Camping. Being out in nature. Living off the grid. Laying around and soaking up some sun. Drinking beer from a can and eating hotdogs – wait…there has to be a better way!
The hubby and I have been slowly adding to our camping skills each and every year. We started out with the regular camping foods – well turkey hotdogs, wine in a box, and quite a few veggies. But each year, our diets have adapted, our lifestyle has changed, and in general, we’ve become more conscious of our eating and drinking habits – both for us and for the environment.
And we’ve become more creative in our cooking. This year, we’re featuring quick veggie burger lunches (but not your regular boca kind, these babies are packed with flavor); black bean, sweet potato, and rice bowls; spicy tofu and korean noodles on the go; chickenless chickpea salad; and stir-fry brown rice bowls.
Not you typical camping foods! Maybe look for some recipes coming up in the next week or so đŸ˜‰
The main thing is to prepare ahead, pre-cook, and keep it simple. Here are our main go-to’s when we camp:
1) Brown Rice Bowls/Packs and Canned beans: These are quick and easy things to heat up. Just boil some water or throw them in a pan, add a few seasonings and boom, it’s healthy and satisfying. We like to bring rice, black beans, guacamole, and salsa for a super quick tex-mex bowl.
2)Frozen Juice: Prepare ahead of time! You don;t want to have to drag your juicer around with you – the cleaning would ne awful!- and you don;t want to miss out on your daily dose of greens. So make a big batch. Divide it into mason jars. Freeze it and transfer into your cooler. It’ll stay good for 3-5 days, more if you use an omega/masticating juicer. Just keep it in the cooler until you are ready to drink.
3)Coconut Water: Essential for staying hydrated. Water is fantastic of course, but coconut water hydrates you AND helps you cool down. coconuts are known for their cooling properties, which make this drink extra refreshing on a hot day of camping.
4)Fresh Fruit: You’ll need some kind of raw food. It keeps your system regular and keeps your pH balance in check. All of which can become a little off when you travel, sleep at weird times, eat different foods, and maybe drink a little more alcohol. I prefer fruit over veggies when I am outdoors, just because a lot of veggies seem to get slimy faster than fruits. Think berries, apples, and pears here. Not too much sugar, but a ton of flavor and a great snack.
5)Pre-packaged guacamole: I LOVE avocados and guacamole. Definitely a favorite food. Usually , we bring avocados, but, to be honest, they are a PAIN outdoors- super messy, you have to eat the whole thing or it will go brown, there is nowhere to store it, and the list goes on. I prefer pre-packaged guacamole (such as wholly guacamole) when we travel. We have a pack a day habit (hehe) so we don;t have to worry too much about it going bad or being super messy.
What are your camping food essentials? Leave a comment below and let’s discuss!
Peace and love,
Jessi
