Camp food often means steaks, burgers, and pricey pre-packaged meals, but a few simple tricks can help you stick to your budget.
If you’re looking for ideas to reduce costs on your next trip, you’re in the right place.
We’re offering five of our best tips for cheap camping food that will satisfy you without breaking the bank.
Let’s take a bite!
Maximize Your Camping Trip with Cheap Food Options
Many of us enjoy camping because it allows us to slow down and enjoy the great outdoors on just about any budget. But it can be easy to overdo it on supply runs. Before you know it, you have a basket full of expensive pre-made meals and highly processed snacks.
After all, there’s no shortage of ready-made food specifically marketed for campers. You’ll find items like freeze-dried pad Thai, protein-packed granola bars, and little packets of goo that promise to keep you hydrated in just about every grocery store. However, you can get the same benefits for cheap by planning strategically and eating real food on your trip.
Remember, for many folks, camping is about getting back to the basics. It’s a time to connect with nature, your loved ones, and yourself without all the distractions of modern life.
Stick to Your Budget with These Camp Meal Hacks
As you prepare for your next adventure into the wilderness, stick to your budget by opting for old-school camp meals. Here are a few tips to keep your belly and bank account full.
#1 Make Detailed Meal Plans
By now, many of us have come to embrace meal prepping as a part of daily life. However, some people throw this idea out the window when planning a trip.
Planning out your camp meals is a great way to stick to your travel budget, though. Think about what you and your family eat on a typical day. Then, build a detailed recipe list to last the duration of your trip. Of course, you’ll need to consider how you’ll store and cook your food, but this method can help you save a bunch of money.
Hungry for more? Check out 5 Foodie Hacks for Easy Camping Feasts!
#2 Skip Pre-Made Snacks and Meals
While we’ve already mentioned the endless supply of pre-packaged meals, we haven’t really discussed the alternatives yet. Fortunately, replacing these pricey treats with cheap camping food isn’t too hard.
One option is to make your own trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. You can add chocolate chunks for a sweet version or opt for spicy corn nuts and sesame sticks for a Southwestern flavor.
Making granola or granola bars with oats, nuts, and dried fruit is also pretty easy. Like trail mix, you can craft a unique concoction based on your preferences. Best of all, they don’t include all those hard-to-pronounce mystery ingredients.
#3 Opt for Shelf-Stable Staples
When planning your grocery list, be sure to factor in your storage capacity. If you’re only heading out for the weekend, a well-built cooler can keep your perishable items from going bad. Still, opting for shelf-stable ingredients will reduce the energy required to keep your food in peak condition, so you can save that money for adventures on your trip.
Consider stocking up on peanut butter, bread, dried beans, and rice to make a range of budget camp meals. Fruits that don’t need to be refrigerated, such as apples and bananas, can give you a quick energy boost at a low cost.
If you have a drawer full of single-serve condiments at home, a camping trip is a great time to break them out! They don’t require much space, and the chances of going through an entire ketchup bottle are pretty slim, anyway.
Want to make cooking easier than ever? Check out the Magna Outdoors Rechargeable Grill Light!
#4 Divide and Conquer
One of the joys of camping is taking the party on the road and traveling with your closest friends. In these cases, we suggest divvying up the responsibilities to distribute the costs and give everybody a chance to show off their chef skills.
The most obvious way to do this is to have everyone buy ingredients for one or two meals and cook in batches to feed the whole crew. After all, buying ingredients in bulk often saves money, so your budget camp meals will be even more cost-effective.
Sharing cooking duties also means less work for everyone. One person at the grill may as well fix enough for the group while others can work on side dishes.
Just remember to share the clean-up tasks, as well!
#5 Craft the Ultimate Car-Chuterie Board
When it comes to budget camp meals, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to bust out the grill three times a day to eat well. And if you’re already bringing along a cooler, you may as well add ingredients to make your own “car-chuterie” board!
Grab your favorite block of cheese, a package of shrink-wrapped salami or other cured meat, and your additions of choice, such as crackers, nuts, dried fruit, and pickles. To save room in your cooler, you can either throw them into a shackle before your trip or wait until you’re ready to eat them.
Don’t forget to pack your Portable Snackle Box Container!
Budget Camp Meals Just Make Cents!
A venture into the wilderness is only sweeter when you prioritize budget camp meals. Of course, we love a perfectly cooked steak as much as anyone, but it isn’t feasible every night of the week. We also find that we appreciate gourmet delicacies even more after the challenge of crafting cheap, tasty food while camping.
Before you hit the road next, plan ahead and stick to your grocery list!
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