10 Easy and Budget-Friendly Camping Meals

After a tiring day of team building activities in the camp, there’s nothing more rewarding than eating scrumptious meals while hanging around the campfire. Unfortunately, you might not have any strength left to prepare complicated meals.

Food is essential during camping as it helps replenish energy and nutrients the body needs to cope with the conditions outdoors. Some think it’s a hassle to prepare their own meals for camping, but actually, there’s nothing much you need to prepare for a yummy meal outdoors! You cannot live on marshmallows during the whole trip!

Before you start prepping and cooking, we advise that you should start planning your itinerary — if you have many activities set on a day, then its more appropriate to eat protein-rich meals, vice versa. Don’t forget to bring in portable lunchboxes. Once you’ve planned your itinerary, you can now determine which days would need more preparation than the other.

Fortunately, Quest Adventure Camp has your tummy saved for lunch and dinner! Some of our team building options are often bundled with packed lunch and dinner for our participants. If you’re preparing for an outdoor adventure, these easy and cheap camping meals can get you going throughout your camping day!

Breakfast

Preparing for the day’s challenges shouldn’t be challenging, especially while preparing food on the camp. Here are some quick, no-cook breakfast options that can help boost your energy and get you going throughout the day:

1. Peanut butter and banana sandwich – never underestimate the good old combination of peanut butter and banana! Peanut butter and banana combined brings a healthy pack of fiber, protein and potassium, both important for muscle function and repair.
2. Yogurt and granola – sounds fancy, right? But this combination is a safe alternative to peanut butter and banana sandwich, especially if you’re watching your sugar intake. Yogurt and granola contain proteins as well, but it is also rich in calcium and Vitamin D — both essential in building and maintaining strong bones. You can also add fruits like strawberries for Vitamin C, to improve your body’s immune system and iron absorption.
3. Omelets in Ziploc bags – yes, it’s possible to have your breakfast favorite with you during camping! Using large Ziploc bags and boiling water, you can prep and cook this in no time! Boil some water and cook these omelets for 12 to 15 minutes. To make your own omelet, crack an egg or 2 into one bag, add some toppings like pepper, onions, ham, sausages, anything you want to add. Isn’t that convenient?

Lunch

This may be the most important meal for those consistently outdoors; us Pinoys expect a hearty meal served with rice, but some campgrounds prove it difficult to enjoy eating your packed lunch. Instead of the usual adobo and rice combination, why not try these on-the-go meals for camping?

4. Sandwiches of your choice – this is not your ordinary tasty-palaman combination; we’re talking about pieces of ham or tuna spreads with real bits in them. Prepare sandwiches like a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, Roast Beef Sandwich, Chicken Salad Sandwich, and more.
5. Burgers – we keep suggesting these kinds of food so that you can always eat them on the go. Ask your campground officer if you would be allowed to grill burgers in the campfire to fully enjoy the experience as it is. Here at Quest Adventure Camp, we provide everything from lunch to dinner and even snacks for the bonfire gathering, so there’s no need to fuss! Just sit back and relax!
6. Pita wraps – If you don’t want to eat bread, pita wraps can be a good alternative, especially paired with hummus, a snack low in fat and sodium, but high in fiber and protein. There are numerous ways of serving food with pita and hummus, but most often, it is served with meat choices like beef and lamb. Pita and hummus are good to combine with vegetables as well. It’s a quick lunch solution that you can eat in camp.
7. Pizza logs – who wouldn’t love pizza for lunch? Serve this pizza with a twist and add various flavors in one log. It’s easy to prepare and cook over a bonfire; this will leave you feeling full!

Dinner

After an exhausting day doing strenuous activities, wouldn’t it be nice to eat quickly, rest, and tuck yourself good night? Here are some suggestions for your camp dinner that will surely help you reenergize for the following day:

8. Soups and stews – the night may be cold and chilly, but thanks to some hot soup and stew, you’ll stay warm and cozy! There are your crab and corn soup, or the classic creamy chicken sopas made from elbow macaroni, hot dogs, chicken, and evaporated milk.
9. Grilled food like camping skewers – It’s an easy-peasy dish to enjoy over the campfire, as you grill different skewers such as chicken and veggie kebabs or some grilled corn. For us Filipinos, we’re used to barbecues, hot dogs, and even the weird ones like isaw and Betamax. For a heartier dinner, enjoy chicken barbeques, pork barbeques, and even your favorite fish cooked inihaw
10. Desserts – the nights are made for relaxation and indulgence — yes, it’s time to unleash the marshmallows and start popping them in the bonfire! Add a twist to this old traditional camp food and create some camp s’mores!

These are some cheap yet delicious options that you can prepare for your camping day! Here in Quest Adventure Camp, you don’t need to worry as we offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner options depending on the package that you will avail from us. We always take into consideration the health and satisfaction of our camp participants.

While these are easy to prepare, you should consider preparing your food ahead of time; get pre-mixes ready, meat already skewered, or your sinaing already cooked at home. When planning for your camping trip, consider the travel time and schedule of activities in preparing food. Some food spoils easily than others due to extreme heat, so storing them in appropriate containers will keep it fresh. Again, planning is still the best way to prepare for easy, cheap camping meals to serve for your family or your friends.

Do you have any easy-peasy camping recipes to share with us? Let us know in the comments section, and we might just add your suggestion!