Easy Foods to Take Camping

Proper food is probably the most important part of camping outdoors. Unless you're prepared to lug a cooler with you, you can't keep things properly refrigerated. Moreover, even coolers lose their effectiveness by the second or third day in the wilderness. Unless you want to cut things short and troop down to the nearest grocery store, it's important to choose your food carefully. Like the rest of your equipment, it should be portable and durable, with the nutritional value to keep you going and an ease of preparation that lets you eat it with nothing more than an open fire or a Coleman stove.

Canned Foods

Canned foods make for ideal dinner supplies when camping. They are non-perishable, won't be damaged by being jostled around in a backpack, and you can prepare most of them simply through the heating process. Soups and stews are among the best canned meals , as are chili and canned pasta. If you want to prepare more elaborate meals, consider canned vegetables and similar ingredients. They'll keep better than fresh samples.

Dried Fruit

Fresh fruit is generally a no-no while camping: it makes a mess when squashed and you need to eat it within the first day or so. But dried fruits, such as raisins, prunes and dried apricots, stay good for longer periods of time and can stand the jostling of a pack during long hikes.

Rice and Pasta

Dried rice and pasta can keep for years and contain carbohydrates to help keep energy levels up. You generally need to boil them in water, but if you can manage that , they make excellent staples. You can add canned sauces on top of them or mix them with stew to add a little flavor to your meal.

Nuts and Jerky

Dried nuts are easy camping food, not only for their portability, but also because they are high in protein, which helps keep energy high. Use them in trail mix to keep going on the path. Beef jerky and turkey jerky are similarly high in protein, and they last much longer than fresh meat without the danger of spoilage.

Breakfast Fixings

Breakfast foods should conform to the same standards as other camping food. Stay away from fresh fruits or raw eggs. Instead, look for breakfast bars or dried cereal, which retain their freshness for extended periods of time. Freeze-dried eggs and powdered milk can be used if you're intent on having scrambled eggs over a campfire.