Eating Healthy While Camping

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Another guest submission from Michael Everett to The Prepper Journal. Get ready – the next Prepper Writing Contest is coming! As always, if you have information for Preppers that you would like to share and possibly receive a $25 cash award as well as being entered into the Prepper Writing Contest AND have a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards  with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies, then enter today!

Camping allows you to exercise, re-energize and enjoy yourself away from your busy and stressful schedules. A psychical connection with nature helps to relax your mind and heal the body. Most campers will agree that you’ll have the best experience if you eat healthy. Are you ready for a camping adventure? You shouldn’t compromise your eating habits while at the campsite. You can be outdoors for a weekend or several days and still eat healthy. The basic advice is to plan well before leaving.

Planning ahead will ensure you eat healthy and maintain a healthy body. You don’t want to lose or gain unnecessary weight just because you were camping. Here we are giving you some simple ideas to make your camping easy and fun.

Create A Plan In Preparation For Camping

 

Planning before the actual camping will ensure you have everything in place on the camping day. First, consider the number of days you will outdoors. Next, consider the foods in your diet. Then write a menu. Some people might see this as unnecessary, but it’s actually quite necessary. When writing the menu, including all the foods that you require and those that can be carried outdoors. And exclude ALL the foods that tend to “not sit well with you” even when you are home and have access to multiple bathrooms.

Precook Your Meals

 

Take some time to precook your food at home before your travel. Precooking your meals will save you time when you are away. You’ll also have flexible time to enjoy the campsite rather than cooking. Remember you want to relax, stay cool and enjoy yourself away from home. In this case, you will realize that precooking your meals will make a very big difference.

Depending on the nature of the camping site, you may have limited access to utensils, cooking supplies and even a reliable heat source. Apart from saving you time and stress, precooking your meals will also help you to maximize on the nutrients. You can include nutrient-dense foods in your diet. Better foods will make getting that campfire smell out of your clothes and gear easier.

When precooking your meals, use can use the right recipes, create your own spin that’ll ensure you include enough nutrients in your meals. At home you will have sufficient and ample time in your kitchen, better equipped no doubt, than any forest or campsite. Try to include various foods from all food groups in each meal. These food groups include protein and dairy, fruits, grains and vegetables. Perishable foods can be included in your meals, but remember to use a dependable fridge or cooler. Alternatively, you can vacuum seal perishable foods, refrigerate them properly and consume them at your leisure. Your food can be kept in the tent safely to prevent damage by mice. However, if you are bear country, then food storage and preparation take on a new and significantly different meaning.

Carry Some Snacks

 

A camping trip includes fun activities that require you and other use more energy. Hiking, swimming, mountain climbing and outdoor activities all require extra fuels for the body. You can pack some snacks in preparation for the extra nutrition needed. You can shop for some nutritious snacks to include in the diet. Another idea is to make homemade snacks and carry them along. BTW, any trail mix that does NOT include M&M’s is a poser. Just the normal snacks that you prepare at home can be carried for the outdoor event. The common fruits like pineapples, watermelon, grapes, pears and apples can be sliced and packed ready for the camping adventure, and most come dried. You can also think of things like celery and carrots when making snacks. The idea is to make nutritious snacks that will give you enough energy during the camping adventure.

Make Sure To Include Fiber 

Some of the foods that people tend to prepare and carry to the campsite have little fiber. Foods like processed meat, packaged snacks and campfire treats have low fiber. You should consider fiber in your meals to prevent constipation, especially when camping. When precooking your meals and making snacks, remember to include good sources of fiber such as whole grains, vegetables and fruits. If you want to avoid fresh fruits, you can pack dried fruits. Each serving should have enough volume of fiber to help you prevent constipation.

Manage Calories In Your Meals And Snacks

 

Some foods might have high-calorie content while others have low-calorie content. Very high-calorie content is usually not healthy because it might cause an unwanted spike in your blood sugar as well as that undesirable increase in body weight. On the other hand, very low calorie “rabbit food” might not give your body the needed nutrients. Dried fruits and nuts are good sources of both fat and protein. All the foods that have been suggested in this article are good for a healthy diet. But it is good to be aware of the calorie content in your packed meals. Your foods should have ideal nutritional value to make your camping adventure fruitful.

Remember To Stay Hydrated Throughout The Camping Adventure

Keeping your body hydrated is always good. During hot summer months you should hydrate your body sufficiently but don’t be fooled by colder temps, colder is drier in most places and fluid loss is always present. Staying hydrated will curb your hunger in between meals and promote all of your normal body functions. If the temperatures are very high, you will want to hydrate your body more. Water is the best source for body hydration. Other good sources to hydrate your body are electrolyte-rich sports drinks  and juices. If possible carry sufficient water to the campsite and avoid high-sugar drinks because they will increase unnecessary calories in your diet.

Final Thought On Eating Healthy While Camping

When planning a camping trip, don’t just neglect your eating habits. Remember you need enough energy for the camping activities. As you may have noticed, there is a ton of nutritious meals as well as snacks that can make your camping enjoyable and healthy. Simply plan your meals in advance and consider the nutritional value of the foods you require to stay healthy throughout the camping season. Remember to rely on a campfire to stay warm while camping. Are you ready for camping? Prepare some healthy meals and make the event memorable.

Author’s Bio:

Welcome to Rainy Camping. I am Michael Everett, a camping expert who loves to travel and explore the wilderness throughout the year. I aim to visit every campsite in the world and offer smart advice to the novice adventurers out there.

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