Camping! How do I eat?

I've only been using MFP and eating healthy for a few months. I have a camping trip coming up, and while I'm very excited about it, I'm nervous about the food. How do I continue to eat healthy and measure things when camping?

I usually cook easy things when camping, burgers, hot dogs, chips, grilled cheese, etc. All of these are pretty much off my diet plan lately. I know I can do eggs healthy for breakfast, but what else? yikes! It's probably going to be cold so warm is probably preferred.

Thanks!
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Replies

  • JO4IT
    JO4IT Posts: 79 Member
    Try "hobo" meals where you make a packet out of tin foil and add the food to the inside and cook it either on charcoal or on the coals of a campfire. Pieces of cut up chicken with green pepper, onion, spices, and some veggies (i use canned carrots and potatoes) can be very satisfying done that way. Sometimes a spoonful of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup keeps it a bit moister, but you don't have to add that.
  • JenniferNoll
    JenniferNoll Posts: 367 Member
    When I camp, I bring a small grill. I grill all my meals except for breakfast. Chicken, sirloin, any lean meat is good on the grill. I make foil packets and put them on the grill for my vegetables. Of course, fruit is good.
  • EmmaKarney
    EmmaKarney Posts: 690 Member
    You can take apples, bananas, wholewheat bagels, peanut butter.....

    You could corn on the cob, veggies....
  • LadyPakal
    LadyPakal Posts: 256 Member
    Camping stew in a pot with a lid - boil some potatoes (chop into chunks) and carrots (chunk to same size as potatoes) then empty the water, add contents of tin of meat chunks in gravy. Stir and heat until hot through. If you weigh out the potatoes before you go, you'll have the values for that and the tin of meat will have calories etc on it. Make it for lunch and it will keep until your evening meal as well.
  • graciesmomma0209
    graciesmomma0209 Posts: 36 Member
    Try "hobo" meals where you make a packet out of tin foil and add the food to the inside and cook it either on charcoal or on the coals of a campfire. Pieces of cut up chicken with green pepper, onion, spices, and some veggies (i use canned carrots and potatoes) can be very satisfying done that way. Sometimes a spoonful of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup keeps it a bit moister, but you don't have to add that.


    Was going to say the same thing. I LOVE these things.
  • shaynak112
    shaynak112 Posts: 751 Member
    Lots of fruits and veggies. You can eat those raw, so they don't require any preparation and whatnot. Good deal :)
    Bring some nuts - almonds, peanuts, etc. (non salted and all that)
    When we go camping, we usually bring veggie burgers and cook those. Yeah, it's higher calorie, but we account for it.
    Also - popcorn! I mean, don't use butter and all that, bring some low calorie toppings if you'd like, sooo good!
    Hummus on bread is an option for a meal.
    Spiced chickpeas that you can make at home and just snack on - yum! (I like to bake them with lemon juice and other spices.)

    How long are you going camping for?
  • Pack plenty of fruit to take with you. The fiber will help fill you up and keep you full. Green apples, bananas, oranges, etc. are all non-perishable.
  • We only have coolers when we go so it makes things a bit more difficult since we go for about a week. We had one cooler for meat and one for dairy and veggies. For breakfast we do, cereal with milk, oatmeal, toast and eggs with fruit. I pick fruits I don't need to keep cold. So things like apples, oranges, bananas, peaches, etc. Lunch, we do, canned soups, chili, sometimes a PB sandwich with fruits and veg. We always take trail mix and granola bars for when we go hiking. Dinner we grill a protein and make a big salad, sometimes make potatoes as well. Enjoy!
  • skiersteve12345
    skiersteve12345 Posts: 89 Member
    go cave man and eat what you kill lol
  • U can still eat burgers, just lighten them up! This is how i eat them at least once a week! 3 oz 90/10 lean ground beef, whole wheat toetilla, spinach, light mayo, katsup and mustard, onions, tomato and 1 oz chedder cheese comes to about 350 cals. Make it even skinner with laughing cow cheese, not chedder. Yummy just like a real burger.
  • matt2442
    matt2442 Posts: 1,259 Member
    Try and have a good time, first of all. one burger or hot dog won't kill you.

    try to get some fruits such as bananas, apples, oranges, grapes.

    bring some nuts, whole wheat bread, crackers, bagels.

    You can even grill up some veggies and put some olive oil or something on them for flavour.
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    You've gotten some good ideas already. We're so active when camping because we're either cycling or hiking or doing a bunch of other active stuff that I don't sweat what I eat. Just watch portions. Have fun!
  • just have a fun holiday and get back on the horse when you return....i have strict rule of not over thinking things when im meant ot be relaxing :)
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    just have a fun holiday and get back on the horse when you return....i have strict rule of not over thinking things when im meant ot be relaxing :)

    This. Don't throw caution to the wind and eat A while packet of hot dogs, but definitely enjoy yourself.

    Bring fruits as snacks, and some veggies to cook over the grill.

    Man, i miss camping.
  • xampx
    xampx Posts: 323 Member
    I would be inclined to eat what I want for the week or however long you are going. I dont know about you, but when I go camping it involves a LOT of walking, hiking, wandering, general calorie burning, so its unlikely that you will put on a ton of weight. Just prepare things as healthily as you can, eat lots of fruit and veg and don't worry about it too much

    Its a holiday, enjoy yourself, take a break from your usual daily life (including calorie counting) and get back to it when you get back.
  • jadelucywatson1
    jadelucywatson1 Posts: 32 Member
    Soup, soup, soup!! It's warm and lovely and healthy. Maybe go ahead and eat a burger with everyone else but don't have a bun and have a salad with it. Although when we go camping we tend to spend about 4/5 hours a day walking with the dogs so any camping food calories are well and truly burnt off. Enjoy your trip :)
  • HelenDootson
    HelenDootson Posts: 443 Member
    I take type of porridge pots that you just add boiling water too and fruit for breakfast (they come in lots of flavours and are warming!), Salads fro lunch and whatever the heck I want for dinner, coz after hiking, kayaking, swimming, cycling, bodysurfing etc - You have the calorie room to enjoy a good camp dinner and BEER!!
    Most of all Enjoy your break and worry about it when you get home!
  • SteveJWatson
    SteveJWatson Posts: 1,225 Member
    Tin of beans?

    as long as you have some bricks and a barbecue grillplate (or whatever, you could rob one from a kitchen), you can prop a saucepan over the fire, so the world is your oyster. Can you buy veggies when you are there or is it more of a 'wilderness' location?

    You could go catch some fish and eat those too....
  • trud72
    trud72 Posts: 1,912 Member
    eggs are easy to cook camping out low cals and versitile too x :blushing:
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Honestly...I would just enjoy the weekend and be sensible about eating, i.e. not as much as you would have prior but don't change the meal plans. Enjoy the camping trip and then just pick back up where you left off.
  • rachelerwin
    rachelerwin Posts: 140 Member
    Campfire chili is a family favorite of ours. Just make it like you would at home, only now do it over a campfire.
  • benol1
    benol1 Posts: 867 Member
    I will be going camping (field trip) myself in a few weeks. I am planning on maintaining my calorie limits and staying close to my macro targets. Not having access to an oven is a bummer but apart from that, I can cook just about anything that doesn't require an oven. The only limitations I have will be space in the esky (chiller box) and carrying capacity. I intend to continue to eat a healthy diet while I'm away.

    The other thing to consider if you go camping is your likely energy expenditure. Bushwalking (with full packs), kayaking & etc, then you're going to need more calories and you should log those activities as exercise and take advantage of the bonus calories as you'll more than likely need them.
    kind regards,

    Ben
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    What sort of camping trip is it? Are you going to be active the entire time? Is it a hiking/camping trip or RV? If it is a trip where your activity level is going to be far higher than normal, you can probably enjoy what you normally would, just watch portions a little.

    For burgers, switch to 93/7 meat, the leanest. You can make a lean burger with fat free slices for under 400 calories quite easily. And it is high in protein, low in fats, and with a whole grain bun and veggies, good source of nutrient-dense carbs.

    If you have refrigeration, get a carton of egg beaters to make omelets in a cheap skillet on the grill. You won't have to worry about eggs cracking in the cooler, and egg beaters taste good and are low in calories. And every grocery store in the US has cheap skillets you can use to cook in. No need to spend a ton on the backpacking ones.

    Top sirloin (the small, almost triangle shaped ones) are low in fat compared to other meats.

    Buy a pre-made veggie tray or two. Normally, I'd say cut your own, but it's a vacation, so why bother when Wal-Mart has the huge ones. Just don't eat the dip, obviously, and if you have to have dip, Bolthouse Farms makes great reduced cal dressings.

    Sweet potatoes or small potatoes store well. Raw or canned veggies - if you buy canned, you can cook right in the can. Green beans, etc...
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    I've always lost weight when I camp. Typically I have cold/dry breakfasts and lunches, depending on whether we're on the trail or near camp. Then a hot dinner. Cold/dry foods like granola bars, trail mix, beef jerky, apples, cereal with milk. Bagels with cream cheese or bread with slices of hard cheese. Last time, I brought some of those packages of ready-made tuna salad and tortillas. Dinners are burgers, hotdogs or chili... typical camp-out dinners. And then beer at night with some sensible chips or something similar.

    I'd say do your best to track what you're eating and the exercise you're doing, but don't stress about being exact.
  • SteveJWatson
    SteveJWatson Posts: 1,225 Member
    I will be going camping (field trip) myself in a few weeks. I am planning on maintaining my calorie limits and staying close to my macro targets. Not having access to an oven is a bummer but apart from that, I can cook just about anything that doesn't require an oven. The only limitations I have will be space in the esky (chiller box) and carrying capacity. I intend to continue to eat a healthy diet while I'm away.

    The other thing to consider if you go camping is your likely energy expenditure. Bushwalking (with full packs), kayaking & etc, then you're going to need more calories and you should log those activities as exercise and take advantage of the bonus calories as you'll more than likely need them.
    kind regards,

    Ben

    You can make an 'oven' by taking a biscuit tin and putting whatever you want to cook in it (on a rack if you are feeling adventurous), shoveling embers into a small pit, sitting the tin on top and covering the lot with grass or whatever and then soil/sand.
  • whitleynoel
    whitleynoel Posts: 198 Member
    Try and have a good time, first of all. one burger or hot dog won't kill you.

    try to get some fruits such as bananas, apples, oranges, grapes.

    bring some nuts, whole wheat bread, crackers, bagels.

    You can even grill up some veggies and put some olive oil or something on them for flavour.

    This! Cutting things out completely is a good way to make sure that you don't stick to your diet. For instance I have a chili dog on the menu for dinner tonight! Plus, if you're campnig you have plenty of space an opportunity to exercise. Go hike!
  • Smackemdanno
    Smackemdanno Posts: 83 Member
    You can cook anything camping you can at home if you have a dutch oven. If you are going to grill I would make Kabobs. Beef, Pork or chicken on a skewer with your favorite things, ie. cherry tomato, onion, bell pepper, pineapple, mushroom yellow or zucchini squash. Best to put items in a tupperwear that won't leak with your favorite marinade for the trip or even better overnight. Crazy low calorie/ high protein and very delicious when cooked over coals or in a dutch oven over a flaming fire.
  • K_Serz
    K_Serz Posts: 1,299 Member
    go cave man and eat what you kill lol

    And bring beef jerky as a backup in case you arent successful.
  • The Hobo packs are something everyone will enjoy - you will not feel like your preparing special food for you. We make 3 packs wrapped really well in foil - if you try one big one it may not cook as well. And with the 3 medium packs - it gives us options, because my daughter does not like the onions or hot sauce. Be careful that you do not Drink your calorie limit - that my issue when camping. I grab the beer or soda or other....when I should be grabbing the water.

    I am new to the group and enjoy it so far....thanks for the invite.
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    People eat normal food when they go camping.. Just do the liquid food.. Alcohol, followed by more alcohol, and then top it off with some more alcohol... you won't even notice the cold.

    On the food note, hobo packs are good, steaks, chicken, all are easy to cook over a fire with the correct tools.