Many families take weekend camping trips through the summer and fall. This is a great opportunity to step out of your normal routine and spend more time together as a family, while enjoying the beautiful gifts of nature. However, a typical camping menu consists of hamburgers, hotdogs or bratwurst. If you're trying to lose weight, or if you simply prefer to eat a healthier diet, there are much healthier options that are still easy to prepare in a camping environment.

Note: the following meal ideas are designed for car/trailer camping, where a grill or fire, camp stove, cooler, and pans are available for cooking. If you're backpacking, you'll probably need an alternate plan!

For breakfast: Start with fruit, bran muffins, orange juice and coffee. You can also easily transport egg substitute (or use egg whites) for scrambled eggs. Add some pre-chopped vegetables (bell pepper, mushroom, onion, spinach) for a more nutritious breakfast. Also cook up some turkey bacon for a hearty, filling breakfast that will give you the energy you need for the day ahead.

For lunch: Make some simple sandwiches with deli turkey or lean ham, reduced fat cheese, mustard and light mayo. Bring along a bag of baked chips, and a container of cut and washed vegetables with light ranch dressing for dipping.

For dinner: You have several great options, as you can grill all kinds of wonderful things. For a 'gourmet' touch, bring along a salmon fillet already marinating in a ziploc bag with teriyaki sauce. Brush with honey while grilling. Serve with sweet potatoes baked in double-layered foil in the fire and a tossed salad. Or substitute the salmon with marinated chicken breast grilled to perfection. If you're in the mood for something more traditional to camping, serve fat-free hotdogs, or turkey burgers with vegetarian baked beans, slices of watermelon and corn on the cob, grilled in the husk.

For snacking: Make your own trail mix with whole almonds, raisins, other dried fruits, and maybe just a few M&M's. Bring along whole fresh fruit, or a fruit salad. Before you leave, pop some fat-free microwave popcorn and bring in Ziploc bags. Also, stock your cooler with lowfat yogurt.

These are just a few ideas for easy, nutritious foods that are adaptable for a camping trip. As you can see, it's really pretty simple to come up with healthier alternatives to heavier, traditional camping meals. Just plan ahead, be creative and you'll feel great out there in nature!

© Health-E-Meals.com, 2004

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