Camping snacks, for whatever reason, are often limited to GORP and s'mores. (Why camping snacks also have bizarre names is another thing altogether.)
GORP and s'mores will only get you so far. Like, maybe through one night of camping. Then you'll wake up, stomach grumbling, guts burbling, with lots more camping left to do.
You don't have to leave your GORP or s'mores (or s'mores GORP!) behind on your next camping trip. But you probably should pack the following healthful snacks to keep your taste buds entertained and your body energized for whatever might cross your path.
Homemade Granola
You can buy granola at the supermarket. It is okay. It is also sugary. So if you like your food okay and sugary, then go ahead and pick up some supermarket granola for your camping trip.
If you like your food awesome and just a touch of sweet, but also with a lot of other flavors, then make homemade granola. It is easy—as are all the recipes in the A Man, A Pan, A Plan cookbook, which is where this recipe comes from.
1. In a large nonstick pan over medium heat, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Stir in 2 Tbsp honey and mix well. Add 2 Tbsp flaxseeds and 2 Tbsp dried blueberries and cook, stirring frequently, until aromatic, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the 1 cup old-fashioned oats, 1/4 cup sliced almonds, and 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon and cook, stirring continuously, until the almonds are golden brown and the mixture is slightly sticky, another 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Spread the granola on a sheet of aluminum foil and allow to cool. Feeds 4
Nuts!
Pecans! Almonds! Walnuts! Even peanuts! All nuts are good sources of heart-healthy fats, sure, but they are also good sources of calories, which you'll need if you'll be hiking on your camping trip.
Carrots
Yes, carrots. They're durable. They're delicious. Snack-wise, they are the perfect camping vegetable snack, though they are also surprisingly amazing when cooked over a fire as a super-simple campsite dinner side dish.
Oh, carrots are boring you say? Here's are some single-serving sealed tubs of carrots' favorite friend to make your carrots un-boring.
This company has a technology that removes only the moisture from cheese. The result is 100 percent cheese, crunchified, without all the excess ingredients of your typical snack pack. They're sturdy little spheres, too, so they likely won't turn to moon cheese dust during your journey.
Prunes
They're dried plums and they're high in carbohydrates, many of which are fiber, so they'll keep you fueled during any hikes and regular through your trip. (Do not underestimate the power of a daily constitution during travel.)
You can find prunes in tub or pouch form, whichever suits your camping style best.
Wagyu beef, from a Japanese breed of cattle, has a rich marbling of fat and protein. This company lets the buttery flavor and tender texture of the meat stand on their own, heightening the savory flavors with only a little salt and pepper.
Sounds like a better treat after setting up a tent than a SlimJim, huh?
Whole grains deliver the fiber you need to squash a craving fast. Plus these have protein and healthy fats from real-food ingredients. They fit right in your flannel pocket too.
These crispy sheets of umami-loaded goodness are tinged with spicy wasabi powder. That means you can enjoy the flavors of sushi while camping, without actually packing sushi, which we don’t have to tell you is a really bad idea.
They're full of healthy fat and fiber, coconut provides many health benefits. And this snack only has two ingredients: coconut and sea salt. These no-sugar-added coconut curls are sweet enough. You can snack on them directly out of the bag.
Their first ingredient is “protein blend (milk protein isolate, whey protein isolate),” which sounds weird until you realize that that combination delivers a massive 21 grams of protein per serving. The average scoop of protein powder carries 25 grams of protein, so consider this when you consider packing all your stuff to make shakes on your trip.
Nuts steal all the good-fats glory. Seeds are high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, too. A quarter cup has 11 grams of protein. Consider them another form of camping fuel.
They’re super easy to make and they’re not full of sugar. Just add hot water and spoon out. Sprinkle some of those Dang coconut chips from before and you have good anytime camping snack.
They’re quick, convenient, and have a satisfying crunch. A serving has seven grams of protein and three grams of fiber. Good heat too.
They’re loaded with heart-healthy fats. Use them as a sandwich builder, pretzel dipper, or eat them straight out of the pouch.
Because you gotta keep the kids happy. Applesauce, and just applesauce, in a pouch. (Okay, you'll like it too.)
"Trail mix" tends to throw in a lot of candy. If you want chocolate, eat good chocolate. Like this good chocolate, which also happens to envelop good nuts, and carries a slight hint of salt to make everything taste even better.
You may think salmon jerky is weird, but then you taste salmon jerky and you'll be like whooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaa nelly HOLD ON TO YOUR CAMP CHAIRS.
Why eat marshmallows when you can eat these fluffy pillows of porky deliciousness instead?
Fine. Here are some marshmallows too.
Paul Kita is a Deputy Editor at Men's Health, where he has covered food, cooking, nutrition, supplements, grooming, tech, travel, and fatherhood at the brand for more than 15 years. He is also the author of two Men's Health cookbooks, Guy Gourmet and A Man, A Pan, A Plan, and the winner of a James Beard Award.
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