Check out our Seasonal Ingredient Map to find out what's ripe near you and get recipes.
Best Backpacking
Foods:
-Quick cooking grains such as couscous, minute rice, oatmeal, and
instant grits
-Dehydrated instant refried beans, hummus, and mashed potatoes
-Sun-dried tomatoes, dried mushrooms, dehydrated onions, peppers,
and other vegetables
-Dry soup and sauce mixes, bouillon, and ramen (all serve as bases
for meals)
-Salmon, chicken, and tuna in foil pouches
-Fresh garlic
-Pita bread and tortillas
-Mung bean noodles
-Bacon bits (a great addition to breakfast, says maquillage)
-Jerky (beef, turkey, bison, or tofu)
-Very dry salami, chorizo, hard cheeses, and sturdy vegetables like
carrots and cabbage (these pack well and stay fresh for a few days,
but add extra weight says CJMcD7123)
-Powdered milk (add to coffee or instant oatmeal)
-Nuts
-Dried spices such as hot pepper flakes, curry, salt, and
pepper
-Mayo, ketchup, and mustard in single-serving packets
-Dried cranberries, cherries, and other dried fruit (these
"all add extra yum factor to instant oatmeal," says
CJMcD7123)
-Teas, powdered beverages, and juice mixes
-Energy bars and trail mix
-Shelf-stable meals such as the ones sold by Trader Joe's
("sooooo good," says nopezforu)
-Cook-in-bag freeze-dried meals, available at stores such as
REI, EMS, Cabela's, and Campmor
-Chocolate-covered
anything, such as nuts or dried fruit
Feeding your family on a budget? Get the top ten money-saving ingredients
Camping Cuisine
Tips:
- Select foods with minimum cooking times so you don't run out
of fuel - CJMcD7123
- Measure out only what you need for each meal (including spices)
and don't bring "a bunch of everything" and try to
figure it out when you get there - maquillage, who "did
exactly 10 days of savage style kayak camping" last year.
- Make sure you bring plenty of dry soups, drink mixes, teas, etc.
to keep your hydration at optimum - CJMcD7123
- Consider some no cook meals for bad weather or convenience -
CJMcD7123
- If you're camping at altitude, remember that water will boil
at a lower temperature, which means your couscous or freeze-dried
meals might not cook the way you expect - dblplusgood
Online Resources and Shopping for
Camping
backpacker.com
trailcooking.com (incorporating
freezerbagcooking.com)
packitgourmet.com
maryjanesfarm.org
What will you be eating on your upcoming camping trips?
by Megan O. Steintrager
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