Camping food need not be just about junk foods

When camping, it helps to think light and carry light. However, no matter how pretty the image is of a camp fire with eggs and tasty bacon sizzling in the background, plus hot coffee, reality bites. And reality is heavy.

In order to make real this food camping image, one has to carry to the camping trip all the cooking equipments needed such as a cast iron oven, a cooler, as well as ice to keep food fresh, etc.

The usual options therefore are frozen and dried meals which basically costs much, does not taste like anything at all and are heavy on preservatives and artificial flavors.

Believe it or not, there are a lot better options out there at the grocery store nearest you which provides healthier if not a lot tastier food options. And they are not just instant noodles.

The following are tips to choose the camping food that is right for you.

Weigh in, weigh out

Camping requires a lot of energy walking and traversing trails and trees. So any stuff carried during this time must – as much as possible – be light in weight or at least tolerably heavy. This is because besides food, clothes also need to be packed, a sleeping bag, a system for purifying water, a mattress, and so on.

The cooking system used most during camping trips are stoves that involve micro cooking. This is composed of a burner primarily used to boil water. Usually any nourishment a camper would take in are foods that are the dehydrated kind.

Cereal flakes like Cheerios is a good option. There are also foods that are the dehydrated kind. Also, there are packaged cereals that all you need to add is hot water so you can enjoy a warm meal. Oatmeal is one of them, also cream of wheat. It is best that these type of meals be placed in a bag, preferably a Ziploc bag so you can appropriately portion the quantity you would be taking and eating. Better this than bringing a whole oatmeal can.

Dried fruits like raisin is also a better and healthy option. Cranberries that are dried is another, also blueberries.

For drinks, good old powdered orange juice like Tang is readily accessible and easy to carry as well. Coffee could also be brought in a camping trip, the kind that could be made instantly and not brewed. A good creamer to bring – when you do not prefer your coffee black – is Cremora.

Another good thing with this type of camping food is that there is less trash left behind.

Man does not live by bread alone, crackers are good too

During camping, compared to bread, crackers are a better option because it stales a lot less and fills the tummy too. Plus it is light and handy. A good cracker brand is Wasa. However, if you want cheese with your crackers, choose those that do not need to be refrigerated. There are available ones in the grocery. Or if you want to be tastily creative, there is always easily-packed pepperoni and salami.

Peanut butter could also be placed in portable tubes. Chocolate could also easily be packed and is extremely tasty and emotionally filling especially during that difficult top climb.

However, if you prefer to experience a little of the luxury in the real world to your camping climb, - and do not mind to carry some heavy stuff – pack in a can of liver pate,’ chicken chunks, ham, or tuna.

Relax though, if you are having difficulty sacrificing your wants, try to think that your camping climb is not forever. You will be eventually coming back to the world where there is a microwave oven, a stove-top grill, refrigerators and coffee machines.

Prepare, prepare and prepare

Prior to camping, make sure that you know just how much days or weeks you would be out. This helps you prepare the meals that you need to take during your trip. To get the most nourishment without feeling too heavy after having eaten during camping, calculate the quantity of snacks you could take in. Usually carbohydrate rich foods do not have a lot of moisture and so is a good choice.

Also, to avoid a monotony of the same meals during camping, it is best that you schedule or appropriate different types of food at each moment of your meal. Dried fruit for breakfast maybe and oatmeal for lunch. Cookies in between is not bad also.

All in all, camp food is just like regular food. Minus the usual amenities. it could taste good and be healthy too. If you know where to look.