Jerky
Jerky is not what most people would consider diet food, but if you are on a protein-heavy weight loss plan such as the Atkins diet, it can be just the thing for your camping trip. Jerky is salted, dehydrated meat. It requires no refrigeration and is a very portable source of high-protein food. Versions of it are made with beef, turkey, venison and other meats, so you can pick your favorite.
Soups and Stews
No matter what your diet is, there is sure to be a soup or stew that matches it. Potato leak soup, split pea soup and even some varieties of chili are low fat, filling and nutritious. To save time, start with canned beans or lentils as a base, combined with bouillon cubes. Chop your veggies ahead of time and store them in a cooler.
Health Bars and Shakes
Many diet supplements are prepackaged and do not require refrigeration, making them perfect for camping. Health bars, trail mixes and diet meal replacement shakes are easy to tuck inside your backpack and eat anywhere.
Fruit
Fresh fruit is a great camping snack, particularly for shorter trips. Bring apples, grapes, oranges and other fruits for snacks. Eat grapes and other fruits that are easy to squish and quick to spoil in the first day or two. The oranges and apples will last for several days, even without refrigeration. If you are on a longer trip, also plan to bring dried fruits. Dried fruits are compact and long-lasting, providing many of the health benefits of fresh fruit in a compact, preserved package. Dried fruits are very calorie dense, so eat them in moderation.
Roasted Veggies
Vegetables are easy to roast and taste good with a bit of smoke flavor, making them a campfire classic. They are also core food for most diets. To roast corn, soak an unshucked ear in water for an hour, then stick it in the coals near the edge of the fire. Carefully turn it every few minutes and keep roasting it until the husk is burnt. Knock it out of the fire and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Pick it up, carefully shuck it and rub a section of lime along it. Add some kosher salt and eat.
To roast a potato, carrot or other root veggie, just wrap it in aluminum foil and put it in the coals at the edge of the fire for about half an hour. Remove it and season to taste.
