A Guide to Keto Camping Food
Camping is a great way to get some fresh air, unplug from the grid, and reconnect with nature and your family or friends. Even so, camping doesn’t come without its challenges when it comes to what you will eat and drink. Those who are on the keto diet may need to do a little more prep work to ensure that they have easy access to keto-friendly meals and snacks.
So what keto camping food should you plan to pack? Here are some of the best ideas that are lightweight and minimize cooking time without making any sacrifices when it comes to flavor.
Foil Packets
One of the quickest and easiest ways to roast things over an open fire is by putting food into foil packets. You can slice up some sausage or dice chicken and coat it with keto-friendly barbecue sauce or sauce of your choice, or cook up steak bites this way. All of the prep work can be done before you ever leave home, with the foil packets being stored right in the cooler.
Not to mention, sticking with pure meats like this is a way to save your macros for other parts of the camping trip as meats typically have no carbs (depending on how they are prepared).
Kabobs
On the first night at the campground, you might want to utilize your perishable goods. One way to use up meats and some low-carb veggies is through kabobs. Skewer your favorite meats and veggies, glaze them with a keto-friendly sauce, or wrap them in bacon like these barbecue bacon-wrapped keto shrimp (2.5 grams net carbs).
Sandwiches
Sometimes, convenience foods are a great way to pack for your camping trip. Purchase a loaf of low-carb bread and your favorite deli meat to make sandwiches. If you don’t mind a little prep work at home, you can even make your own keto bread in advance following this almond flour bread tutorial.
Keep these as simple or as fancy as you prefer; you can add romaine lettuce, onion, cheese, and even condiments that you pack, or stick with meat and bread.
Almond butter sandwiches are another option that is less perishable and packs a protein punch for your diet. You can make your own toasted almond butter at home to ensure that it has the flavor and nutritional benefit that you desire.
Alternatively, you could skip the bread altogether, going the route of deli meat rollups like this popular option with salami and pickles.
Walking Tacos
Is there anything more satisfying than tacos around the campfire? Make it easy by buying individual bags of nacho cheese chips like the keto-friendly Quest brand. Cook up your taco meat or bring it from home, dump a serving into the bag of chips, and add your toppings.
Everything is neatly contained within the bag to minimize cleanup and it’s extremely lightweight if you’re backpacking to the campsite.
Breakfast Options
A little prep work at home means that you’ll have breakfast taken care of as soon as your campers emerge from their tents in the morning. Egg cups can be made in advance, and they’re lightweight enough that you can carry them to your final destination with ease. They are filling, nutritious, and give you a quick hit of protein to start the day.
Here are a few breakfast options you may want to keep in mind when looking for keto camping food:
- Mushroom and herb egg muffins (2 grams net carbs)
- Starbucks egg bites (1 gram net carbs)
- Egg muffin cups (1 gram net carbs)
- Ham and cheese egg muffins (0.4 grams net carbs)
Baked goods are also an option to curb a sweet craving, and the bonus is that most don’t need to be kept on ice while you camp.
- Keto blackberry muffins (3 grams net carbs)
- Keto blueberry scones (7 grams net carbs)
- Maple bacon keto muffins (2.6 grams net carbs)
- Keto walnut bread with maple butter (2.1 grams net carbs)
- Coconut chocolate chip muffins (7.6 grams net carbs)
Snack Foods
Of course, most people who are camping are going to get hungry between meals with all of the exercise and energy-burning that you are likely to do. You may also want to pack a few snacks to tide you over between meals such as:
- Hard cheeses like cheddar or parmesan
- Kalamata or manzanilla olives
- Fresh berries (keep in mind these are relatively high in carbs)
- Keto-friendly chips or multiseed crackers
- Nuts (Brazil, almond, macadamia)
Plan Your Camping Trip Menu
Planning for a camping trip doesn’t have to mean that you sacrifice flavor just to stick to your keto diet while on-the-go. With a little bit of prep work and planning, you can have delicious meals and snacks that don’t kick you out of ketosis. Start planning your camping menu today to ensure that you can stick with your diet even in the wilderness.
