One of the main challenges during a camping trip is preparing meals.
The image of everyone gathered around a smoldering campfire with a big pot hanging over it makes all of our senses awaken.
The smell and taste of the food, the sound of the cracking wood, the feel of the warm fire and the sight of the steam as the pots contents bubbles fills our minds with peace and tranquility.
However, this scenario probably happens only in our dreams.
Most meals cooked over a campfire are not nearly this picturesque.
There are steps, however, that you can take to make your camping meals easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Here are three steps to help you on your next camping trip.
1) Keep it super simple.
This is the utmost important thing.
It is better to have a simple meal that tastes really good than an elaborate one that comes out terrible or leaves the cook too exhausted to enjoy an evening stroll with the family.
Sandwiches, salads, one pot stews, and burgers are great meals with very minimal work.
2) Prepare ahead of time.
Do as much of the prep work as you can before leaving home.
Use plastic containers and zipper plastic bags for storage.
Wash your veggies; make your hamburger patties, cut the meat for the stew, and chop up your vegetables ahead of time.
You can freeze your meats or fish and take frozen packages of stew vegetables and use them as ice packs in your cooler.
Anything your can do before you leave home will leave you more time to enjoy in the great outdoors.
3) Make a Daily Menu.
Let everyone offer meal ideas and make your menu out of these suggestions before you leave home.
It will be easier to shop for the groceries this way and no one will feel left out.
Just make it understood it must be something that can be cooked on a grill or open fire.
The image of everyone gathered around a smoldering campfire with a big pot hanging over it makes all of our senses awaken.
The smell and taste of the food, the sound of the cracking wood, the feel of the warm fire and the sight of the steam as the pots contents bubbles fills our minds with peace and tranquility.
However, this scenario probably happens only in our dreams.
Most meals cooked over a campfire are not nearly this picturesque.
There are steps, however, that you can take to make your camping meals easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Here are three steps to help you on your next camping trip.
1) Keep it super simple.
This is the utmost important thing.
It is better to have a simple meal that tastes really good than an elaborate one that comes out terrible or leaves the cook too exhausted to enjoy an evening stroll with the family.
Sandwiches, salads, one pot stews, and burgers are great meals with very minimal work.
2) Prepare ahead of time.
Do as much of the prep work as you can before leaving home.
Use plastic containers and zipper plastic bags for storage.
Wash your veggies; make your hamburger patties, cut the meat for the stew, and chop up your vegetables ahead of time.
You can freeze your meats or fish and take frozen packages of stew vegetables and use them as ice packs in your cooler.
Anything your can do before you leave home will leave you more time to enjoy in the great outdoors.
3) Make a Daily Menu.
Let everyone offer meal ideas and make your menu out of these suggestions before you leave home.
It will be easier to shop for the groceries this way and no one will feel left out.
Just make it understood it must be something that can be cooked on a grill or open fire.