By ANNIE RITCHIE / September 12, 2022
If you’re like most people, the thought of planning your meals while camping probably sounds like more work than it’s worth. However, meal planning is essential if you want to make the most of your camping trip. Not only will it save you time and money, but it will also help you stay healthy and energized while you’re out on the trail.
The solution is to get creative with your food storage and meal planning, and that’s where camping food containers come in. By pre-measuring and packing your food into individual containers, you can create a variety of delicious and nutritious meals that will last you for days (or even weeks) on end. By using camping food containers, you can easily pack enough variety for a delicious and satisfying trip.
Start with a list of your favorite campfire foods. This could include things like granola, dried fruit, trail mix, energy bars, jerky, instant oatmeal, soup mix, Ramen noodles, chilli, macaroni and cheese, etc. Be sure to include some variety so that you don’t get sick of eating the same thing every day.
Once you have your list of favorite camping foods, it’s time to start thinking about how to put them together into complete meals. For breakfast, you might want to pack oatmeal with dried fruit and nuts; for lunch, a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; for dinner, Ramen noodles with veggies; and for snacks, energy bars and trail mix.
Last but not least, don’t forget some seasonings and spices! These will come in handy for livening up otherwise bland meals.
Think about how much cooking you want to be doing and what equipment you would need. Take inventory of the supplies and equipment you have on hand. Do you have a portable grill? A Dutch oven? What about cast iron griddles? Utilizing the cooking gear you have will make meal planning much easier.
One of the benefits of using containers to store your food is that you can prepare your meals ahead of time. This will save you time and effort when you are trying to cook while camping.
Once you know what you have to work with, it’s time to start shopping for any camping food containers you may need. There are all sorts of great options available, from insulated coolers to stackable lunch boxes, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Metal containers are great for protecting your food from getting squished or crushed. They’re also great for keeping critters out. These hard-sided containers may be more durable but they’re also heavier and bulkier which makes them less than ideal for backpackers or anyone trying to travel light. Plus, if they fall or get dropped, there’s a bigger chance that they’ll break and leak all over everything else in your bag.
Plastic containers are much lighter and more versatile than their hard-sided counterparts. However, they offer less protection for your food, so they’re not the best choice if you’re worried about things getting squished or smashed. Additionally, soft-sided containers tend to absorb odors more readily than hard-sided ones, so they might not be the best choice if you’re packing smelly foods like fish or cheese.
Ziplock bags are an inexpensive and lightweight option for packing small items like trail mix or ingredients for meals. They take up very little space in your bag, and since they’re see-through, it’s easy to find what you’re looking for without having to dig through everything else. However, ziplock bags are not very durable, so they’re not the best choice if you’re worried about them getting punctured or ripped open. Also, since they’re not airtight, they won’t keep your food fresh for very long if temperatures are warm.
Choose the right size container. Camping food containers come in all different sizes. You will want to make sure that you choose a size that is appropriate for the amount of food you need to prepare. This will depend on whether you are cooking for a large group or just yourself.
Make sure the container is airtight. The last thing you want is for your food to spoil because it was not properly sealed. Make sure that the lid on your container fits snugly and that there are no gaps or cracks where air can escape.
Now that you know what you want to eat for each meal, it’s time to start portioning out the food into individual containers. This step is important because it will help prevent food waste and ensure that you’re getting the right amount of calories and nutrients each day. A good rule of thumb is to pack 1-2 cups of dry goods per person per day (e.g., 3 days’ worth of food for 6 people would require 18 cups of dry goods).
Be sure to pack perishable items like meat and dairy in insulated coolers, and dry goods in airtight camp food containers. Simply put all ingredients for your meal into the container before you leave, add perishables and then cook it all when you are ready to eat.
Alternatively, use multiple containers if necessary. If you are preparing a large meal or if you need to bring along multiple dishes, don’t be afraid to use multiple containers. This will help keep your food from getting mixed together and will make it easier to transport everything to your campsite.
Once you’ve portioned out the food into containers, label them with the name of the meal and the date that it should be eaten by. This will help you keep track of what needs to be eaten when and ensure that nothing goes bad before its time.
It’s also a good idea to pack a separate container just for snacks so you can avoid rummaging through your things every time you get hungry.
With a little bit of advanced planning, mealtimes on your next camping trip can be easy and enjoyable! By pre-measuring and packing your food into individual containers using our tips above ,you can create a variety of delicious and nutritious meals.
If you would like more tips on preparing your camp kitchen area, this article that might interest you: