Eating Healthy While You’re Camping
You don’t have to survive on junk food while you’re camping. There are plenty of healthier snack options that are easy to bring to camp. Not that we are opposed to bringing delicious desserts but, we always feel our best when we eat with balance while camping. Check out the best healthy camping snacks we’ve found
The perfect healthy camping snack fuels you and is easy to pack and eat outdoors.
We came up with ideas that are not only healthy but, easy to pack and eat as well. You don’t have to stop with snacks, either. Check out our list of Dutch oven meals that will also help fuel your outdoor adventures.
List of Camping Snacks That are Good for You
This list is a must read before you go on your next outdoor adventure. Make sure to add some of these healthy options to your camping list so you stay properly fueled.
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Ready-to-Eat Healthy Camping Snacks
Ready-to-eat foods are so convenient to bring if you don’t have time to prep a bunch of stuff before your trip. You can grab these items as you are heading out of town or just add them to your regulary grocery list the day before. A lot of these items don’t even need to be refrigerated which is great because that will save on precious room in the cooler!
1. Apples
The perfect hand-held snack for on the go. You don’t need a cooler for fruit and it’s so easy to take and eat. An apple a day keeps campers at play!
2. Oranges
Oranges are loaded with vitamins that will keep you fueled. You can even pre-peel them at home if you want to make them even easier to eat at camp.
3. Bananas
They come with their own wrapper (peel) and are easy to eat, even with dirty camping hands. Plus the boost of potasium will keep you moving during fun activities like hiking.
4. Yogurt
Yogurt is an easy grab-and-go snack that won’t take up too much room in your cooler. Bonus if you buy some that is low in sugar and has added fruit.
5. Grapes
Grapes are super easy to bring along as a snack and are easy to share with a group. Leave them on the table and let people grab a few as they come and go.
6. Jerky
Jerky is an easy source of protein while you’re camping. No refrigeration or mess necessary. Watch the sodium and sugar content when you are choosing brands to be extra healthy.
7. String Cheese
Low in fat and high in protein, we always love string cheese as a snack.
8. Celery and Peanut Butter
Dip some celery sticks in peanut butter for some balanced fuel.
9. Granola Bars
There are tons of healthy granola bars to choose from with different fruits and nuts added in for extra fuel. You can make these ahead of time at home too.
10. Guacamole
Pick it up in the store or make your own. Guacamole is full of healthy fat. You can eat it with chips, veggies, or pita slices.
11. Hummus
Like guacamole, you can snack on hummus with chips or veggies. It’s made from chickpeas and will keep you full between meals.
12. Trail Mix
Trail mix is a camping snack classic and for good reason. A mixture of nuts and fruit will keep you energized and is a great take-along for hikes and activities.
13. Berries
Bring your favorite berries along for an easy, on-the-go snack option.
14. Applesauce
This is a kid-friendly snack that adults can enjoy too. Check for brands that aren’t loaded with sugar when you are purchasing.
15. Carrot Sticks
Baby carrots or carrot sticks are good on their own. Or you can dip them in your favorite dip or dressing.
16. Snap peas
Snap peas are one of our favorites. They are crisp, refreshing, and quick.
17. Nuts and Seeds
Bring your favorite nuts or seeds for easy protein. Our favorites are pumpkin seeds and cashews.
18. Veggie Chips
Instead of greasy potato chips, grab some veggie chips instead. We also love plantain chips as a healthy, crunchy snack.
19. Fruit Cups
If you get the fruit cups that are made with water or fruit juice, they are lower in sugar. You can choose from a lot of options including fruit cocktail and sliced mandarins.
20. Cottage Cheese
People either love or hate cottage cheese. It’s a really easy source of protein and easy to pack. You can eat it plain or mix in things like fruit or veggies.
21. Deli Meat Slices
Deli meat is an easy snack food. It can be full of nitrates and sodium though. We love getting ours sliced fresh from the deli and grabbing a slice between meals.
22. Pretzels
A healthy alternative to chips, pretzels are great for an energy boost and to fill you up.
23. Chips and Salsa
Chips and salsa are always a winning combination. This is a delicious way to get in some veggies.
Healthy Make-Ahead Camping Snacks
These snacks require a little prep at home but, they are totally worth it. The convenience of having easy food on-hand at camp makes up for the work done ahead of time. Plus you get to control the ingredients and make food you and your fellow campers will love.
25. Snack Bento Boxes
You can purchase bento boxes and fill them with a few of your favorite snacks. We love combining things like cheese cubes, nuts, meat, fruits, and veggies in ours. This is an easy way to pack and organize your camping snacks.
26. Pinwheel Sandwiches
There are so many healthy pinwheel sandwich recipes. They are easy to make ahead of time and pack for camp. Some of our favorites are Italian and buffalo chicken pinwheels.
27. Hard Boiled Eggs
Eggs are a really affordable and easy source of protein. Boil and peel them at home to make them an easy grab-and-go snack later on.
28. Energy Bites
Energy bites, like these, are full of healthy ingredients that will keep you fueled. You can play around with different combinations and see what you like. We love bites that include things like chocolate and peanut butter, lemon and poppyseed, and cherry and almonds.
29. Roasted Chickpeas
Roasted chickpeas are an awesome source of fuel. You can season them however you’d like for a quick snack later on.
30. Muffins
Muffins are a good source of healthy (depending on the ingredients you choose) carbs. Make your favorites and put them in a container for camp.
31. Healthy Chocolate Bark
Chocolate bark is really easy to make and is one of the most delicious, healthy snacks you can bring camping. Combine melted chocolate, we love dark, with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for a trail mix-like snack that will keep you energized.
32. Chopped Melon
We love melon but, cutting it up at camp can be a pain. Save yourself the hassle and chop it up at home.
33. Cucumber Slices
Like melon, you can cut your cucumbers up at home for an easy snack later. We love to season ours with vinegar and herbs for a savory treat.
34. Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
Fruit and yogurt parfaits are a well-balanced option. You get protein and carbs by combining yogurt, fruit, and your choice of granola or nuts.
35. Meat and Veggie Wraps
Wraps are versatile and easy to pack up. Fill a healthy tortilla up with your favorite veggies, meats, and dressing to make a delicious snack wrap.
36. Chia Pudding
Chia pudding is one of our favorite dessert snacks. We’ve all heard by now about the health benefits of chia seeds. You can make a delicious pudding, like this one, with fruits and spices.
37. Mason Jar Salads
You might not think of salads when you think of snacks, but we love getting fresh veggies in any way we can. Put your salad toppings in the bottom of your mason jar then, top with lettuce and put the lid on the jar. Bring along your favorite dressing to add at camp. Some people put the dressing in the bottom of the jar, but we find that leads to soggy veggies.
38. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
PB&J is an easy snack and doesn’t have to get soggy later. We put peanut butter on both sides of our bread and then add jelly in the middle. This keeps the bread intact for a few days at least. You can even throw these in your freezer beforehand, so you don’t have to put them together right before your trip.
39. Meat and Cheese Rollups
Another simple snack that you can put together in a large batch. Take a piece or two of deli meat, a slice of cheese, and roll it up. You can put a toothpick through the middle to hold them together better.
40. Egg Bites
Egg bites, or egg muffins are a regular snack around our house. You fill muffin tins with eggs and all of your favorite add-ins like peppers, spinach, and cheese. Then you bake them and put them in the fridge. These keep really well in a cooler and are a great hand-held snack.
41. Chicken Salad
There are lots of cold-serve chicken salad recipes to choose from. Pick one of your favorites and pack the salad in single-serve containers for a healthy bite.
Camping Snacks
Hopefully you found some great ideas here for healthy snacks to bring on your next adventure. We would rather spend our time enjoying the great outdoors than working in camp. So, these healthy snacks are things we like to keep simple and easy.
What are your favorite healthy camp snacks? If you need to put together a campfire cooking kit for your next trip, check out our post on the essentials you’ll need.
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