How to Make Camping Trips Healthy

My biggest challenge for dieting is also one of my favorite past-times - camping!

Marshmallows on a stick nestled in-between two graham crackers and the chocolate is just the perfect melty'ness. You painstakingly pull the goodness off the stick after roasting it with such special care so not to burn it but not still have a raw marshmallow. Then you take that first bite and mmmmmmm... you're drooling like Homer Simpson!

Then there's the grill with hamburgers smothered in ketchup, hot dogs with relish, potato salad, macaroni salad and sausage with potatoes for breakfast. (I really shouldn't write so close to lunch time!)

So, what do I do? Give in and pack up all my favorite camping goodies? Oh... I would like to! But I'm not going to.

I will pack some and indulge a little, but mostly stick to a healthy diet. I will be able to do this by planning and prepackaging items. I am planning on making breakfast burritos with eggs, salsa and spinach for most mornings. This is fairly straightforward and easy - a package of tortillas, carton of eggs and bag of spinach. Voila! Breakfast!

My hubby will have the same but loaded with cheese and my little daughter will probably just eat the cheese and tortilla.

For lunches, I am premaking a Mediterraneans pasta and sandwiches with whole wheat bread and turkey breast. I will pack fruit, veggies, hummus and nuts for snacks and to accompany lunch. Dinner is going to be chicken that I froze with a marinade in the bag with grilled veggies. I am packing zucchini, asparagus and red potatoes. We are also going to have salmon patties that I buy from Costco (they are yummy) and I'm making a Greek salad with tomato wedges, red onion, cucumber, feta cheese, olive oil and red wine vinegar. And finally, turkey burgers that I mix with spinach and feta cheese.

I am going to make those ahead and freeze them so that they're already in patties and ready to go. I'll probably serve this with more grilled veggies and left over Greek salad. Don't think that I forgot about the goodies... I have smores fixin's, cookies and brownies. The latter are more for my hubby, but I don't want to feel guilty for taking a bite!I hope that this is helpful if you're trying to figure out what to when you're camping.

There are so many resources and easy recipes out there. Foil pouches are awesome! Just throw some meat (my favorite is salmon), potato slices and veggies in foil, seal and throw over some low coals. Oatmeal is a big hit and easy to prepare and pack too. Let us know what your healthy camping favorites are. I can't wait to hear!