Kate's Kai: Camping Style

Kate’s kai: camping edition

Whats a kiwi summer without a good old camping trip? We love getting outdoors and being forced to slow down and take some time to recharge the batteries. But with an iconic fish ‘n’ chip joint in every small town you pass through and scarce cooking utilities, it can be tricky to continue eating well. We’ve put together easy camping meal ideas and a shopping list of healthy camping kai to help keep you healthy, full, and satisfied this summer.

This summer I’ll be camping in our van down in Golden Bay with my partner and puppy. I’m challenging myself to eat a meal with veggies every day, and to have a serving of fruit everyday too. Follow along my journey on our Instagram page @wellnutrition.co.nz

Camping meal ideas:

Porridge, fruit & mixed nuts

Shakshuka eggs

Muesli or granola & fruit

Baked beans on toast

Veggie scramble

Lean BBQ meat, veggies & corn cob

Lean meat or bean burritos & salad

Leftover cold meat & slaw buns

Tomato, spinach, & lentil pasta

Baked potato or kumara & salad

Falafel & salad wraps or burgers

Black bean nachos with guacamole

Noodle & vege stir fry

Fresh fish tacos with beet & slaw

Fried rice with grated carrot & corn

Potato salad with corn & spinach

Camping shopping list:

Fruit & Veggies

Canned fruit (in light syrup/no added sugar)

Fresh fruit from fruit stalls on the side of the road

Bananas/apples (both travel well)

Avocados

Canned corn

Canned green beans

Canned beetroot

Canned tomatoes (lots of them!)

Carrots

Bags of pre-made slaw and/or spinach

Potatoes & kumara

Dairy & alternatives

Milk or skim milk powder

Long life milk e.g. soy, almond, or oat milk (choose varieties that are calcium fortified)

Hard cheese (edam is lowest in fat)

Protein/meat & alternatives

Canned black beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans, brown lentils, baked beans (these will all be your best friend!)

Eggs

Good quality meat kebabs

Lean red meat steaks

Good quality sausages (don’t go overboard with these as processed meat should be limited)

Carbohydrates

Grainy bread

Grainy wraps

Rolled oats or a nutty muesli (aim for >6g fibre per 100g and <10g sugar per 100g)

Noodles (e.g. soba or rice noodles)

Brown rice

Healthy fats

Extra-virgin olive oil (for all cooking as it can withhold a high smoke point due to its high antioxidant profile)

Nut butter e.g. peanut butter

Mix of unsalted nuts and seeds

Snack foods

Brown rice crackers

Corn or rice thins

Grainy crackers e.g. Vitawheat or Ryvita (aim for >6g fibre per 100g and <10g fat per 100g)

Lightly salted popcorn

High fibre/ low sugar muesli bars (aim for >6g fibre per 100g and <10g sugar per 100g)

Miscellaneous

COFFEE!! (must not forget this!)

Tea

Soy sauce (reduced salt)

Tomato sauce

Balsamic vinegar salad dressing

Salt & pepper

Chocolate (because yum!)