Camping and food seem to go hand in hand. When you gather the family or a group of friends around a campfire, you know there will be some good eating, most likely involving a stick and some hot coals. Vegetarian campers aren't left out, and whether you're cooking over an open flame or using another method of preparation, you can count on your food tasting better than usual thanks to all the fresh air and beauty around you.
Considerations
All campers have to plan ahead when it comes to their meals. When you're in the middle of nowhere, getting to a grocery store for a forgotten item may be next to impossible. Your only option might be a small convenience or country store with a very limited selection. Vegetarians need to plan with even more care, since items like tofu, veggie franks, legumes and tofurky, as well as fresh produce, are unlikely to be widely stocked off the beaten path. Make a thorough meal plan days before the trip and hit your local grocery or natural foods store to fulfill your list. Don't forget the spices, oils and other staples.
Meal Planning
A long camping trip means you may not be able to keep fresh items fresh for long. A fresh vegetable, like snap beans or carrots for example, may stay fresh for a long time in your temperature-controlled home refrigerator but could expire rapidly in the fluctuating, unpredictable temps of your cooler. Plan a good share of your meals around nonperishable foods, such as cornmeal, canned beans, dried fruit, rice and oatmeal.
Gear
Campgrounds usually come equipped with a fire pit or grill, so you don't have to rely solely on your camp stove. Bring along a hobo pie iron—an aluminum or cast iron, hinged griddle with a long-handle designed for cooking hot sandwiches and pies over an open flame. Use the pie iron to cook up some fresh fruit and sugar in between two slices of your favorite bread, and you'll be hooked. Another great option is a dutch oven, which uses hot coals to cook a variety of recipes. Chilis, beans and soups are particularly well suited to dutch oven cooking. Don't forget essentials like oven mitts, spatulas, tongs, pots, utensils and plates.
Cooking With Fire
No camping trip is complete unless you cook at least one meal on a stick over the fire. Veggie franks are the most logical choice, and pack the graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows too, so you can make some s'mores. Or try an apple chunk roasted over the flame, sprinkled with cinnamon or nutmeg. With aluminum foil, you can prepare “hobo pack” meals with different combinations of roasted vegetables, quinoa or another grain, precooked beans and meat substitute products. Simply wrap the foods along with seasonings in the foil and place the pack directly on the coals.
Simple Options
If cooking isn't your thing, then your best bet is to pick up some vegetarian soups and canned goods that just require some quick heating on your camp stove or over the fire. Throw in some bread, instant oatmeal and trail mix, and your meals are covered. If you're backpacking, you can find freeze-dried vegetarian meals at your local sporting goods store.
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