Everyone who loves camping knows it’s one of the best times to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and reconnect with nature, a partner or friends, and yourself. It’s about noticing the small simple pleasures and embracing traveling light and not needing much to have a good wholesome time.
Since oftentimes the necessities are more than enough to lug around, foods planned for camping are best to be in the no-cook section. While there are some obvious choices you always hear about, with a little creativity, you can have some really different and fun options that also provide you with the energy you need for your daily and nightly adventures in the wilderness.
9 Healthy No-Cook Camping Foods
1. Apple Sauce Breakfast Bowl
Steer away from the traditional cereal bowl and try for a breakfast bowl full of nuts, seeds, cereal, and a mixture of apple sauce. Store-bought apple sauce is strictly refrigerated after opening so no fridge is necessary if you buy the one-time serve portions.
Feel free to even heat it up over the campfire for a nice warm breakfast fuelling you with fibre and vitamin C. Throw in some dark cocoa nibs for an extra treat and that little chocolate kick to wake you up in a proper way.
2. Peanut Butter & Banana
Hitting up a classic pre-workout snack for the outdoor hikes you’ll be tackling. You can’t go wrong with the infamous peanut butter and banana combination. Peanut butter is high in protein and magnesium which is going to be a real help especially since meat and poultry options are slim when avoiding cooking.
Bananas being an excellent source of carbohydrates and potassium makes it an undeniable energy booster for when levels start running low. Have a bigger appetite? Slide the PB&B over some whole grain bread and you’ve got yourself a more filling bite.
3. Smoked Salmon Bagels
Depending on how long you’re camping trip is going to last – something a little fancier can be a nice touch. Just because you’re roughing it doesn’t mean your stomach has to. Any sort of bread can work for this option including the whole grain you may be using for your peanut butter and banana snack, but there’s something about a bagel that adds a little luxury to your palette.
Add cottage cheese for a healthier option, some sliced cucumber, spinach, and fresh red onion to get that little kick. Again, if a fridge isn’t an option substitute the smoked salmon with tinned smoked salmon and cream cheese with a drizzle of olive oil. This is a great combination of fats, protein, and carbohydrates to keep you moving.
4. Protein Oat Shake
Some easy options that are quick to carry and easy to put together on day trips while sitting light in your bag are necessary. Taking this straight out of a muscle magazine, grab yourself a sachet of protein powder, couple spoons of oats, some water and shake away.
My personal favorite flavor is always chocolate but today there are some pretty inventive options including cookies and cream and mint chocolate chip. Shake well enough to allow the oats to soak into the water. The protein powder will change the consistency of the drink to something a little more filling. Twist your thinking from post-gym drink to more healthy milkshake.
5. Nut, Dried Fruit & Popcorn Granola Mix
Another great lightweight snack for when you’re on the go is the classic trail mix. It’s the main staple food for anything camping or hiking but doesn’t mean we can’t have a little more fun with it. Prepare it before your travels and make sure to throw in some cinnamon spice, dark chocolate nibs and even some popcorn for that extra fun crunch. Since popcorn is considered whole grain it’s a great snack that won’t pack on the kilos – we want to save those calories for dessert!
6. Taco Bowl
Canned goods are a campers best friend. Avocado, diced tomatoes, red onion, canned corn, red kidney beans, avocado, and some cilantro with optional jalapeños will make for an easy tasty meal that you can just literally throw into any kind of bowl of Tupperware. A little squeeze of lime and side bottle of Corona in the sun will have you feeling like you’re camping in Mexico.
7. Stuffed Pepper with Veggies
Let’s go a little more gourmet and make a stuffed capsicum with chopped spinach, onions, rice, mushrooms, and tomato sauce. Either let it sit under the fire to heat up or eat it raw with another drizzle of olive oil. Canned diced tomatoes with a little salt and pepper will bring all the flavors of this veggie-packed meal together.
It’s pretty obvious as to the many benefits of this no-cook meal. There aren’t too many popular options when it comes to vegetables during camping but the fibre and nutrients in this gem will keep your insides happy all weekend long.
8. Veggie Summer Rolls
Feeling a little lighter? Veggie summer rolls are another great way to integrate vegetables into your trip away. All you need are rice paper rolls, pre-cooked or packaged noodles and all the leftover veggies from all the other dishes you had prior.
Add in whatever capsicums are leftover from the stuffed pepper, cucumber slices from your salmon bagel, avocado, and cilantro from your taco bowl and make a peanut sauce from your PB&B snack. Mix the peanut butter with a little hoisin, rice vinegar, and water and there’s a little dressing to slip into the roll. Feel free to prep this Thai dressing before or on the day. It’s important to have some light and healthy meals available for you to avoid falling into that groggy, tired mood.
9. Marshmallow, Chocolate, and Berry Skewers
We’ve done a stellar job of creating non-cook camping meals that are not just tasty but are healthy. Let’s live a little though and have some fun by the campfire for dessert. Chocolate covered marshmallows and berries will do just the trick. Pick from strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries or go mad for all four.
Final Thoughts
From waking up early in the morning looking forward to a full day of adventures to sitting by the fire with a guitar and under the stars, your meals are covered. This list of no-cook camping foods might even beat your regular day-to-day meals health-wise. With an equal amount of carbohydrates, protein, and fats being presented through these multiple rainbow-colored dishes you can bet you’ll be returning home after your trip environmentally better connected, spiritually at peace, and nutritiously charged.