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner followed by s'mores. Thanks for the great tips, these would even be great ideas for eating on a road trip instead of stopping for "fast food".
Heidi Gurley says
I have been pre making salads in my milk jars, layering the dressing on the bottom and then veggies, then cheese and/or tuna or salmon, then the lettuce. When we are ready for the salad, I just dump the contents in a big bowl. I make one for my husband and I for lunch and then another for dinner with the family.
Camping stores sell great egg carriers, preventing breakage of the precious eggs!
Thanks for the great ideas!! I will definitely use some of them this weekend!!