Camp food is one of the best parts of camping. From foil-packet meals cooked over hot coals to Dutch oven pizza shared around a campfire, these meals become a huge part of the experience.
But camp food isn’t always the healthiest. Of course, Scouts need plenty of calories to keep up their energy for hiking, swimming, and outdoor activities. So can camp chefs create energy-boosting meals that are just a little healthier — without ruining all the fun?
We asked registered dietitian Stacie Ellis. She had some thoughts.
Foil-Packet Meals
Ellis, a nutrition professor at the University of Texas at Arlington — says amping up the healthful content of this camp classic is all about the ingredients. Kids might try to stuff it full of fatty meats and cheeses, but a few simple adjustments can make this healthier.
- Add white potatoes or sweet potatoes for carb energy.
- Use chicken or lean ground meat.
- Include a variety of vegetables such as carrots, peppers, onions, asparagus and potatoes.
Walking Tacos
Ellis, who’s also the owner of Excellis Nutrition, admits this crunchy, snack-like “meal” is more about convenience than nutrition. But she says there are still ways to improve it.
- Swap regular chips for multigrain or baked options.
- Add colorful vegetables like cabbage, shredded carrots or radishes.
- Include beans for extra fiber and protein.
- Use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
Pancakes
Ellis says pancakes provide lots of energy for active kids on campouts — and they’re even healthier when paired with protein and fruit.
- Add fruit on top instead of syrup. (Or at least, without as much syrup!)
- Try multigrain or oat pancakes.
- Keep portions balanced rather than oversized.
- Pair pancakes with eggs for added protein.
Campfire Quesadillas and Fajitas
Kids will usually eat a quesadilla’s healthy pepper-and-onion medley. But you can kick the healthiness up a notch.
- Add black beans for fiber and protein.
- Include vegetables like spinach, squash, zucchini, peppers and onions.
- Use whole-wheat or high-fiber tortillas.
- Offer chicken and lean meat.
- Let kids build their own meals so they’re more likely to eat the vegetables they choose.
Grilled Cheese and Soup
Ooey-gooey meals don’t always scream healthy, but Ellis says the energy that the high-calorie cheese provides can still be layered with a few healthy choices.
- Use milk-based soups instead of heavy cream. (Lookin’ at you, tomato soup!)
- Even better: Try vegetable soups or stews.
- Add lean deli meat, like chicken or turkey, to the sandwich for extra protein.
- Use whole-grain bread when possible.
The Overall Message
Ellis’s advice across almost every camp meal: Add more fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Camp food doesn’t have to be “perfect” to be healthy, she says, especially for active kids who are hiking, exploring and burning energy outdoors.
Ellis adds: “Keep camp food fun, kid-friendly and satisfying while using simple upgrades to improve nutrition along the way.”