Healthy Camping 2.0: Food

If you have not already read my first installment of healthy camping, Healthy Camping 1.0: Working Out, check it out!

This is part two, about how to eat correctly while out on your trip. So many people relate camping to unhealthy snacks, prepackaged items, and overall eating complete junk. But honestly, why is this? I know that buying quick, ready to go foods seems the easiest route... after all, you're out in the WILDERNESS, what else is there to eat when you can't cook on a stove?

Uh... who needs a stove?! Camping is honestly the IDEAL environment (no pun intended) to prepare EASY food in a nutritious way. How do you think the caveman cooked their food? Or those surviving in the wild? They certainly could not have access to a Walmart for a Twinkie or Cheeto run, or have the ability to use a stove top. What did they use? A fire... something that you most likely have as well when camping!

A fire is your best friend when preparing healthy camping food. Most camp grounds will offer a fire pit at your location, and often times even have a wire or metal tool that can be placed over it. This can be used not only to keep the fire down, but also to hold foods as they are being cooked! If your camp ground does not offer this tool, you can bring one yourself (such as a wire rack).
With the fire, you can easily cook raw meats. You can cook vegetables kabob style, or wrap them in foil and let them "steam" a bit (if you do this, I suggest adding some liquid in the form of chopped tomatoes or perhaps a bit of broth or water). Also, potatoes are easily cooked if put in a fire pit and wrapped in foil. 


Image via Google Images

Also, try cooking over the fire using pots or pans. Instead of roasting marshmallows on a stick, stab on meat and roast them the same way!


Image via Google Images



Image via Google Images

Try bringing your own grill, either charcoal or electrical powdered. On my recent trip, my godparents brought their grill and we used this each night instead of the fire. It works just as well!

If you have access to an electrical output at your site, you could bring a small toaster oven. We did this as well, and we cooked potatoes this way. It takes a while, yes, but how much easier does it get to throw some food in there in the morning, and when you return in the afternoon or evening, it is done?

Make sure to bring basic utensils. Forks, spoons, and napkins can be throw away if wanted, but I suggest you make sure and bring at least two quality knifes with you to ensure you can chop your meats and vegetables.

Don't forget seasonings too! You can do alot with the basic salt and pepper, but I am also talking about simple, not always "ground" seasoning. Cooking your meat in foil alongside an onion creates tons of flavor, and you can try adding some tomato paste in with a soup, meat, or vegetable mix to add a bit of tang.

Now, some might be wondering how you safely bring raw meats and vegetables to a camp site without them spoiling first. If you choose to buy them before you arrive, pack them in a cooler. If you know your camp site is within realistic, drive-able range of a grocery store, try settling yourselves in the site and then make a quick trip to the store. Or you know, you could be really awesome and hunt your own meat... but that is only optional. ;) (However, any fish you catch really can-and should- be eaten!)

As far as storing meats and veggies go... again, stick with a cooler. Some people have mini fridges (if you are in a camper like I was, or you are staying in a cabin)... but otherwise, just make sure you have access to fresh ice daily, and you will be fine.

Most of all... BE PREPARED!! PLAN AHEAD!! Don't go out to the site without knowing what you are going to be doing. You have already planned and packed your clothes and such, so why not also be ready when it comes to food? Perhaps the week you are leaving, write down what you plan for doing at meal time, and make a list. That way grocery shopping and cooking will be easy.

Here is a view of my campsite. You can see the fire pit (which we did not use this time), and the grill my god parents brought in the back there!

Now, I am not saying that all pre packed snacks are bad. I utilized a few of these things when I was camping, and highly suggest you do so as well. Some healthy, ideal meal or snack items would be:

- Hummus
- Baby cheese rounds or sticks
- Sliced up fruits or vegetables
-Unsweetened fruit or applesauce cups 
-Small packets of peanut butter  
- Packaged, unsalted nuts 

I know there are more, but these are just some off the top of my head. Let me know if you have other suggestions for this list!

I was lucky enough to also have access to a gas powered stove (yes, I know this sounds so hypocritical of me! But USUALLY I don't have a stove what so ever.) That being said....

I made makeshift Paleo Pancakes. I didn't have a pan so they were more like... sweet, scrambled fruit eggs with peanut butter? Weird, but oh well. It worked!

These are just some basic guidelines on how to stay on track with your food while camping. With proper preparation, there is no reason ANY traveling should ever be used as an excuse to slack on your diet.

When you go camping, what do you eat?

This post is linked to Unprocessed Fridays 

Natalie

Healthy Camping 1.0: Working Out

I was MIA for a few days recently due to a camping trip! It was TONS of fun, and I got to visit with my godparents and their children (well, not really children any more... the youngest is 22!) whom I grew up with.

Many of my family and friends live out in the country, and I was raised with frequent trips out to the lake and barn. Going camping was something that was simply excepted every year, usually multiple times. However, as I've gotten older, and many family has either moved, became sick, or passed away... our trips have died down.

I am blessed my godparents recently bought a camper (their old one broke years ago), so we can start going again! I will be sure to do a recap soon. ;)

Anyways, I thought that it would be a good idea to do a post about how to stay healthy when camping. Everyone I was with out there knows that I strive for a healthy diet and lifestyle, so they were understanding when I didn't snack of the loads of chips, pre packaged sweets, and cola, or when I chose to pre make and bring my own food so I had something for meals when they were eating hamburgers with refined breads and high fructose corn syrup infused sauces.

I decided to make the first post about how I kept up with my workout schedule while away.

I know what many of you are thinking, "It's vacation, just skip a few workout days, relax...". However, this is simply not how I think. If I decided to do this, my body would be restless all day long, and I would honestly be VERY grumpy. That hour of working out is ME time. I challenge myself, let out frustration, and in turn feel FANTASTIC afterwards.

Plus, you only ever get what you put into something. Just because I'm not at home doesn't give me an excuse to not work out. I'm responsible for my own body, and my goal is to build muscle, and get stronger. That isn't going to happen on it's own! So, I took initiative, and planned my workouts with what I knew I would have available, and with what I brought.

Me planking on top of a bench. I know I look like... well, I look like a dirty old camper.

Know The Area You Will Be Staying
Not the entire camp, just your site. Is there a trail near you where you can go jogging? Are there benches, or a park you can utilize? Where is the smoothest ground surface, and where is the shade going to be when you work out? Knowing these things will help you plan your workout details.

Be Prepared...
Don't leave the house without packing your tennis shoes, socks, and a pair of workout clothes (I also brought my lifting gloves). I suggest pants that are tight and go to about your knees (think yoga capris), and a tank that has a built in bra. You don't want to be packing your entire workout wardrobe, only what you need.

This goes for any equipment, too. You always are going to want to have a mat, or a towel at least. You can use your own body weight in stead of actual weights, of course, but I always like the added resistance. I packed a pair of 5lbs and 10lbs. If I had a kettle bell I would have packed that instead. You can also take a medicine ball, hand or ankle weights, really anything you would like and have room for.

The simplest, easiest form of resistance would be a resistance band. You can use this multiple ways, either hold it or tying it to a chair, bench, or tree.

Time Wisely 
Typically, you will find yourself camping in the warmer parts of the year. This being said, it is not the best idea to start your workout in the middle of the afternoon, when things are the hottest (unless, of course, you're staying in an air conditioned cabin...but that is a different story!).

I always work out in the morning. I naturally was woken up by the sun around 7, so that's when I did my workout. You could also do it in the evening, however I think you may find yourself too tired after a fun filled day of fishing, swimming, kayaking, or just being in the heat.

Utilize Your Own Body Weight
I know I said I brought dumb bells with me, but I also made sure I used my own body weight to the best of my ability. Lots of people will find themselves with no equipment what so ever, so this is really important for them.

If you have a bench or chair, try things like step-ups, box jumps, and Bulgarian Split Squats for the legs. For arms, you can do incline or decline push ups as well as tricep dips.

Other body weight movements include lunges, squats, regular push ups, pull ups (on trees, poles, ext), planks, burpees, squat jacks... there is a long list of things you can do!

Utilize Natural Equipment
You may find that you have plenty of "weights" all around you. Rocks, chunks of wood, containers of water, bags of charcoal... anything that you can safely handle that adds resistance, use!

Have Water at The Ready!
Make sure you have WATER!! You are going to be outside, with no air conditioning. Be sure to put tons in the cooler not only for during your workout, but for after too.

Make Sure You Have Music, or Use Nature as Your Song
Lots of people listen music while they work out. This is great! However, I am just pointing this fact out because you may be relying on the gym's radio station, or some other form of tune that you won't have here. Your phone may not access Pandora or any other app that requires internet connection, or wifi, due to your location. So please plan accordingly! Create a playlist that doesn't need internet, or bring CD's and a radio.

This being said, you may NOT be able to use a radio. The people in your own camp, or any neighbors you have, might not want to listen to your head banging Metallica, or the brand new Beyonce song. Just in case, bring a pair of ear buds.

If you don't have any music, and do not have anyone else who will work out with you to keep you company, use nature as your stereo. Listen to the birds or crickets chirp, the sound of the trees in the wind, and the lake washing up on the beach. It may not be the best thing to pump you up, but sometimes it is alright to just get away from technology.


I stayed at my grandmothers house for a few days before camping, and then headed out to the camp site. I was camping for about 2 and a half days (I was there two mornings, so I worked out twice on site.) Here is what my workouts looked like:

Day 1: Upper Body

I used my dumb bells and did my Upper Body Explosion workout, found here.  

Day 2: Lower Body

I created this lower body workout using my location and equipment. I used: a bench (as pictured above), a mat, and 10 lb dumbbells.

 *Cardio= 1 minute jumping lunges, 1 minute jumping jacks, 1 minute jump squats

Cardio
15 Bulgarian Split Squats with DBs/leg, 15 Plie squats  X3
Cardio
15 Step Ups with DBs/leg, 15 Squat X3
Cardio
10 laying leg lifts (Pilates style)+10 leg circles each way/leg, 10 back lenges/leg X3
Cardio
15 donkey kick/leg, 15 Fire hydrant/leg, 15 knee circles/leg X3
Cardio

ABS:
12 leg drops, 12 Bicycles, 1 min plank hold X3


Each of these workouts took me about an hour to complete.

These are just a few tips to help keep you on track during your camping trip. Of course, it is also important to keep active outside of your workout! Enjoy a trail hike, go fishing or swimming, take a kayaking or canoeing trip!

What are some ways you keep active while camping, or traveling in general?

I will blog about how to go about food while camping soon!

Natalie