Foods to take camping?

Caperfae

We are going camping this weekend and I'm the only one with food restrictions. I have Gestational Diabetes and I'm at a loss when it comes to foods to bring. We will only have coolers, no fridge (we're tenting). While hubby and daughter are enjoying the roasted marshmallows, hot dogs and s'mores ... what am I supposed to do? Munch on carrots all weekend?

What are some suggestions. We'll be going food shopping for our camping trip late this afternoon so let me hear what you recommend.

Thanks in advance!

ltlemermaid

Some easy and yummy camping foods:

Grilled red potatos-seasoned with parsley black peppper and garlic salt made in a foil packet (I use my oil sprtizer to cover it so they don't burn but butter works too)

Grilled veggies-zucchini, peppers

Grilled chicken kabobs made with veggies

grilled corn

bring a salad tand fresh fruits to munch on too

microwoman999

Not that I could tell you what to pack but fruits and veggies are a great idea. However the last time I went camping or (cabining) with friends I brought things for me to eat and still splurged for the weekend. Don't let one weekend get you down try to have fun. I ignored my calorie intake and tried to be good most of the day know I still was eating naughty things here and there. Hope this helps

skinnyhappy

Take lots and lots of nuts! Walnuts, almonds, etc. I used to hate nuts but since I've gone vegetarian they're a godsend. Look for lower sugar protein bars, those will help curb any craving. Apples, bananas, mandarins, plums...all good, easy fruits to take as well. You may also be able to find some low sugar granola! You could also take some little multigrain english muffins and a jar of natural peanut butter. The higher in fiber/protein your camping foods are, the less likely you are to cave and have a s'more

Laurayinz

Have a hot dog.

AHealthierRhonda

I'm not really sure about these suggestions with the diabetes but here they are...

Pasta salad with veggies (I usefresh or frozen ones) and a lght italian dressing (to avoid the mayo issues)
fruit salads
avocado You can turn into a guacamole, slice and mix with nuts and a lite dressing, slice and put on sandwiches or mash and use as a spread on a sandwich inplace of mustard or mayo
nuts
crackers with cheese
tortilla chips and salsa (and with the above guacamole)
peanut butter for apples or celery dipping and of course on crackers or sandwich

HAPPY CAMPING!!

Ellastrong

We're going camping in a few weeks too, and I always buy a huge veggie tray.

tarapin

Hebrew National makes a killer low fat hot dog, that and light hot dog buns and you're in! I'd also do grilled chicken, maybe marinate some shrimp or seafood if you like that and make yourself some prechopped salads and put them in portion sized Ziploc bags....add a lil dressing right in the bag and shake. Good luck!!!

dorisholaway

granola bars, slimfast bars and such, applesauce

BRANDYLYNETTE

I took those bags of tyson chicken.....over in the canned food aisle. My husband got smart and put it in a pan....and threw in a little bit of bbq sauce....and we had bbq chicken sandwiches on bread. HE used pita and I used 35 wheat....never would have thought it would have tasted good! lol We also took fruit to munch on....veggies.....and low cal crackers. When we went camping...we tried to maintain....not necessarily lose weight. We just didnt take JUNK FOOD with us. Also...one marshmallow wont hurt you. Just dont make a smores with chocolate. It is one weekend....if you feel like you are depriving yourself....you will have a hard time. Also, if you are taking a cooler....turkey sandwiches arent bad! I like vegetables.....so I ate alot of carrots, and took a cucumber and sliced it up....
Probably am not being much help....but, that was what we did. : )

GalaxyDuck

I usually prep some meat for kabobs (chicken or pork usually) and throw the meat and marinade (if any) into a ziploc baggie in the cooler. Then when they're ready to have their hot dogs, just thread some meat onto some skewers and you'll be good to go! I wouldn't be surprised if your camping mates would rather skewers than hot dogs either!

Seriously though, if you do a little planning ahead of time and get some healthy foods prepped and ready to just cook on a camp bbq or coleman stove, you'll have a much better time and be eating healthy to boot

rhenneberry

I have a twist on how to enjoy smores. Instead of the chocolate and marshmellow. I have used Jell-o Mousse as a substitute. The mousse is only 60 cal per serving. What I do is spread the mousse on the graham cracker. It gives you a similar texture without the added calories.

60 cal - Jello Sugar Free Pudding - Mousse Temptations Dark Chocolate Decadence
75 cal - Honey Maid - Graham Crackers- 1 Whole Cracker

mandysjourney

popcorn.
I usually take cut up carrots and dips wither hommus or tzaziki plus some sakatas
couled take some chicken breasts to throw on the cooker the first night.

squeaktones

are you allowed hot dogs? oscar mayer has some light beef franks that have only 90 calories. wonder bread makes whole wheat hot dog and hamburger buns that have 80 calories per bun. smart balance makes a low sugar peanut butter that's 100 calories per table spoon. i only put 1 teaspoon of it on my 45 calorie sara lee. if you like baked apples or sweet potatos you can wrap them in foil and just toss them in the fire. bring along some cinnamon or allspice to sprinkle on when they are finished cooking. it generally takes about a half hour to an hour to bake them. you don't need sugar on them. they are yum. Trail mix, bottled water and dehydrated or freeze-dried foods weigh less than canned products. You can control the fat content in your trail mix by preparing your own blend at home using pretzels or whole-grain cereal, dried raisins, dried cranberries and almonds. Mozzarella cheese sticks and peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches give you quick energy and protein. Dried soup or pasta mixes that can be reconstituted with fresh water provide portable, lightweight sources of nutrition. Some sporting-goods stores sell low-fat, freeze-dried meals that weigh little and slide easily into a backpack. One serving of a commercial brand of freeze-dried spaghetti with meat sauce has 270 calories, 7 g of fat, 39 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of protein.

If you spend your day hiking, backpacking or mountain biking, you'll need complex carbohydrates to fuel your activities. Low-fat sources of complex carbohydrates include whole-wheat or buckwheat flour, whole-grain bagels, oatmeal, reduced-fat granola and trail mix, canned beans, apples and bananas, carrots and cauliflower, dried fruit and nuts. Nuts and natural, nonhydrogenated peanut or almond butter also provide protein and plant-based fat. When you're making pancakes, omelets or other outdoor meals that call for eggs, remove one yolk to reduce fat and cholesterol

Eggs, nonfat milk or yogurt, mozzarella cheese, chicken, fresh or canned fish, lean hamburger or canned beans offer protein for your outdoor meals. With 239 calories, 12 g of protein, 54 g of complex carbohydrates and only 1 g of fat, one cup of plain or vegetarian baked beans meets your requirements for both protein and carbohydrates in a single serving, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA

Caperfae

Thanks so much for the great suggestions!
I'll be making a list to take grocery shopping with me.
Loving that low calorie s'mores option too

Caperfae

As for hot dogs, I'd prefer NOT to eat them because of the sodium and I cannot find whole wheat buns in this hick town either so I'll be packing other options for myself and letting my husband and daughter eat the wieners.

Ellastrong

I have a twist on how to enjoy smores. Instead of the chocolate and marshmellow. I have used Jell-o Mousse as a substitute. The mousse is only 60 cal per serving. What I do is spread the mousse on the graham cracker. It gives you a similar texture without the added calories.

60 cal - Jello Sugar Free Pudding - Mousse Temptations Dark Chocolate Decadence
75 cal - Honey Maid - Graham Crackers- 1 Whole Cracker

This is GENIUS!!!!

SueInAz

Hard boil some eggs before you go and pack them back into the carton to take with you. Canned tuna (or the type that comes in the foil pouches. Take a little container of mayo and you can make egg or tuna salad for either sandwiches or eating with crackers. I also like to eat it just with celery as a scoop (almost no carbs!).

Someone mentioned foil packets which are very easy to use on the grill. Put in your meat or fish and veggies and spices and place the foil packet on the grill. You can pre-mix the spices you'd want to use and take them in a marked plastic baggie.

Caperfae

We probably won't be out in the boonies or anything and there will be a grocery store handy if we forgot or are craving anything so that's a bonus.
My blood glucose levels are almost perfect here at home. I don't want to screw it up on a camping trip though.
We may be able to run to the store to grab fresh fruit and salads throughout the weekend.
Something to discuss with hubby when he gets home

myukniewicz

every time i go camping i take portabella mushrooms.
grill them up with some steak seasoning and melt some cheese - and BAM, you have portabella mushroom burgers.
ah-may-zing

Aross83

Bump

jessicarn76

Ugh. We are going camping this weekend with some family. I asked my sister in law what she wants to me to bring. She said whatever we want,they have hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, dips, chicken, baked potatoes, etc for meals. you know, camp food. So I'm bringing a ginormous bowl of fresh fruit, maybe some salsa and baked tortilla chips. My "plan" is to eat the hamburgers/hotdogs, but also make sure I'm having more healthy stuff on my plate also. I"m sure I'll go over my calories, since they're only 1200, but as long as I log everything, I'm ok with it. At least, I keep telling myself that We're leaving saturday morning. While I'd like to hit the gym before we go, I don't see that happening. I'll try to go tomorrow night and burn up major calories. While it stresses me out, all the food and high calories, this is part of life. As long as I don't eat this way all week, once in a while won't hurt me too much, will it? UGH!

Caperfae

Camping isn't happening thanks to more rain all weekend
Bought some stuff for the trip last night. Looks like we'll be camping in our living room instead though. We may never get camping at all this Summer because of the poor weather. NO fun tenting in the rain, especially with a 5 year old!

heyjude1358

We go camping for a week, twice a year. It's a big shindig for family and friends. We tent as well, but we also bring our grills and camp stoves. Anything you eat at home you should be able to take camping with you. We usually have two or three coolers as well. In one cooler we have all the meat, cheese, eggbeaters and dairy, in the other cooler fruits, veggies and extras. We also have food bins (breads, buns, snacks etc.) The we have another cooler for drinks... lots and lots of bottled water, diet soda, beer and wine.
For meat we usually take chicken (my husband grills the yummiest drunken chicken), pork chops, steaks, hot dogs, hamburgers, whatever we feel like having.
We have side dishes and veggies.
Like I said... whatever you cook and eat at home you can cook and eat when camping.
Have fun!!

Note * I just read where you're not going camping now. But there may be some trips in the future! Plan ahead, and have a wonderful time!

TheMaidOfAstolat

Camping isn't happening thanks to more rain all weekend
Bought some stuff for the trip last night. Looks like we'll be camping in our living room instead though. We may never get camping at all this Summer because of the poor weather. NO fun tenting in the rain, especially with a 5 year old!

Don't let the rain stop you. Does your tent have a rain fly? Use it! Lol. My daughter and I love to camp....even in the rain, it sure sounds nice when it's coming down and in the morning...that lovely fresh smell is amazing! My daughter is 7 and we've been camping since she was tiny. Unless it's horrible thunderstorms y'all should go...don't let mother nature ruin what could be a wonderful time with your hubby and kiddo.

Caperfae

It's also only 15 *C here so it's a bit chilly. Gets cooler than that at night yet again. Mid-July and Mother Nature is crapping on us big time in the weather department.
My daughter hates the rain so I know she wouldn't like it.
We don't even know what our tent looks like set up. It's an eight person one that we bought at the end of the season last year on sale and haven't used it yet, LOL. Hopefully soon though!!

TheMaidOfAstolat

Ack....try it out in your house, lol. If you've never used your tent you need to do a trial run to see how long it's going to take to set up and take down.

I must say...that weather is icky! It's a bit too hot here...it's in the low 80's at night. I'm in the States...forgive my lack of conversion...I can't remember the ratio. We've had storms most afternoons lately...but it doesn't stop our adventures. I hope it warms up a bit and stops raining for you.