Camping Grub That Kids Will Love: Kid-Friendly Camping Food

Recently, I had the good fortune to interview Emily Trudeau, a veteran camper and one of the three cofounders of the camping-food blog Dirty Gourmet, along with Aimee Trudeau and Katherine Kwan. She encourages first-time campers to get out there — even if you’re not typically comfortable with sticks, dirt and bugs. “Being outdoors is a healing experience,” she says, whether you’re sitting around a campfire, counting stars in the night sky or watching your kids play (with sticks, dirt and bugs).

Camping doesn’t mean you have to leave the comfort foods of home at home — particularly with kids. Yet, if you’re sick of hotdogs by the summer’s end, I’m with you. With Emily’s help, here’s a quick rundown of popular camping meals for families that everyone will enjoy.

Kid-friendly camping meals (links to Dirty Gourmet site): 

• Campfire Flatbread Pizza
• Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
• Skillet Enchiladas
• Campfire Quesadillas
• Campfire Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Camping Nachos

Great kid-friendly camping snacks:

• Skillet-fried cardamom donut holes with raspberry jam
• Apples and cheese (many grocery stores sell tiny bits of cheese, or “remainders” so you can create your own cheese sampler)
• Campfire-cooked popcorn and root beer
• Banana chocolate walnut bars (make ahead at home)
• Dips made at home (such as orange-honey-mustard dip via Dirty Gourmet) along with pretzels, crackers, bagels or other dippables.

Top this! New twists on s’mores: 

Emily Trudeau calls S’mores the “all-American quintessential campfire delicacy.” That doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun, though. Stack your s’more in a new way:

• Pepperidge Farm Geneva cookies, marshmallows and dulce de leche
• Shortbread cookies, marshmallows, chocolate and raspberry jam
• Graham crackers, peanut butter, chocolate and marshmallow
• Graham crackers, marshmallows, bacon, chocolate
• Graham crackers, fresh strawberries, chocolate, marshmallows

Don’t forget:

• Your awesome cooler
• Cooking oil
• Foil
• Dish soap and cleanup
• Cooking utensils
• Mixing bowls
• Silverware
• A sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Plates & silverware
• A knife for kids to “help” (you could bring bananas, etc).
• Easy snacks for the kids (goldfish crackers, pre-sliced fruit, Trader Joe trail mix etc)

For more fun recipes, check out the Cascadia Kids “Camp Cuisine” board on Pinterest. Do you have a favorite camping snack or recipe to share?