Gut-Healthy Camping: Foods and Tips...

Happy Canada and Independence Days this week, my friends! ​And what better topic to explore this week than gut-healthy CAMPING FOOD!

What do you love most about camping? Fresh air? Freedom to play? Campfires? Or THE FOOD?

But if you have gut issues, standard camp food can a minefield – the smell and desire to indulge in the taste, the fun, the childhood memories can be too overpowering to say no.

Spending a camping trip uncomfortably bloated, gassy, constipated or worse… running for the outhouse, definitely puts a damper on things.

So if you are going camping or to a picnic this week, enjoy good times AND good food with some of these ideas... ​

The Food Basics

"To fail to plan, is to plan to fail".  The key to not giving into eating foods that will harm you (and they are different for everyone) is simply to plan ahead, and have quick tasty alternatives on hand. 

But let's face it, sometimes we're flying by the seat of our pants and don't have time to plan it all out (especially if you're solo parenting! So much to think about!). That's how I came up with these basics to take, because I can make great tasting, quick meals with these strategic foods:

​Pre-Cook and Bag: It is easier to cook and clean up in your own kitchen verses in a campground, and having these foods pre-made makes it a cinch to whip up a happy gut meal in 5-10 minutes!

The day/week before you leave for camping:
​ 

1. Stir-fry onion, garlic, celery and carrots; 
2. Stir-fry onions and burger (could also be tofu, beans or whatever meat you prefer);
3. Cook a chicken, and cut it up into small pieces.​

When the food has cooled, I bag each one separately (and depending on the timeline, may freeze it) and presto! I have the makings for a variety of meals like soup, wraps, omelettes, stir-fries, sauces, etc. ​

To go with this, I often bring: 

• gluten-free wraps,
• eggs,
• spinach and/or lettuce (and you know your edible wild weeds, you can collect while camping)
• avocados,
• my favorite spices, herbs and sauces,
• and especially homemade curtido or kraut.

You could also pre-cook rice to bring, but I prefer prebiotic-rich root veggies to roast over the campfire.  Don't forget your coconut oil!

Treat Yourself

One thing I learned over the years is that the campfire is NOT the place to try to do without your favourites! 

While everyone else is chowing down on chips, hot dogs and pop, you MUST have an alternative at hand or you'll end up giving in and then spending the next day in agony.

So while you may not eat these on a regular basis, they are better alternatives to foods that hurt you. Choose a non-GMO, organic version of your junk food favourites to enjoy. Here are a few of my fav's:

• Kettle Chips in Avocado Oil, or try these suggestions
• Alter Eco Mint Dark Chocolate, or try any of these brands​​

• Corn-Syrup Free Marshmellows like these vegan ones
• Grass-Fed or Wild Meat Smokies, here I love to buy Tum-Tum's 
• GT Kombucha, if I haven't had time to make my own, I make sure I have something fun to drink when everyone else is drinking pop or beers.  When I used to drink alcohol, I also liked to bring Nude or a local brewed beer.  

Don't forget your "First Aid" kit!

​And if things don't go as planned, you'll be prepared to battle bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation with these life savers! (And for legal reasons, I have to say: do not substitute this info for medical advice. Always discuss with your medical doctor before taking new supplements.)

💊Digestive enzymes can help you digest foods you don't normally eat. You can also take them after eating to speed up recovery from indigestion.

🦠Probiotics are necessary to keep your inner garden happy. You could instead use milk kefir or sauerkraut. Yogurt isn't enough on its own.

🍃Two drops of essential peppermint oil in a litre of water, to sip during the day, will improve digestion and bloating.

💚 Camping food is often Magnesium and Vitamin C deficient, which will make you feel tired and possibly constipatied, so eat lots of fresh fruits or greens - or take a supplement. You can also increase your dosage to alleviate constipation.

🧴Aloe Vera juice can soothe an irritated digestive tract as well as help with regular bowel movements.
​
❗Hot Water Bottle.... a God-send when your tummy hurts. Its easy to use, even when camping, and can either keep your cold feet warm or your tummy relaxed while you sleep.

---

I truly hope these suggestions help you to enjoy your next camping trip! What have been your camping life savers? Please share and we can build our bag of tricks, cuz holidays should be fun!!