No Campfire, No Problem: Mouth Watering Camping Meals That Don’t Require Heat

Planning to do a bit of camping this season? There are not many outdoor activities that are more enjoyable than spending time with friends or family members, sleeping under the stars and savoring meals in the wild. What would you do, however, if you were camping at Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, and your firewood got wet, and you could not build a fire with which to cook a great outdoor meal? Fortunately, you have several wonderful options. Here are some of our very favorites:

No-cook campground breakfasts

When you’re packing up your Dodge Ram for a Canadian camping adventure, be sure to include a variety of nutritious no-cook breakfast ingredients. A big zip bag of granola, a small bunch of bananas and a tin of milk can serve a family of five a hearty breakfast that starts the day right. Be sure to bring a can opener for the milk, or tote an easy-open shelf stable box of almond or coconut milk with which to moisten your morning cereal.

Buy granola at the market, or make your own. It’s not hard to do, and the results can be quite delicious. Start with toasted oatmeal, and add sunflower seeds, raisins, dried cranberries and other shelf stable goodies. Bring a small container of maple syrup for sweetening. A bowl of homemade granola offers plenty of nutrition to fuel a day outdoors.

Heat-free camp lunches

It only takes a little time and planning to ensure a great meal when you’re camping in Canada. Tote along a box of whole wheat crackers and unbreakable plastic jars of peanut butter and jelly, and you’ll never go hungry at lunchtime, whether or not you have access to a campfire or cooking stove.

A baguette of French bread and a chunk of wax-dipped gouda or other long lasting cheese will feed you well and taste good, too. Apples, oranges and tangerines provide delectable sustenance that does not require cooking. Bananas come with their own wrappers and provide a sweet treat that can be enjoyed at any time.

Good old raisins and peanuts, commonly known as “gorp,” is an easy to carry lunchtime snack that provides a brilliant boost of energy and nutrition. With or without chocolate bits, gorp is must-have camp food.

Delicious raw camp dinners

Canadian camping can be a whole lot of fun, but it may not be such a good time, if the only foods you have with you require cooking. Just in case you won’t have access to fire or other cooking facility, pack along a cooler filled with sliced meats and cheeses and a loaf of sliced bread. Any time you feel hungry, you will be able to put together tasty no-cook meals that are sure to satisfy.

Serve sandwiches on paper plates, and please don’t forget to pack out everything you pack in. Campers understand the pristine beauty of the Great White North, and it’s important that we all do our part to keep Canada clean and beautiful.

A girl with a love for outdoor adventure, Cindy Ward, loves nothing better than a camping holiday. Having camped alone and with her family of 4, including the dog, she blogs so that she can get others interested in sleeping under the stars without making too many mistakes.