Who is going camping this summer? I sure am!! Camp cooking can be challenging (especially when gluten free) IF you are unprepared ~ but we gotchu! Our Gluten Free Camping Essentials includes our grocery list, plus tips and tricks for an easy delicious camping experience.
Summertime camping has been a Curry family favorite for as long as I can remember. Traveling with six people is expensive, especially when it involves plane tickets. A lot of our vacations were long road trips and camping in the mountains. Living by the beach, it was a beautiful change of scenery.
I can’t say I always loved these long road trips and camping adventures. Leaving Manhattan Beach, our perfect little vacation town, during its prime months was never desired. These road trips typically happened during my birthday (in the middle of July), which meant I got to spend it with my family in the middle of the wilderness. You can imagine as a 7 or 8-year-old girl how that wasn’t ideal.
Now, at 28 years old, my ideal birthday involves getting out of town and camping in the middle of nowhere. The less cellular service the better! Isn’t it funny how that works? Last year I spent my birthday in the Sierra’s, fully unplugged for three days with my lover and friends. This year I will be doing the same, but in Oregon.
Camping is my favorite way to disconnect and recharge. It is some of the only time I get to turn off my phone and just enjoy my surroundings. Immersing myself in nature by hiking, swimming in rivers and lakes, reading, and simply relaxing is so important to me. Camping feeds my soul.
Whether you are like me and look forward to these long weekends out of dodge, or you are camping for your first time this summer, think of this as your “cheat sheet” ~ your ultimate camping food guide!
Watch our vlog here and keep scrolling for all the goods!
CAMPING TIPS
- Make a list
- How many days will you be camping for, how many meals will you need to make, will there be days you are not by your campsite and need to plan for a meal on the go…?
- These are some of the questions to think of when making a grocery list.
- Think about kitchen tools you will need ~ can opener, beer/wine opener, cups, plates, utensils, etc.
- Make a list for clothing! Depending on how many days we will be gone, if there is a chance of rain, if there is a lake or river, hiking and other shoe options ~ I plan accordingly.
- Camping clothing tip: it always seems to get colder in the morning and night so I pack my Patagonia puffy jacket and a pair of sweats. Having an extra blanket to wrap around you is great too!
- You might eat less than you think.
- I typically find that breakfast and dinner are the main meals to focus on. Lunch typically consists of snacks, protein bars or our homemade bites, and maybe a sandwich or wrap (like our smoked salmon sandwich).
- Easy to prep meals
- If you are newer to the camping game, think in the rules of three ~ a protein, vegetable, and grain/starch. I love getting canned beans and rice and pairing it with a vegetable. Breakfast consists for eggs with potatoes or campfire toast, and maybe some spinach.
- How many days will you be camping for, how many meals will you need to make, will there be days you are not by your campsite and need to plan for a meal on the go…?
CAMPING TRICKS
- Canned or glass jar food: vegetables, proteins, soups, or rice and bean mixes.
- Theses are great as they don’t need to be refrigerated or in a cooler.
- Hearty vegetables that wont go bad quickly.
- Broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, green beans, and carrots~ these are all great green (for the most part) veggies to bring with. I might bring one bunch of spinach and/or arugula for the first days before cooler ice begins to melt.
- Grains or starches
- Sweet potatoes and regular potatoes are great for camp cooking. They can sit out, last awhile, and are great for morning or night.
- Cooking tip: wrap sweet potato in tin foil and throw them into the fire coals. Do it at night before you go to sleep as the coals are still hot and wake up to a soften sweet potato. Pair it with some berries, almond butter and cacao nibs for breakfast!
- As for grains, I typically get “instant” noodle packets that you just add water. Cook up some carrots, onions and broccoli and you have some gourmet noodles in no time!
- Sweet potatoes and regular potatoes are great for camp cooking. They can sit out, last awhile, and are great for morning or night.
- Clean up: eco-friendly cleaning wipes are great while camping! Having a designated bucket to conserve water and soap dishes in is great.
- Cooking tip: cast iron is wonderful! Get a steel wool sponge with some water and you are good to go.
CAMPING ESSENTIALS FOOD LIST
- Hydration: water, la croix, and coconut water
- Fun drinks: Kombucha, alcohol of choice and mixer
- Flavor: onion, garlic, shallots
- Sweet potatoes
- Broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, and or carrots
- Spinach and or arugula
- Canned veggies: artichokes, chilies, mushrooms
- Canned rice and beans
- Noodle packets (just add water)
- Instant oatmeal (just add water)
- Protein: eggs, sausages, burgers (Beyond Meat if vegan), fresh caught fish (if you’re good like that or going someplace you can get locally!)
- Canned wild fish: salmon, tuna, sardines, or anchovies
- Sandwich bread (Canyon Gluten Free Bakehouse is great and doesn’t need to be refrigerated)
- Cheese: I typically bring 2-3 varieties (Manchago and Goat Cheddar, or Feta)
- Hummus
- Crackers
- Chips
- Salsa
- Fruit: apples, berries, or dried
- Protein bars or homemade bites
- Single serving protein poweders, collagen etc.
- Coffee, tea, or mushroom elixers
- Condiments: mustard, aioli, ketchup
- Salt and Pepper (and any other seasonings you like)
We hope you found this helpful! I you liked this post, comment here or on our Instagram and Facebook posts to let us know 🙂
HAPPY (gluten free) CAMPING!! XO
