Camping Food Compromises

We are, quite possibly, the only family in Colorado who goes camping in a sedan. We balance a bike rack filled with 4 bikes on the back with another bike perched on top next to the rocket top. The kids have sleeping bags packed all around their feet and stuffed animals piled between them. The trunk is completely filled with food, of course. When we get out at rest stops I always wonder if the whole car might tip backwards, like a stroller with too many shopping bags hanging from the handlebars. When we go up mountain passes, we are the slowest vehicle in the slow lane at around 6 miles per hour, holding up even giant campers and loaded tractor trailers.

But we do eventually get there and start camping.

Camping, it seems, is considered a vacation. A vacation full of grime, extra work to accomplish the most basic tasks (such as washing dishes) and difficulty sleeping, but still a vacation. And I know many people subscribe to the idea that you should eat anything on vacation. I don't. I think you should eat anything that you really like on vacation. So, for me, marshmallows are in, as are s'mores. Fruit roll-ups, out. Hot chocolate, in. Sugary granola bars, out. Salt and vinegar chips, in. Boxed mac n' cheese and spaghetti-Os, definitely out. It sounds like an obvious point--but it's easy to overlook: don't eat junk food you don't love, even while camping.

That brings up the question: what can you eat while camping, besides junk food? Dehydrated food packets? No kid will eat those. And grown-ups only eat them so they can feel hard-core. They taste terrible. Gourmet fresh foods sauteed in your portable outdoor kitchen complete with spice rack and wine cooler? Not if you are traveling in a sedan. No, I go with easy to pack, easy to cook foods:

• Kashi brand granola bars
• Beef jerky (I get the kind w/out nitrates.)
• Turkey jerky (Hey, that rhymes!)
• Packets of instant grits
• Packets of instant unflavored oatmeal, with a bit of sugar on top
  
• Barbara's Bakery Saltine-style crackers
• 2% cheese sticks or string cheese
• Little containers of unsweetened applesauce, pineapple bits, or fruit cocktail
  
• Hebrew brand Low fat hot dogs (These do contain nitrates...it's a compromise.)
• Whole grain hot dog buns
• Unsweetened dried fruit
• 100% fruit chews
• 100% fruit juice boxes
• Apples
• Canned lower-sodium soup (Open the tops half way and set the whole can on the grill until hot.)
• Whole grain pasta, sauce and Parmesan cheese
• Baby carrots, pepper slices, cucumber slices and celery sticks
• Trail mix made with whole grain cereal