Cold Foods
Foods that must be chilled or frozen to be safe--such as raw meat--are only feasible on a camping trip if you can keep them at food-safe temperatures long enough to be cooked. This isn't too much of a problem in winter time, but during the summer you'll want to have a cooler for raw meat, which limits these items to car or ATV camping. One way around this is to camp in a place where you can catch fish and eat them right away.
Freeze Dried and Dehydrated Foods
Freeze dried and dehydrated foods may be the simplest of camping foods. Just add hot water and let them sit until they're reconstituted. You can purchase entire freeze dried meals in a pouch from any outdoor equipment retailer, or dry your own food with a countertop dehydrator. Another advantage of freeze dried foods: They don't need to be refrigerated; just keep them dry until ready for use.
Boil and Go
If a food can be boiled or heated in a single pot on your kitchen stove, it's easy to cook on a camping trip. Easy-boil foods include macaroni and cheese, any grain-based porridge, spaghetti and sauce, canned or dry soup and beans and franks.
Ready to Eat
Having easily accessible, ready-to-eat foods on hand will help keep up camp morale, especially if you're camping in groups of people whose customary eating times don't coincide. Granola bars, fruit roll-ups and trail mix are all easy, camp-ready foods; buy them at the store or make your own.
