‘Tis the season! No, not that season yet. It’s the season for camping! If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, this is a great time of year to find a spot in the woods to pitch a tent or park your camper for some old-fashioned roughing it. While it’s tempting to let your diet run wild as you relax with Mother Nature, your mother won’t be there to tell you how to keep your time in the woods healthy.
But never fear – there are lots of ways to keep on track while you’re backpacking this summer. Keep the dieting wolves at bay with these tips on making sure you’re a happy and healthy camper.
1. S’more, please. Who says you can’t have s’mores while on a diet? Just make sure you pack the low-fat versions of its 3 delicious ingredients: low-fat graham crackers, some marshmallows, and a couple tablespoons of fat-free chocolate syrup. Maintain a time-honored campfire tradition while cutting calories!
2. Oatmeal. The breakfast of champions doesn’t have to require milk and a cereal box with a sports star on it. Oatmeal is a healthy and filling way to start the day after a night on the ground. Use your campsite accoutrements to heat up some water, and mix away. Bring along some berries or bananas to toss into your oats. Mmm!
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3. Portable snacks. Packing snacks is an important part of planning a camping trip. Without a kitchen to work with, big meals can be a drag. Snacking frequently throughout your day of activity around the campsite will keep you going strong all day. Bananas, apples and oranges are all excellent snacks that don’t require packaging or wrappers, so you’ll be sure to leave only footprints and take only memories on your jaunt through nature.
4. Hot diggity dog! Marshmallows shouldn’t be the only thing that gets speared with a stick and roasted over a crackling campfire. Hot dogs are a fun and easy way to get the whole family involved in making campsite dinners. Traditional hot dogs can be filled with all sorts of nasty stuff, so swap them out for a veggie or a turkey dog. It can be your little secret, and I’d be willing to bet your family will hardly notice!
You can go without your feather pillow and down mattress while you rough it in the woods this summer. But you don’t have to go without tasty food that won’t ruin your diet. Keep these tips in your backpack on this year’s camping trip and only the bears – not your tummy – will be growling!
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