Food planning is a major part of any camping trip. When travelling with children, their needs must be taken into consideration. I am fortunate enough in that my kids are pretty healthy and adventurous eaters but other Momma's may need to modify the meal plans for their kids finicky habits. Four days of hot dogs and burgers may not be ideal for your child. I find that children are more willing to expand their eating habits, especially when they are forced with the knowledge that there are no alternatives. Still, don't plan on going too far outside your child's comfort zone. Feel free to make some of these items at home before the trip to ensure your child will not be eating trail mix for dinner every night.
Here are a few camping recipe websites:
Here are a few camping recipes I've tried and enjoyed:
Grilled Bread with Carmelized Pears
This is an adult recipe that can be modified for children simply by omitting the blue cheese.
- Water bread (or any soft loaf bread - must be softer than Italian bread or a baguette) sliced into 1-2" thick slices
- Butter
- 1-2 pears sliced
- Maple syrup
- Blue cheese (optional)
In a frying pan, melt the butter and add the bread to toast on each side (adding more butter when you flip the bread). Remove and wrap in foil to keep warm.
Add a touch more butter and add the pear slices, cooking for a few minutes until soft and slightly translucent.
Place the pears on top of the bread, add crumbled blue cheese and maple syrup. Serve warm.
Mandarin Chicken Packets
Foil packet cooking is an easy and clean way to make camping meals.
- Boneless chicken breasts
- Mandarin oranges
- Tomato, sliced
- Italian dressing
Place Italian dressing in a zip top bag. Add chicken breasts and marinade over night. Remove breasts and discard marinade.
On a piece of aluminum foil, place chicken breast, 1-2 slices of tomato and several slices of mandarin oranges.
Bring the two ends of foil up and fold over several times, leaving room for steam. Then fold the opposite ends over several times creating a foil packet.
To cook, place the packet on the grill of fireplace for 15-20 minutes until chicken is cooked all the way through. You may carefully remove the packets to check if they are done, then repack and place back on grill if not done.
Ray's BBQ Chicken
This is, hands down, the best BBQ chicken I have ever had. Ever. Thank you Ray, whoever you are.
Dump Cake
This recipe requires a dutch oven and is a camping classic. There are many variations but this is the one I like best. I comes out more like a cobbler than a cake.
- 1 box of yellow cake mix
- 1 can of crushed pineapple
- 1 can of cherry pie filling
- 2 tablespoons of butter
