Enjoy the last weekends of summer by staying fueled and energized on all your outdoor adventures.

As summer comes to a close it is time to get in all those last-minute summer camping trips while the weather is still nice. Although camping and spending time outdoors is a great way to relax and refresh, packing and prepping for your trip can be challenging and hectic. So while you are getting together all your camping supplies, make sure to not forget about packing and prepping your meals and snacks for the weekend, and check out our tips below for keeping you and your camping mates fueled and hydrated!

Whether you are staying overnight or just adventuring for the day, it is always important to make sure you pack quick and accessible snacks and drinks to keep you going. Snacking regularly while hiking or adventuring outdoors (every 2-3 hours) will keep your body properly fueled and give you the energy to keep the fun going all weekend long.

It is important to include plenty of protein foods as well as carbohydrates. Carbohydrates give our bodies fast and easy energy to keep us going during hiking, boating, or swimming. Protein helps keep our muscles strong while also keeping us feeling full for longer. So, making sure you are eating a variety of protein and carbohydrate foods will supply your body with instant energy as well as provide lasting fuel for proper recovery.

One misconception about camping snacks is that they are boring, dried, and flavorless however, that doesn’t always have to be the case. Packing a variety of foods can help you get a variety of nutrients and also stay satisfied while continuing with your outdoor activities.

Add protein food such as beef jerky or tuna packs, something fresh like apple slices or carrot sticks, a carbohydrate-dense crunchy snack like pretzels or crackers, and something sweet like chocolate-covered almonds. This will make you feel well-nourished while also satisfying all those cravings. Try some of our favorite nutrient-dense snacks to take with you on your next camping trip.

Camping trip foods to keep you satiated and energized 

– Easy-to-peel/eat fruits such as bananas, oranges, and apples

– Pre-cut veggies such as celery and carrot sticks or broccoli/cauliflower florets

– Persian cucumber and cherry tomato salad

– Single-serving dips such as tzatziki, baba ganoush, roasted red peppers/greek yogurt in spices

– Single-serve Greek yogurt- our favorite is Siggis!

– Individually packaged cottage cheese- our favorite is Good Cultered!

– Premade egg salad

– Protein shakes from brands like Rebbl and Koia

Non-Perishables

– Dehydrated grass-fed beef sticks

– Tuna, sardines, herring, mackerel in jars or cans

– Fresh meal packs

– Hard and/or aged cheese

– Individually packaged nuts/seeds

– Nut Bars- try out Tossi brand!

– Single serving bags of popcorn, Popcorners, Stacy’s, Siete chips

– Protein Bars:

Besides making sure you are properly fueled, it is also important to make sure you stay properly hydrated. Just being outside in the hotter temperatures requires more water since you are probably losing more through sweating. Since not all camping grounds have access to clean water, it is important to check before getting to your site and is always a safe idea to bring extra gallons of clean water to refill your water bottles all weekend long.

You can also add electrolyte packets or hydration multiplier packets to your water. When hiking or doing outside activities that make us sweat more, we can lose salt and other electrolytes besides just water. Adding in a daily electrolyte packet when camping is a smart way to maintain our fluid balance and also make sure our bodies have the nutrients we need to stay fueled and energized. Lack of hydration and electrolytes can lead to fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and body soreness. If you don’t have any electrolyte packets, you can also get some salt through snacks such as pretzels or try bringing coconut water for natural hydration.

So while you are planning to enjoy this last long weekend of summer outside hiking and camping, remember to keep nutrition and hydration as part of your routine. Stop at your local market or grocery store and pick out a variety of perishable and nonperishable snacks to take on your weekend travels. Remember to add in sources of carbs and protein along with lots of water and electrolytes and take breaks to make sure you are staying fueled and staying hydrated. This will help everyone stay happy and healthy all weekend long!