*First, I would like to say I’m not a registered dietitian, and nor do I have any doctors’ degrees in health or nutrition. I am, just an ordinary citizen living off Keto for health reasons and these are some questions other campers have asked me while I was camping. *
Keto or low carb diets are fitting with camping and the activities associated. While camping, there is no excuse to fall off your diet just because you want to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends. There is a wide range of options to choose from when selecting snacks, beverages, and meals that are all consistent with the keto or low carb diet.
Pack High-Energy snacks and Consider Electrolytes
The one thing you need to remember about choosing food for a camping trip is to pack high-energy foods that will make you full and give you energy. You want foods that will are filling and that keep you away from snacking all day and on the high carb or high sugar indulging foods, many people confuse them. Items like store-bought trail mix, nearly all energy bars, and breakfast cereal are high sugar foods, loaded with carbs that will weigh you down instead of giving you energy. Try making your keto trail mix, use keto energy bars if need be, and focus on high-fat foods like Jerky, nuts, cheeses, and meats like summer sausage for a snack.
Electrolytes are so important to your body and help your body maintain fluid balance. Electrolytes are essential for preventing heat exhaustion during summer camping and activities associated with camping like hiking, biking, canoeing, etc. Electrolytes help sustain your energy levels throughout the day and make you feel a lot better. Sodium, potassium, and chloride are important electrolytes along with magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonates. Some people buy packages of Electrolytes and drink them which is an option but below are some ways you can incorporate them through your meals.
- Numerous snacks and meals can contain sodium like nut butters, deli meats, cheese, nuts, soups, and broth to name a few.
- Potassium enriched foods like avocados, mushrooms, summer squash or zucchini, spinach and leafy greens, salmon and other fatty fish, and pork chops just to name a few.
- Magnesium plays another big role in your diet here are some foods that you can use while camping, almonds, avocado, salmon, dark greens, and cashews.
Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time
When camping on a keto or low carb diet plan your meals in advance will be key to your success and will also make you feel a whole better. I keep a keto camping list of foods and drinks to buy in my purse and on my phone, you can also lookup on Pinterest and other websites for ideas. You can find a wide range of keto or low-carb products in many grocery stores. For meals and snacks, I keep it simple and buy foods that are multipurpose foods, something I can eat day or night, and that give multiple nutrients like nuts, avocados, meats, and veggies.
Some tips:
- Check on Pinterest, popular web forums, Facebook, and website for tips, tricks, ideas and food recommendations.
- I enjoy having wine or beer when camping but they are loaded with carbs. Try low-carb options from Budweiser or Coors. You can also make your own, Vodka and squeezable flavor juices are delicious together and low carb.
- Keep it simple. Breakfast eggs, veggies and meat, lunch meat and a salad, dinner veggies and meat. The more you get into fancier low-carb meals the less time you have to enjoy with family and friends.
- Pre-make ahead of time. Time-consuming meals can be made ahead of time at home and reheated in a crockpot or oven if available. Dishes or baked goods are great for prepping ahead of time. I love keto chocolate cake but would never make it at the campsite.
- Cut and prep all veggies, meats, and snacks ahead of time. I love omelets in the morning but hate cutting them for 8 people. I now prewash and cut to size. I also prepare my keto pancake mix at home in the blender instead of at the campsite.
- Try low carb/no sugar drinks like hot chocolate, coffee, water, pop, alcoholic beverages, etc. to allow you to enjoy the same foods others have.
- Try low carb /no sugar snacks or desserts that don’t take much time like smores, mug cake, chia pudding, strawberry keto cake! I just love to eat sugar-free chocolate chips or keto slim fast snacks. Simple, quick, and prepared in packages.
- Choose veggies or low-carb fruit that don’t need to be refrigerated. This will save you some space in the cooler or refrigerator.
All in All!
There are no rules for living on your keto or low carb diet when you go camping, but there is one obvious suggestion. Do as much of your prep work at home, so you can enjoy your camping experience. You might have a few more things to pack but it will help you stay consistent on your diet and allow you to have fun and relax. Choose items that will give you energy and give your nutrients.
Look for more Keto or Low carb posts for camping, meal planning and lists on this site.
