When I take my kids out to the woods now, we go in a 20’ hybrid camper (26’ when the canvas-topped tent ends are extended). We used to tent camp, even when the kids were babies. My husband and I loved being outdoors and going out on my parents’ fishing boat, but the lack of sleep, the cold, the crunch-crunching across the campground to get to the outhouse at night and the hassle of working out of plastic tubs was decidedly not relaxing! Ultimately it was a lot more difficult than just spending the weekend at home.
Of course I have friends who swear that tent camping alone is “authentic.” Others eschew anything but backpacking in the remotest corners of the woods. To each their own! I live in the suburbs but I want my kids to spend great expanses of the summer climbing on rocks, swinging each other in hammocks, starting campfires, making up games with sticks and pine cones, and star-gazing without the ambient light of a thousand street lamps — having a camper makes it enjoyable for me, too.
So, yes! I have a little oven in my camper, and a sink and a freezer and a fridge. This may push my woodsy outings into “glamping” territory — I’m totally fine with that. Here are some convenience foods we treat ourselves to on long camping weekends*:
- Individual-sized pizzas (Costco, Sam’s Club – usually packs of 8)
- Salad-in-a-bag (Kroger, Costco, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s)
- Frozen beer-battered cod fillets (Costco — really good)
- Pre-seasoned frozen vegetables (Trader Joe’s)
- Tots! Particularly Alexia Sweet Potato Tots (Kroger, Natural Grocers, Whole Foods – frequently on sale)
- Pre-formed frozen turkey burgers (Trader Joe’s – 4 in a package)
- Pacific Organics Creamy Tomato Soup (Kroger, Whole Foods – great with grilled cheese!)
- Hashed brown potato patties (Trader Joe’s – pack of 10 – just like the ones from the golden arches but they cook up in a skillet in minutes)
- Cheese-filled tortellini (Any grocery store, Costco – these usually boil up in just three minutes then we pour off the water and pour in marinara or vodka sauce)
- Mix-and-match fruit danish (Costco)
- Watermelon and cantaloupe spears (Trader Joe’s)
- Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausages (Most grocery stores and warehouse stores – slice and simply cook up in a skillet)
- Jolly Llama mango sorbet pops (Trader Joe’s)
- Jimmy Dean’s Turkey Sausages (Most grocery stores and warehouse stores – these cook up fast with a lot less mess than bacon)
- Frozen waffles (Most grocery stores and warehouse stores)
Please leave a comment about easy foods that you camp with, and enjoy your next campout!
* Most campgrounds don’t offer recycling so we stash recyclable packaging in a box or bag during the trip and bring it back with us.
What I’m reading: The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify
What my 7-year old is reading: Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
