Eating Healthy Even When You Are Camping

I think it’s pretty safe to say that a vast majority of the so-called “camping” foods aren’t all that good for our waistlines. Think about it, there are hamburgers, hot dogs, maybe some macaroni and cheese, a bag of chips, soda, and the oh so yummy s’mores. But there are ways to still enjoy the grill, the RV atmosphere, and keep it delicious and lower in fat. One of the easiest switches you can make is to switch out the hamburgers and hot dogs for meats much lower in calories and saturated fats such as chicken and fish. My kids are just as happy with a chicken sandwich as they are a hamburger any-day.

Another great tip to keep your calories in check is to use meat as a condiment. What this means is to have veggies or rice be the main portion of the meal and meat is there to add flavor. I do this when I make our shish kabobs. I will add 2-3 pieces of meat to each kabob and the rest is loaded with colorful vegetables. It’s also important to keep fresh fruits on hand for you and your family to snack on instead of reaching for that all too convenient bag of chips.

Now that dinner is covered the biggest struggle that we had was to find a healthier substitute for the s’mores. I am a self-admitted chocoholic and the idea of giving up chocolate simply wasn’t an option. But I did find a dessert that I, as well as my picky little eaters, loved almost as much as the s’mores. I buy a big bunch of bananas and with the skin on I cut them long ways down the middle but not all the way through. I then stuff them with dark chocolate chips and then wrap them with foil. We put them on the grill long enough to let the chocolate melt and the bananas get a bit mushy. We open them up and eat them straight out of the peel! You can always add more to the stuffing of the bananas such as nuts, marshmallows, or candy bar pieces. Great tasting, less fat, still able to enjoy the fun of campfire cooking, and my pants fit better! Overall a win-win all around!