This is a sponsored post. Family camping trips are a fantastic way to explore, have fun and learn more about the great outdoors. There isn’t a right or wrong way to camp, with the rise of glamping, pods and custom-built campsites there’s more choice than ever. That choice doesn’t just extend to where and how you camp either. You have just as much choice when it comes to your meals. Some options take more thought and preparation than others though, so which one is best?
Quick and easy
Sometimes you’d much rather spend more time enjoying yourself and relaxing than thinking about what you have to cook back at the campsite. There are loads of freeze-dried camping meals on the market which are perfect as quick, no fuss meals that you could either enjoy in an evening or even take with you on a hike. These meals are dead easy to prepare, normally they just involve adding water to rehydrate the ingredients. If you are going to go down this route though it’s worth looking for camping meals that are cooked first, then freeze dried. This normally leads to a tastier meal as flavours have been balanced and have a chance to blend together properly. You can get breakfasts and main meals so even if you just need something as a quick start to the day and you have plans for meals for the rest of the day they are something to keep in mind. They’re a great option if you’re stuck for space or you aren’t allowed a barbecue on the campsite. They tend to be designed for hiking and expeditions, so they can be really filling, in some cases it might be that one pouch could feed multiple people.
Campsite cooking
Most camping trips will invariably end up with a barbecue at some point. Sitting outside with a hotdog or a burger is a great way to spend the evening. The majority of campsites can accommodate barbecues but when you book its worth checking so you don’t turn up with food and equipment that you aren’t allowed to use and can’t cook. Barbecues and campsite cooking in general, are a great way to get people involved in cooking. From the kids helping to set a table or helping with making salads, to making big sharing dishes or buffets for people to just tuck into. That sense of a big group meal seems to be heightened when you’re away from home and becomes a really nice way to unwind at the end of a long day. Keep in mind that any food you bring with you needs to be stored properly, so that could mean buying cooler boxes and storage containers. If you’re only on a smaller campsite it might be worth seeing what shops are nearby, so you can just buy what food you need, when you need it, to help limit the amount of storage you need to bring with you.
Less mess
The last option when you’re camping is to let someone else do the cooking for you. You’re on holiday after all. Campsites tend to benefit from being near to tourist attractions of nearby towns which have plenty of places to eat, from cafes, to pubs and restaurants. While this can be the slightly more expensive option it does mean there’s less to pack, less to prepare and less to clean up throughout the trip. It also means that you can spend more time exploring and visiting places than you would if you were cooking on a campsite. Camping is a brilliant, versatile way to holiday, and that choice extends to everything from your choice of location and the activities you do to the meals you eat. There are plenty of options so just experiment and find the ones that work best for you and help you get the most out of your trip. Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.