Top 10 High Protein Foods for Camping
Today we’re going to be walking you through the 10 best high protein foods for camping. We’ll be going for a bit of everything, from getting the most bang for your buck, what the most convenient options are, and of course how to maximize flavour with your limited options.
How Much Protein Should We Have?
Your daily protein requirements can change depending on many variables, but the most important consideration to make is your body weight. The science is clear on this one, the daily recommended intake for protein is around 1 gram per kilogram of body weight.
There’s a bit more to it, though, as this is based on people living a more relaxed lifestyle in line with common modern living. If you engage in regular exercise then the body requires a lot more protein. For example, your typical trainer might recommend you aim for about 3.5 grams per kilogram when gaining muscle, but professional athletes are known to eat even more than that.
The main takeaway is that it all depends on you, and no one knows your requirements better than yourself. If you’re camping to find trails/nature walks or hiking, but you’re not looking to bulk your muscle, a good place to start would be 2 grams per kilogram. This should help alleviate DOMS and keep you feeling energetic.
Why is Protein so Important When Camping?
We spoke about one of the most important reasons, and that’s that camping is typically part and parcel with beautiful walks, perhaps accompanied by your furry companions. More exercise means more protein is the important takeaway here.
Second is potentially more important, and that’s how protein gives you energy that lasts. We’ve all been on a camping trip with that guy who brought nothing but noodles, and that might keep you going well enough when you’re young, but you’ll still feel much better if you remember to bring some protein along.
How to Decide What’s Best For You
This is essentially the criteria we used to curate this list today. We’d love to suggest a lovely home-cooked three-course meal but let’s be honest, it’s not entirely appropriate to the setting.
Size/Weight
Depending on your situation weight can be less of an issue, for example, if you have a large vehicle to transport with, you can maybe get away with bringing along an ice box etc. That being said, it can be an important consideration for many of us, so don’t write it off immediately.
Size is a huge consideration however. Unless you’re glamping, you’re just not going to have the space to fill your camp with food. You must find a workaround to this, as you can’t exactly bring a full kitchen’s worth of supplies now, can you?
Shelf Life
Now if you’re only going for a weekend away, this isn’t going to be much of an issue, but fresh food can often spoil before you get a chance to enjoy it on longer trips.
If you’ve ever been in a situation where you’ve had some cheese or meat go off, you know it’s quite unpleasant even when you’ve got a bin to place it in immediately. Now imagine being out in the woods and you’ve got to deal with some rotten meat… it’ll put you off your meals.
Convenience
We spoke earlier of the guy who only brings noodles on a long camping trip, and though we agree it’s not a very wise choice, there’s a very clear reason they’ve brought them, and that’s convenience. All you need is a burner, some clean water and you’re set. In ten minutes you’re enjoying your hot meal, and you’ve barely a thing to clean up after.
The thing is, you’re just not going to have the time to whip up a big meal. You could be brave and try a fry-up or something, but that’s really about as crazy as it gets.
Taste
It can be so easy to obsess over ticking every box that we forget one of the most important aspects, and that’s the enjoyment factor. If we’re not robots, and as much as nutrition is important, you’ve got to make sure you’re enjoying your food.
Durability
Finally, can the food survive? A lot of fresh foods are perishable in many different ways, not just in spoiling. If the packaging isn’t appropriate, be sure to re-package in Tupperware if you can.
Top 10 High Protein Foods for Camping
Here we are, our choice for the top ten high protein foods for camping. We aimed for a nice mix but not everything can tick every box – a lot of what’s included might be highly specialized to one or two of the outlined criteria. Take the options that best suit whatever needs you have to have the best trip possible. That being said, let’s jump straight into it.
High Protein Food #1 – Rootana
Remember when we said not everything can tick every box? Well, Rootana can. It may be a bit cliche to place ourselves at the top here, but it is the perfect camping food. Let’s go through the criteria and see exactly how Rootana accomplishes this.
In terms of size/weight, it is something you may want to repackage in some Tupperware as it’s not going to be appropriate for everyone to bring the entire bag with them. That said, it’s a small bag and only 1kg, and with 14 meals there so in terms of weight/ calorie value, you’re onto a winner, and could pretty handily sustain yourself on Rootana for a weekend trip.
Check out our article on living off meal replacement shakes
Despite rootana not containing a single artificial preservative, it’s made up of ingredients that naturally have a long shelf-life such as oat flour. In terms of convenience, let’s go through the entire process required to create an amazing glass of rootana.
First, grab your bottle and add two scoops. Next, fill it up with water. Finally, give a good shake. There you have it, the entire process summed up in less than 20 words, and a delicious meal replacement shake in less than 2 minutes.
Taste can be subjective of course, and we know that not everyone will enjoy Rootana as much as us. However, if you like the sound of a subtly sweet oaty/ chocolate flavour, with a moreish texture that avoids the typical graininess associated with meal replacement shakes, then you’ll love what we’ve got. With our lack of artificial sweetness, you can be sure to enjoy genuine flavour, instead of being overwhelmed with sweetness only to be left with a chemical aftertaste.
High Protein Food #2 Eggs
Eggs are very high in protein, we all know this, with 100 grams of boiled eggs having an average of 13g of protein. The best thing about this, however, is that the protein is of very high quality, with a complete amino acid profile just like Rootana.
Eggs do require some preparation, but as long as you have a burner you can easily cook them up, and you can enjoy a decent amount of variance with how you prepare them too, so however you best enjoy eggs is most likely reasonable to achieve. The only issue here is their fragility, but if you wrap a carton in bubble wrap before travelling, you’ve very little to worry about in that regard
High Protein Food #3 Jerky/ Biltong
Though it’s more of a snack than a complete meal, the amount of protein available here is going to keep you satiated for a long time and is the perfect companion for any nature walks.
It’s such a popular snack for many reasons, with one of the main ones being how delicious it is. Beyond that, it’s pre-prepared so in terms of convenience it’s not beaten, with only one downside being its high salt content, which may leave you feeling thirsty so be sure to be drinking plenty of water.
High Protein Food #4 Tinned Tuna
This light-weight, calorie-dense and high protein food is ideal for the camping environment. We recommend you get tins with a ring pull, however, as there’s nothing worse than having a craving for Tuna and realizing you left your tin opener at home! Tuna is tasty on its own, but with a dash of preparation, you can enjoy some Tuna Mayo, or even boil some pasta for a filling meal packed full of protein.
High Protein Food #5 Nuts and Seeds
Though we’ve once again veered into the territory of snacks, you tend to not eat large meals when camping as it’s just not convenient to do so. Having nuts and seeds to snack on in between meals keeps you going, and if you have something appropriate for it, you can add it into many different meals to help bulk out the calories.
High Protein Food #6 Protein Bars
We can’t ignore protein bars, with their high-calorie density, not taking up much space, and being instantly available for use. The main issue with these is that you should watch your sugar intake, as some of them are quite sneaky containing a large amount of sugar/ additives. Finally, the packaging can result in a lot of litter. That being said, it’s a great companion for a walk, or a great snack in between meals to ensure you’re getting enough calories.
High Protein Food #7 Baked Beans
Baked beans contain nutrients, including a very high protein content. Not only that, but they’re very simple to prepare, as you simply put them over heat in a pan and stir occasionally. One of the easiest and best foods for any camping trip, though we’d recommend looking for the low-sugar option if you can.
High Protein Food #8 Chia Seeds
When it comes to bulking up foods with added protein, chia seeds are a no-brainer. They discreetly add a helping of protein to any meal and are a must for anyone avoiding animal products.
They travel well usually, though we recommend getting some bag sealing clips or transferring them into Tupperware before travelling – the last thing you want to be dealing with is a chia seed explosion in your backpack, you’ll be finding them in strange places for years.
High Protein Food #9 Cured Meat
Of course, Jerky comes into this, but we wanted to remind people that salami, chorizo, boar, and many many more cured meats exist – and are great options for getting your protein during a camping trip. The only reason why they’re in such different positions on the list here is because of how they’re traditionally packaged. Jerky and biltong are often available in convenient single-portion bags, whereas you’ll have to prepare this before your trip if you want the same experience with other cured meats.
High Protein Food #10 Dehydrated Meals (Just add water)
These can be a lifesaver for many camping trips, as they fit every criteria we set out prior. They can be a bit bulky, create litter and do require cooking up, but it’s worth it to enjoy more of a meal. The only reason it’s lower on the list here is because fresh food tastes much better, and you also get to control your flavour, whereas with dehydrated meals you get what you’re given. That isn’t always an issue, but it’s not a great experience when you get one you don’t like, and realize that’s your weekend meals
Final Thoughts on High Protein Meals for Camping
What you want to plan for depends on how long you’re planning on camping out for, but one thing is for sure – no matter how long, Rootana is an easy choice. You’ll get everything you need in a matter of seconds, including a delicious meal. It won’t take up too much space, doesn’t create litter, and doesn’t require more than a minute of preparation. There are many options here that are all very viable, with a long history of use by campers, but Rootna solves the problems these other options can cause, with none of the downsides.
