Camping allows you to get closer to the beauty of nature, and all that time in the outdoors can make you hungry. The best foods for camping fit three basic requirements, outlined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA: they can be packed in a cooler (or need no refrigeration), they're portable and they provide energy-rich nutrients for active outdoor adventures. Whether you cook them with a propane stove or simply over a fire, picnic foods and camp dinners seem to taste better when you fix them outdoors.
Canned Goods
If you're car camping, you should stock up on canned goods because these foods don't need refrigeration and make virtually instant meals. Canned tuna or chicken with a little mayonnaise and a dash of salt-free spice blend makes tasty sandwiches or fillings for pita bread. You can make a healthy stew from canned soup and beans, and you can cook canned chili right in the tin over a campfire.
Quick-Prep Foods
Just add water to easy-to-prepare foods like dried soup mix, bouillon cubes, and packages of dried pasta and sauce. Instant mashed potatoes make a hearty side dish. Pancake or cornbread mixes cook up in a cast-iron skillet with the addition of milk, and adding boiling water to packets of instant oatmeal creates a quick breakfast.
Dairy Products
Dairy items need refrigeration, so fill your cooler with a plenty of ice to keep perishable items at a safe temperature. Cheese---cheddar, Swiss, American or your favorite type---adds flavor to scrambled eggs, burgers, chili mac and stew. For a quick breakfast, seal two beaten eggs in a small zip-top plastic bag, boil for a few minutes in a pot of water and presto---you have an instant omelet. Bring milk for cereal and kids' lunches and yogurt for healthy snacking.
Snacks
Dried fruit bits, nuts and roasted pumpkin seeds combine to make a nutritious trail mix for hiking. Crackers and cookies, sealed in individual bags, stay fresh for days and resist crumbling if packed inside a plastic food container. Granola bars offer an energy boost during strenuous activity. Fresh whole fruit like apples, grapes and oranges, and fresh carrot and celery sticks can stay in the cooler until snack time. Don't forget the peanut butter for dipping.
Meats
Grilling a fresh steak over a fire may be one of the pleasures of camping, but the USDA recommends cooking all meats before heading out to camp to reduce the risk of food-borne bacteria. These recommendations don't mean you can't enjoy burgers, hot dogs or chicken on the grill---just cook the meat first, chill it in the cooler and then warm up over a fire when you're ready to eat.
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