Food Planning for Summer Trips

Food Planning for Summer Trips

Written By: Samantha McCarthy, MS, RD/LDN

Summer is a time for family camping trips, hiking trips, and many other fun, outdoor activities. These trips are a great way to be more physically active and bond with your family or friends.

We pack all of the appropriate gear and necessities for our trip, but do you plan your food appropriately? Without the convenience of your kitchen or local grocery store, food planning can be tough. Here are some tips on how to pack the right foods for your next trip:

1. Plan Ahead

   Make sure you know what the plans are ahead of time. Try to anticipate what you will be able to carry and pack. Always check the weather conditions and do your best to know what you will be dealing with on your trip. If it’s going to be warmer out, you will need extra water to keep you hydrated. If you will be physically active like hiking, biking, or kayaking, your energy needs will also be increased so you will need to bring more food with you. Be realistic about what you will be able to carry. If you are carrying a heavy backpack up a mountain, you won’t want to pack heavy food items. Also, consider how you will be able to prepare and consume food if your trip is overnight.

    

2. Pack Easy to Carry Foods

   Nobody wants to carry an extra 20 pounds of food and fluids while hiking or biking. Pack high energy, nutrient dense foods that are compact. Here are some examples:

   • Trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits
   • Peanut and nut butters
   • Nuts, seeds, or nut-based bars
   • Dried fruits
   • Healthy turkey jerky
   • Moon cheese
   • Packaged low-sodium tuna or salmon
   • Energy bars, chews, or gels
   • Whole-grain tortillas with peanut butter
   • Homemade granola
   • Water, sports drinks, or powder beverage mixes to keep you hydrated

      

3. If staying overnight, pack easy to prepare foods

In addition to the items above, you will want to have some other options for when you camp out overnight. If you have the ability to boil water, you can bring items like:

• Whole grain pasta
• Freeze-dried foods
• Dried soups
• Hot cereal
• Beans
• Rice and other whole grains like quinoa

If you are able to have a fire, you have the ability to bring meat for the first night, as long as you have the means to keep it cool. Always make sure you have non-perishable food items for trips lasting longer than a day.