The Ultimate Guide To What Food To Take Camping
Camping is a great way to disconnect from everyday life and immerse yourself in nature. Whether you’re a regular camper or new to it, taking the right food is essential to ensure you’re energised, nourished and satisfied.
Still, it can be challenging if you can’t keep food cold, have limited space in your backpack or have minimal equipment. That’s why we’ve created a guide on what food to take camping with no-fridge and no-cook options to help you plan your menu.
Contents
What is the best food to take camping?
What food to take camping without cooking or a fridge?
What to do with food when camping?
What food to take on a 3-day camping trip?
What is the best food to take camping?
When choosing food for your camping trip, consider convenience, shelf life, and nourishment. Non-perishable items, lightweight foods, and versatile ingredients are ideal for camping, as well as a mix of options that are easy to cook over the stove, and items that can be eaten cold or won’t spoil quickly when not refrigerated.
Breakfast camping food
Your breakfast when camping should be full of energy and protein to help you keep you going until lunchtime.
Morning Oats – Oats are a quick and easy breakfast option you can make by adding hot water. Many instant oat packets, like Summit To Eat’s Raspberry Oats, are pre-flavoured and require minimal effort, making them ideal for camping mornings.
All-day breakfast – For something more substantial, pre-packaged all-day breakfast meals that just need hot water are an ideal start to the morning. These meals typically include a mix of beans, sausages, and scrambled eggs, providing a hearty and satisfying start to your day and are also available in vegetarian options.
Eggs – Eggs are packed with protein so they’re a great energy source to set you up for the day. Plus, even if you have limited stove equipment, there are plenty of ways you can cook eggs, whether you fry, boil, scramble or even whip up an omelette.
Cereal – Cereal is non-perishable, nutritious and lightweight, so it’s ideal for carrying in your backpack. Without the need for any heating, this can be a quick breakfast before you set off to explore.
Lunch camping food
Cold Lunches (No Fridge or Cooking Needed)
When you’re out and about during the day, a quick, no-cook lunch can be the most convenient option.
Sandwiches & Wraps – Wraps are a great choice as they can last longer without refrigeration and are more compact to squeeze into backpacks. Whatever type of bread you prefer, plenty of sandwich fillings don’t need to be kept in the fridge so that you can pack them for a quick and easy lunch.
Sandwich fillings – Take non-perishable fillings like peanut butter, precooked meats, tinned meats or tinned fish.
Salads – Grain-based salads, like couscous or quinoa, are perfect for camping, which can be paired with tinned vegetables, beans, or meats to create a refreshing and filling salad.
Cheese and Crackers – Hard cheeses like cheddar last longer without refrigeration and pair perfectly with crackers for a light but satisfying lunch.
Hot lunch camping food
A hot lunch can be a great option on those cooler days if you have a portable stove or campfire.
Soup – Soup can be quickly heated on a camping stove for a tasty but easy lunch. Tinned soups will also keep longer but can be heavier to carry around.
Pasta/Rice – Pasta and rice are quick and filling meals, perfect for a hot camping lunch. Pair them with tinned sauces, meats, or vegetables for a hearty meal, or use pre-packaged pasta dishes like Wayfayrer’s Pasta bolognese that are ready to eat cold or can be heated and eaten straight from the pouch.
Dinner camping food
After a long day of exploring, you’ll want a satisfying and filling dinner to refuel your body.
Jacket potatoes – Cooking potatoes in foil over the campfire is a classic camping dinner. Bury the potatoes in the hot coals of a campfire and cook until crispy on the outside and tender inside. For a delicious and filling meal, top them with cheese, beans, or tinned chilli.
Precooked meals – We sell a full range of ready-to-eat mains that can be stored without needing a fridge. As they’re precooked, you can eat them without a stove, but they can also be heated up for a quick but nutritious evening meal. With pasta dishes, curries, rice meals and more, they allow you to mix and match meals for variety on your trip.
Tinned vegetables – Convenient and nutritious, combine them with pasta, rice, or meats for a complete dinner.
Sausages/Burgers – If you’re camping with a travel BBQ or grill, don’t forget your burgers and sausages for the ultimate BBQ night, with whatever condiments or additions you prefer.
Camping snacks and dessert
Snacks and desserts can keep you satisfied between meals and add a touch of indulgence to your camping trip.
Tinned fruit – Without needing to keep it cold, tinned fruit can be a great snack and won’t get bashed in your bag.
Granola bars – Especially if you’ll be doing hiking or activities during the day, you’ll need a high-energy snack that can be eaten on the go. Look for bars packed with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for extra nutrition.
Nuts – Nuts are lightweight, non-perishable, and packed with protein, making them an ideal camping snack.
Marshmallows – Toasting marshmallows at the end of a long day is the ultimate treat to enjoy back at camp.
Ready-to-eat desserts – We’ve got a full range of ready-to-eat desserts from top brands, from ready-to-eat salted caramel chocolate brownies to chocolate puddings.
Drinks to take camping
Staying hydrated when camping is important, so ensure you’re regularly taking sips from bottles or hydration packs.
Aside from water, you might want to consider bringing some extra drinks.
Tea bags or instant coffee – Perfect for breakfast or at the end of a long day. Why not take a thermal flask to carry with you on the move?
Hot chocolate – A cosy drink for chilly evenings around the campfire, hot chocolate is easy to make with hot water or milk.
Squash or sports drinks – Squash can be great to add to water when you fancy something a little different and won’t take up too much space in your backpack. Or, sports drinks can give you an energy boost when you need it most.
What food to take camping without cooking or a fridge?
For a no-cook camping trip, focus on foods that can be eaten straight out of the packet or require minimal preparation. Whether tinned meats, beans, fruit, grain salads or ready-to-eat food packet items, our selection of camping food includes tasty and nutritious ready-to-eat options. Snacks like nuts, dried fruit, and granola bars are also great no-cook options.
What to do with food when camping?
Keep food in air-tight containers to keep it fresh and protect it from insects or wildlife. Never leave food out at the campsite; dispose of it properly.
What food to take on a 3-day camping trip?
When packing food for a 3-day camping trip, variety is key. Bring a mix of tinned foods, food packs, and some fresh items to enjoy on the first day or two. This ensures you’ll have tasty meals without worrying about it going off. Plan meals that use the same ingredients to minimise packing, such as using wraps for both lunch wraps and dinner burritos.
Shop camping food packs and cooking equipment with Outdoor Action
At Outdoor Action, we’ve got a selection of ready-to-eat food packs from top outdoor brands like Wayfayrer, Summit to Eat and Adventure Nutrition.
Designed to cater to campers, our camping food packs include lightweight, easy-to-carry meals that are nutritionally balanced so you can keep your energy levels up to enjoy your adventure.
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