A guide to easy, healthy camping food

Camping, whether drive-in or hike-in, is one of life’s simplest and most rewarding pleasures. At its core, camping is all about whittling your needs down to the basics and immersing yourself in nature.

Camping foods are usually simple and lightweight because they need to fit in your car or backpack. Most of the time when you're camping, you'll be hiking or staying active, so your meals need to be nutritious and provide enough energy. A few treats are also great, especially for backpackers, to keep energy levels up while on the trail.

However, camping meals don't have to be boring. These lightweight food ideas for campers are both nutritious and delicious, offering plenty of variety and taste.

Dehydrated foods are an option most multi-day hikers consider at least once during their trekking career. They are convenient due to their lightness, long shelf life, and wide variety of meals (including meat, vegetarian, and gluten-free options).

These meals are usually bought as sealed ration packs and are complete dishes that work best as hot dinners once the tent is set up and the fire or barbecue is lit. Simply add water to rehydrate the meal, then heat it up. The nutritional panel on the packet – detailing kilojoules or calories, protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugars, and sodium – is an added benefit if you're tracking your energy intake across a multi-day hike.

However, this convenience comes at a cost, and many hikers prefer cheaper food options. If you're a frequent hiker, you may wish to buy your own dehydrator to save money while still enjoying the convenience of these quick-and-easy trail meals. Whether store-bought or homemade, it’s best to store these packs in animal-proof containers, just as you would other foods.

One of the easiest meals to make while camping is a classic pasta or couscous dish. These versatile bases allow you to add your favourite flavours, take just minutes to prepare, and are a great way to use up leftover food on the last night.

All you need is boiling water to cook the pasta or couscous, before mixing it with a pre-made sauce, such as classic tomato or pesto, which can be stored in a plastic bag. Add some veggies like spinach for extra nutrition.

These dishes are usually one-pot meals, ideal for hikers who typically carry only one saucepan and for car campers who want to avoid extensive dishwashing.

When packed into a zip-lock bag, they are so lightweight they barely register in a backpack.

If you're packing a picnic, you'll probably want a camp lunch that requires minimal cooking.

Wholemeal wrap breads are ideal as a lightweight carbohydrate option. Fill them with tasty ingredients such as hard cheeses (wrapped in cloth for the trail), drained sun-dried tomatoes, and pickles. For meat lovers, salami slices provide great flavour and are lightweight, though any carried salami should be consumed within three days.

Easy ways to add protein to camping meals

Tuna and salmon in foil-sealed pouches provide a great source of protein for both meat eaters and pescatarians, while tofu serves as an excellent alternative for vegetarians or vegans. Another tasty and healthy option is pre-packaged, foil-sealed Mexican bean salads.

Slow-release low-GI (glycemic index, opens in a new tab) breakfasts are the gold standard for hikers. A top choice is dried steel-cut rolled oats, cooked with water or milk powder. Adding dried berries boosts nutrition, and a dollop of peanut butter (keep reading for a hiker’s peanut butter hack) provides protein for extra energy.

For campers who can’t do without their eggs on toast, an easy-to-carry option is powdered eggs. These are dehydrated to retain their nutritional value and reconstituted with water. Try rolling the eggs in wrap bread warmed over the fire.

Another lightweight camping tip is heating wrap bread in a saucepan and mixing powdered peanut butter (yes, it exists!) with a splash of water.

All these brekkie options pair perfectly with a hot cup of instant coffee or tea.

If time isn’t on your side, opt for a nutty muesli, packed down into a plastic bag.

Treats are especially appreciated during long hikes to your camping spot. For healthy and convenient snacks that you can enjoy on the go, low-sugar granola or muesli bars are hard to beat. Alternatively, opt for the hiker’s classic trail mix of nuts and dried berries, replacing milk chocolate with 85% or higher dark chocolate for a healthier option.

Other healthy and fresh snack options to consider include carrots (lightly brushed with water beforehand to keep them fresher longer), hummus, and plain or flavoured brown rice crackers. Corn thins are also a light and satisfying choice.

Water is essential for any camping trip, whether you're embarking on a multi-day hike or staying at a drive-in campsite. To ensure you have enough, calculate your daily water consumption needs based on the duration of the trip, the length of hikes, and the temperatures.

You can bring water from home, or if there are natural water sources on the trail, you can use a filter, chlorine-based purification tablets, or bring the water to a rolling boil, opens in a new tab for at least a minute before letting it cool.

The name of the game with all things camping is to keep it simple. Many hikers use a multi-tool utensil made of a lightweight alloy that links together a knife, fork, and spoon. Other environmentally friendly options for car-campers and trail walkers alike are bamboo and/or biodegradable cutlery (though these still should be carried out with you and disposed of at home). There are many varieties of collapsible, silicone double-duty bowls and cups on the market, as well as lightweight pans and small camp stoves (including ultralight mini stoves). The best place to source these are reputable camping shops, because they’re the experts in lightness vs capability.

The main thing when you're camping is stay safe, celebrate nature, and most of all enjoy your food. No doubt you’ve earned it.

Travelling soon? Consider nib Travel Insurance and get a quote.

To learn more about what’s covered, see nib travel insurance, opens in a new tab. Nib Health insurance members get a 10% discount off their travel insurance.*

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