Going into the backcountry on a camping trip doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to pre-made backpacker meals. Sure, there are some delicious options out there, but with a little extra time and preparation, you can prepare your own pretty easily. And that’s a great option if you enjoy cooking — even outdoors — or have strict dietary restrictions that make it tough to buy pre-made meals.
Visit the bulk section of your local grocery and consider building a meal from a grain like rice, quinoa or couscous. Next, add dehydrated veggies or a basic soup mix to the shopping cart. From there, consider other flavorings like spice packets, along with some cooking oil that won’t require refrigeration, and you’ve got the basic building blocks of a back-country meal.
If you’re hoping to get specific recipes together before you shop, there are plenty of great blogs out there to garner ideas from, including Dirty Gourmet.
Just keep in mind the distance you’ll be hiking and the length of the trip. You won’t feel like making a complicated meal after a tough hike. And weight can be an issue when cooking from scratch, so if you’re trying to cut down on the ounces, go for a pre-made meal.
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