Camping can be dangerous when you don't bring the right foods or store them improperly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions campers to follow proper food safety protocol to keep you and your family safe from foodborne illnesses while roughing it. Pack non-perishable food items that can be made quickly and easily, without too many ingredients. In this way, no matter where you're camping, you'll be safe and nourished.
Breakfasts
Breakfasts are a quick and easy affair when you bring along oatmeal to cook. As long as you have a reliable water source or boil your water before adding it to the oats, you can have a safe meal that takes only minutes, notes OpenRoad.com.au, a division of the Australian National Roads and Motorists' Association. You can customize the oatmeal to each person's tastes by adding things like brown sugar, dried fruit, honey, nuts and even chocolate chips.
Lunches
When camping, lunch is often served while enjoying other activities, such as swimming or hiking. For this reason, choose portable food that is ideal for eating on the go. Beef jerky and prepackaged cheese can give you a quick energy boost for lunch, or a can of tuna and crackers offer plenty of protein.
If having lunch back at camp, consider quick meals like rice and beans. Both need only water to prepare, and you can season them with any seasonings you have on hand, like garlic, seasoning salt, pepper or taco seasoning.
Dinners
If you have access to a cooler and plenty of fresh ice, you can eat meat safely as a part of dinner. Never cook meat that has risen above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, says the United States Department of Agriculture. Or, instead of packing raw meat, cook it first at home and bring it along. With meat, you can make tinfoil dinners by adding meat, potatoes, carrots and other vegetables to a tinfoil packet and grilling near the coals of a fire for 45 minutes.
If going meatless, try a variety of soups or stews for dinner. Purchased in prepackaged mixes, most only need water to prepare and serve. Pasta is also an ideal meatless choice, and it packs and stores easily.
Snacks
Pack a variety of snacks with your meals. When you're participating in activities or spending time around the fire, snacks can give you something quick and easy to munch. Dried fruit or fruit leather are both good sources of fiber, and granola or protein bars can satisfy hunger quickly.
You may also want to bring along camp favorites, like graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows for s'mores, for around the campfire at night.
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