Healthy Camping Meals That Couldn’t Be Easier.

When I go on vacation or take a weekend out of town, I like to come back feeling better than I did when I left. What I eat while I’m away plays a big part in how I feel at the end of my trip. While typical camping food is convenient, it’s often lacking nutrients and full of highly processed ingredients that often don’t make us feel great, give us very little energy, and on top of that, disrupt our hormone and gut health.

A big part of why we go camping in the first place is to disconnect from the busyness of our stress-filled day-to-day lives, and to reconnect with our natural environment. Eating whole, nutritious foods can be a great way to support both of these goals.

This summer, we camped our way down to the Redwoods, Santa Cruz, and over to Bend. I knew I wanted to bring along easy-to-make meals that would allow us to spend more time around the campfire or stay out at the boardwalk for just a little bit longer, but still be full of the nutrients needed to keep us fueled up enough to hike Smith Rock and spend a few hours wandering through a forest of some of the biggest trees in the world.

Creating healthy meals at the campsite can be simple when you know what to plan for. Keep these easy tips in mind when building meals for your next camping adventure:

Pick Protein

Protein keeps us full and satisfied for longer periods of time in between meals. This means more time out on the trail or at the lake without needing to stop for another snack break. Protein also helps to keep our blood sugar stable, which means healthy and happy hormones and less energy crashes or feeling “hangry” mid-day. Grill up chicken, beef, pork or fresh caught fish over the campfire, cook eggs & bacon over a skillet (or bring along hard boiled eggs), pack full-fat yogurt cups and canned wild-caught tuna for snacks & lunches. Nuts and seeds have protein in them too, along with healthy fats to keep us satisfied. Toss some in your backpack before you hit the trail!

Think Seasonally

Grab fruits and veggies that are in season. They’re packed with the most nutrients and more easily available anywhere you might be. In the summertime, think squash, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, corn, and asparagus on the grill. Berries, peaches, plums, and cherries are also plentiful in the summer and make great fruit salads, yogurt toppings, or additions to desserts! In season produce is also usually cheaper (and this goes even more so if it’s local!) so it’ll make your camping trip even more budget friendly.

One of my favorite things to do while camping in different areas is checking out local farmer’s markets. It’s a great way to get to learn a little more about the community you’re visiting, as well as try some of the freshest local produce available to the place you’re visiting. Feel free to ask the farmers there any questions you may have about something you’ve never seen before! They’re happy to help.

Don’t Overthink It

Camping is supposed to be fun and relaxing - stressing over what to eat next is neither! Eating healthy meals while camping doesn’t need to mean creating a lot of brand new foods that take forever to make, and we all know that cooking out of our element without a full kitchen like we’re used to can be challenging enough!

Use these simple meal ideas as your inspiration to pack some nutrients along with you for your next camping adventure.

Breakfasts

Egg and Veggie Breakfast Burritos
Scramble eggs and layer on top of whole wheat or almond flour tortillas with spinach, bell peppers, onions, and avocado.
Greek Yogurt with Nuts and Berries
Layer Greek yogurt, mixed nuts, and fresh berries for a protein-rich breakfast (or snack!).
Blueberry or Banana Protein Pancakes
Grab a good quality bag of pancake mix from the store or make your own so it’s easy to whip up in the morning. Cook over a flat top grill or in a cast iron skillet over a fire.
Overnight Oats
Add 1/4 cup of organic rolled oats to 1/4 cup of full fat greek yogurt and 1/3 cup milk of your choice into a mason jar. Sprinkle a teaspoon each of chia seeds and maple syrup and give it a good shake. Refrigerate overnight and top with berries, nut butter, bananas, or anything you’d like!
Chia Seed Pudding
Easy to make at home and keep in the fridge or cooler for a couple of days! Top with fruit, Greek yogurt, cacao nibs, and coconut flakes.

Lunches & Dinners

Tuna Salad with Olive Oil and Lemon
Mix wild-caught canned tuna with olive oil, lemon juice, capers, and chopped celery. Season with black pepper and serve with almond flour crackers for a simple and satisfying meal.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Mix canned chickpeas with diced tomatoes, cucumber, onion, feta, and olives. Dress with olive oil and lemon juice.
Leftover BBQ wraps
Grilled Fish Fillets with Avocado Salsa (great for camping at the lake or near a river where you might be doing some fishing!)
Grill fish fillets over the campfire. Mix diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, and red onion with lime juice and cilantro for a fresh salsa.
Quinoa and Black Bean Salad
Cook quinoa ahead of time. Mix quinoa with black beans, corn, and bell peppers. Dress with lime juice, olive oil, and cumin for a filling salad.
Campfire Skewers
Skewers are so simple and versatile! Use any protein you like and skewer with hearty veggies of choice. Season with salt and pepper and cook over the fire.
Blackstone Stir Fry
Heat your griddle and drizzle with olive oil. Cook stir fry beef until it begins to brown on all sides. Add diced bell peppers, onions, garlic and pineapple (if desired), along with cooked white or brown rice. You could also use carrots or broccoli, which hold up well for a couple of days. Add a splash of sesame seed oil and cook until the rice is crispy. Serve topped with green onion, hot chili sauce and coconut aminos.

I hope these ideas help you find your new, healthier camping favorites. Use them as a starting point and mix and match ingredients to create even more new meals.

And while you’re out there, don’t forget your sunscreen!

Happy Camping, and Happy Nourishing!