Packing a Camp Lunch- Tips and Tricks
Packing a lunch for your child for camp may sound daunting, especially if you have been packing their lunch all school-year long. Summer lunches don’t just have to be the same old sandwich and a banana (although that makes a great camp lunch in a pinch!), get inspired this summer to start packing your kids fresher and healthier camp lunches that will keep your camper energized all summer long.
Packing your campers lunch is based on five key elements. Use them when you pack your summer lunches:
- Make it Substantial. Lunches should be healthy, nutritious, and substantial. Remember children’s’ appetites increase in the summer especially when they are active and outside. Be sure to pack good portions and extra snacks. Remember items that are cool and do not require heating work best.
- Include fresh and processed foods. Say what? That’s right, processed food. Processed foods are less likely to spoil in the heat of the day. Pack one healthy processed snack for your child to eat in the afternoon when the day is the hottest and the food has been sitting the longest. This does not mean pack a pile of cookies for your camper. Instead pack a packaged fruit leather, healthy granola bar, energy bar, or box of raisins. Dried fruit is always a good option. There are fresh snacks that will work too that won’t spoil too quickly like apples, oranges and other tougher fruit.
- Keep it Cold. For safety sake, pack a lunch with a reusable ice pack. Better yet, freeze a small water bottle or box of 100% juice. Wrap the juice box in foil and it will keep the food cold as it defrosts. Your child will have a cold lunch plus a healthy slushy for dessert.
- Better than a Brown Bag. Instead of packing your child’s lunch in a paper bag or hard-sided lunch box opt for a soft sided insulated bag. This will take up less room in your child’s backpack and still provide a safe and cool environment for your child’s lunch.
- What to avoid.
- Very perishable food products such meat, cheese, mayonnaise, eggs (except hard boiled) should be avoided when packing your child’s lunch as they spoil easily.
- Avoid sending your child with junk food, candy, sodas or items that are packed with sugar but not much energy.
6. Food Allergies
Always alert your camp and your child’s counselor of any dietary needs or allergies your child may have. It is best to not encourage food sharing. It is always a good course of action to research your camp’s polices regarding nuts and peanut butter. Sunflower butter makes a delicious and nutritious alternative to other nut butters.
7. Special Treats
For special events and celebrations think outside the box when sending treats for your camper to share with his or her group. Check with your camp’s policies on what they like to see campers bring for celebrations. Other alternatives to cupcakes and cookies include:
- Send a whole or sliced watermelon, cantaloupe, or honey dew for your camper to share
- Make Fruit Kabobs
- Bring a box of healthy fruit leather
- Create cheerio and dried fruit necklaces to share
- Make Mini Muffins with dried blueberries, cranberries, or poppy seeds
Some Camp Snack Favorites:
- Graham Crackers
- Granola Bar
- Carrot sticks and hummus
- Fruit Slices (apple, banana, nectarines, oranges, watermelon, cantaloupe)
- String Cheese
- Yogurts/Gogurts (These are great frozen)
- Trail Mix
- Bell Pepper slices with ranch dressing dip
- Veggie Sticks (carrot, cucumber, celery, broccoli)
- Crackers (Goldfish crackers, Bunnies, saltines, wheat thins, etc)
- Box of Raisins
- Box of yogurt raisins
- Fruit Leather
- Packaged Apple Sauce/ squeezable apple sauces
- Hard Boiled Egg
Some Camp Lunch Favorites:
- Tortilla wraps
- Pita and Hummus
- Pasta Salad
- Asian Noodle Salad
- Mini Bagel sandwiches
- Bagel and cream cheese
- Fruit and cheese plate with whole wheat crackers
- Pasta with Pesto and grated parmesan
- Whole wheat pita topped with tomato sauce and mushrooms and include a packet of parmesan from your local pizza shop.
- Left over Pancakes and include a small container of jelly or peanut butter for a fun take on a traditional PB&J.
- Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Soy Beans and Marinated Tofu
Camp lunches don’t have to be boring, and with these tips you will be sure your camper will have the energy he or she needs to all summer long.
