As far as Canadians go, we tend to favour the outdoors over the summer, with 70% of us active in some type of outdoor or wilderness adventure, and nearly 25% of us savvy enough to attempt tent camping, according to Statistics Canada. Of course, camping is included in this mix, being a cost effective and local option for many of us this summer. When it comes to nutrition, however, many of us associate camping with decadent deli meats, canned and salty chilis, soups and stews, and more sugar from processed cereals, candies, granola bars, and chocolates we may take along for ease, convenience, and popularity.

Perhaps what you have in place year after year for camping meals is working well for you, and after all, vacation time is about enjoyment of all things. For some of you, however, camping may be a more regular endeavour, in which case, it may be a good idea to have some nutritious and practical meal options available to consider and build in to your camping repertoire.  The following options are laid out by length of camping trip to give you variety and options based on how long you plan to venture out into the beautiful and natural world.

Two Days - If you are camping for two days, you can be a bit more flexible with what you choose to bring, as  this is a shorter trip. Remember that foods that have a lower moisture content, such as dried fruit and nuts, make excellent snacks or toppers for a salad at a meal. 

Bring whole grain breads and wraps for easy sandwiches, and fresh herbs (these include parsley, mint, basil, oregano, cilantro and anything green and leafy that you enjoy), as herbs serve many purposes in your meals as additions to sandwiches, soups, salads, and cheese plates. Finally, rather than buying canned child which is high in salt and preservatives, bring cooked beans in mason jars (which can also be used for drinking beverages). Cooked beans can be marinated in olive oil and vinegar to include in sandwiches, salads, soups, and just on their own for a snack (with fresh herbs you brought, for example).

Four Days - As this is a longer camping trip, you may want to bring more fresh whole fruit, like a bag of apples, or oranges, or seasonal fruit that you enjoy. You can also bring bags of bell peppers, lettuce greens, or bring more quantities of the options highlighted under the Two Days camping trip. Liquid eggs are also handy for the breakfast burrito that can be easily made with the ingredients mentioned here, and fresh tomatoes can be used to make pasta dishes or a rice pilaf. If you plan to bring canned meals, note that they are higher in sodium and additives, so perhaps consider diluting them out with water and fresh vegetables of your choosing. Processed meats are also higher in salt and additives, so try canned tuna, or canned plain beans as an alternative.

Seven Days - Although I have not personally camped for this amount of time, I imagine you will need to bring a great deal of food with you so foods that serve multiple purposes are likely best to ensure you have a reasonable amount of space and weight to carry. Making a batch of granola beforehand for breakfast, and storing in reusable bags will help put together a quick breakfast of snack for the group, and bringing some healthier granola bars, unsalted nuts, and fresh and dried fruit for snacks will be helpful for the longer trips.Tahini is a sesame seed paste (which you can also replace with any nut butter or soybean-based Wow butter in case of a nut allergy) and very versatile - you can use it in both savoury dishes, such as a fresh herb pesto, or vegetarian pad Thai sauce, or in sweet dishes such as banana date balls, all of which you can make on the fly with simple kitchen supplies while camping. Dry oatmeal is also a great choice while camping for longer trips because you can use it as a morning cereal, but also combine it with green leafy veggies and liquid eggs for a vegetarian falafel option that you can serve with pita bread or in a wrap.

Remember to dispose of your garbage in a safe manner as not to attract wildlife or disrupt their habitats, and store your food safely overnight and with freezer packs, as needed. Frozen water bottles are a good option to add with ice packs, as the water can be consumed once the ice has melted, and you have a two for one packing situation when it comes to space and weight of items.

Enjoy outdoor life, and all the creative ways you can prepare delicious meals while camping.