Food and Camping

[Catrin]

I've think I've fallen in love with camping at a certain park for the mountain biking. I can take my time, no rush, totally relaxing. Also great hiking if my legs need a break

I seem to have developed this....eating problem. No cooking supplies this year, I will do that NEXT season. So I've been taking things like fruit, PB and bread, cliff bars, shot blocks, chocolate milk in the cooler. Town is quite close if I decide to go into town for coffee or a hot meal.

So what is the problem? Actually DOING that - apparently I would rather play on the trails than eat This wouldn't be a problem if my body didn't actually need fuel! Breakfast is fine, it is later in the day that there is a problem.

Obviously I am taking the wrong stuff to eat - so am looking for other ideas for non-perishable food items that are appropriate/healthy food for mountain biking. So what would YOU take to eat that doesn't require cooking?

[surgtech1956]

Jerky, yogurt, pudding cups, cheese, cereal, lunch meat, salad(vinegar & oil dressing), tuna in those little packets. How long did your ice last? Sometimes we would freeze water either in a 2 liter bottle or gallon milk jug and put in a cooler, this would last longer. You don't want to cook anything? If you have a campfire, you can bring those 'pie irons' and make things like grilled cheese, grilled pb&j, cinnamon rolls, pizza pockets. You could still cook over a campfire and still keep it to a minimum.

[PamNY]

+1 on freezing a jug of water for the cooler. Lasts longer and is less messy.

If you have a cooler, cheese and boiled eggs come to mind. Tuna or other fish canned or in packets would work. Smoked fish is a possibility, too.

How long are your trips? For short trips, you could make pasta or grain-based salads before you leave home (again, if you take a cooler).

You might take a small, disposable charcoal grill if you don't want to invest in a camp stove or build a campfire. It's fun to have at least one nice dinner. You could also make a grill out of an aluminum pan if you have a safe place to put it at your campsite.

When you get ready assemble camp cookware, check thrift shops and yard sales. I got a Coleman stove and all kinds of pans for little money. Sierra Trading post also has good deals at times.

You really are making me want to go camping.

[Catrin]

Good ideas, thanks. I just drew a blank when packing for the weekend. I do have a nice cooler, and of course there is ice at the camp store. That isn't a problem I wasn't sure how often I would be free to refresh the ice since I was volunteering at a MTB race event this weekend, so was leery about taking perishable food such as home-made chicken salad.

Trying to get healthy food to go along with my evening beer by the fire

[Trek-chick]

I like to pre-cook some things before we go camping or RVing. Especially that first night when we roll into the campground late and the last thing I want to do is cook.

I like to make up some tuna macarroni salad, potato salad, sandwiches and put in Tupperware in the cooler.

[Catrin]

I like to pre-cook some things before we go camping or RVing. Especially that first night when we roll into the campground late and the last thing I want to do is cook.

I like to make up some tuna macarroni salad, potato salad, sandwiches and put in Tupperware in the cooler.

This is a great idea, I just need to get another cooler - one for food, another for beer and water. Water and beer? BEER!!! (sorry, couldn't resist it)

Hopefully if I go to all of this effort to pre-cook food it will encourage me to stop and eat I just get so caught up in what I am doing, whether it is hiking or riding, that I just don't feel hungry until I reach the starving-could-eat-a-tree-with-bark stage Cliff bars are great, but can't live all weekend on them!

Thankfully my new Soul is very well suited to hauling stuff like coolers. I can leave the food cooler in the car and I can just return to my car when it is time to eat. Also keeps the food safe from those pesky raccoons.

[limewave]

I second pre-cooking. The rest of the family is all about eating as many hot dogs as possible, I just can't handle that. So I make rice with beans or roasted veggies, etc. Cans of Amy's soup or some of her burritos are good and easy to travel with.

[OakLeaf]

No suggestions for food, but for your cooler, I'd recommend getting some of those plastic gel-filled ice packs. Smaller than water jugs, so they're easier to distribute around your food, and not so heavy that they'll crush sandwiches, etc., plus they don't take so much room in the freezer.

[limewave]

We freeze blocks of ice in sterilite containers. Get any size you want, big or small. They fit well inside the cooler. We keep blocks of them in our freezer so they are ready to go.

[indysteel]

Catrin,

I can't remember if you're a fan of beans, but I have a salad made with basmati rice, black beans, garbonzos and black eyed peas, red and green pepper and celery dressed with seasoned rice wine vinegar that would probably keep just fine on ice for at least a couple of days. It's to be served at room temperature. I can send you the recipe if you'd like.

[Catrin]

Catrin,

I can't remember if you're a fan of beans, but I have a salad made with basmati rice, black beans, garbonzos and black eyed peas, red and green pepper and celery dressed with seasoned rice wine vinegar that would probably keep just fine on ice for at least a couple of days. It's to be served at room temperature. I can send you the recipe if you'd like.

I do need to be cautious with beans, but would like to try it. This sounds like something that wouldn't spoil too quickly, so sure, send me the recipe. Thanks!

[indysteel]

I do need to be cautious with beans, but would like to try it. This sounds like something that wouldn't spoil too quickly, so sure, send me the recipe. Thanks!

I thought I had it on my work computer, but I can't seem to find it. I'll look for it at home and get back to you.

[Pax]

I like to pre-cook some things before we go camping or RVing. Especially that first night when we roll into the campground late and the last thing I want to do is cook.

I like to make up some tuna macarroni salad, potato salad, sandwiches and put in Tupperware in the cooler.

I like to make a big container of black beans and cous cous, it's one of those things that can be eaten cold or hot, yum!

[GLC1968]

I would think in terms of a gourmet picnic for inspiration. I mean - you can pack anything if it's precooked and good to eat cold. Some things not yet mentioned: How about grilled marinated chicken? Summer sausage, fancy cheeses and pita chips or crackers? Fruit salad? Cold pizza (a lot of people love this!)? Olives, hummus, chopped veggies, dips, etc. Cucumber and tomato salad. Wraps and stuff to stick in them?

You could go to your local gourmet food store and browse their prepared food cases for ideas.

I would bet that not wanting to eat is probably easily solved by packing some foods that you love and that you'll look forward to eating!

I'm typically a backpacker when I'm camping, so the luxury of a cooler and no weight requirement is making me drool with jealousy! Get creative!

[Catrin]

I'm typically a backpacker when I'm camping, so the luxury of a cooler and no weight requirement is making me drool with jealousy! Get creative!

I think I was so busy focusing on having a tent, etc., etc., that I gave no thought at all for food until the last minute and then there wasn't time to do anything. I mean, I even forgot a rag to wipe off my chain Lesson learned, and thanks for all of the creative suggestions!

I am typically not very creative in my diet, though I do enjoy good food. I CAN combine creativity and the fact my body gets to work on these trips means that I don't have to be quite as restrictive as usual