Staying on Track in the Great Outdoors

Counting macros while camping is possible, and exploring the great outdoors is still one of the best summertime getaways around. You might need to get a little creative with your menu and cooking methods, but staying prepared is what actually keeps you on track. A little planning goes a long way toward making sure a weekend in the woods doesn't turn into a weekend "off plan."

Top Tips for Staying on Track While Camping

Match Your Food Choices to Your Method of Transport

Are you driving to a campsite? Paddleboarding? Hiking? Your method of transport has a huge impact on what foods you can (comfortably) pack, and planning around it is one of the easiest ways to avoid getting caught off guard without options that fit your goals.

If you're driving in with multiple coolers, you've got room for fresh options. But if you're carrying your food for multiple days, you'll want lighter, shelf-stable meals that still get you close to your targets.

A compact 12V electric cooler is worth considering if you're car camping. They keep things cold for days without constant ice runs, which means more fresh protein and produce stay on the table instead of getting swapped out for whatever's easy.

Prep and Weigh Ahead of Time

If you're tracking your macros, prepping and weighing your foods ahead of time is one of the biggest things you can do to stay consistent. It takes the guesswork out of the trip so you can focus on what matters most: the place you're in and the people you're with, not second-guessing every meal.

Take an hour or two before heading out to measure your snacks, portion out your protein, and pre-chop veggies to roast over the fire. If you really want to nail your targets, log your foods in your food tracker ahead of time. Then you can use your logs as your actual menu for each day. This keeps decision-making easy, keeps you from grazing on whatever's around, and means you won't lug around food you're not going to eat.

Drink Responsibly

Set some guidelines for yourself before you leave about how many drinks, if any, you want to enjoy. It also helps to set boundaries about when to drink. It's a lot easier to get off track if you start drinking at noon (no judgment!) versus waiting to have a few beers around the campfire at night. Drinking your calories is a slippery slope: a six-pack of beer has about 800 calories, which works out to about 200g of carbs, 90g of fat, or roughly the calorie equivalent of 1.5 Big Macs.

If staying on track matters to you, this is one of the easiest places to lose ground without noticing, since a few drinks can eat up an entire day's worth of carbs or fat before you've even had dinner. Deciding your limits before you're sitting around the fire makes it a lot easier to stick to them once you're there.

The non-alcoholic and low-calorie drink category has come a long way, so it's easier than ever to still feel like you're part of the ritual without drinking your whole day's carbs in one sitting. Pack some tasty, hydrating alternatives to satisfy yourself or space out your pre-planned drinks. We've included our current favorites in the packing list below.

Just Count Calories

Set goals based on calories instead of macros for longer hikes and overnight camping. Aiming for 200 to 300 calories of food per hour of active hiking is a good starting point, depending on your current weight, goals, and the intensity of the hike. Then plan your meals and snacks around that calorie target without worrying too much about exactly where the macros fall. This alone keeps you from either under-fueling and crashing, or overeating just because food is harder to track out there.

Stay Hydrated

Remember to stay hydrated! Dehydration can easily get mistaken for hunger, which is a fast way to end up snacking more than you actually need. Coconut water and kombucha are great options for car camping or anytime you can easily bring a cooler. If you're carrying your food and drinks for multiple days, hydration enhancers like Drink LMNT or Liquid IV help you make the most of your water and come in a lot more flavors now than they used to.

Protein waters and high-protein sodas are also worth packing. They're shelf-stable, don't need refrigeration until opened, and give you an easy way to close out your protein for the day without having to cook anything.

Healthy Packing List for Camping

Protein Sources

• Whey or plant-based protein powder (single-serve packets travel best)

• Tuna or salmon packets

• Vegetarian hot dogs (very macro-friendly and don't need urgent refrigeration)

• Jerky

• Turkey pepperettes

• Meat sticks (Chomps and similar brands are widely available now and easy to portion)

• Powdered egg whites

• Protein bars

• Protein cookies or protein pretzels

• Skim milk cheese strings

• High-protein tortillas or wraps

Carbs

• Dried fruits

• Apple chips

• Rice cakes

• Oat packets

• Instant rice cups

• Pre-cut vegetables for roasting (peppers, onions, carrots)

• Low-carb, high-fiber wraps

• Freeze-dried fruit (crunchy, light, and packs down small)

Fats

• Single-serving peanut butter or nut butter

• Trail mix

• Whole eggs

• Avocado (individually packaged, shelf-stable pouches make this way easier to bring than it used to be)

Snack Worthy Foods

• Goldfish crackers

• Plain popcorn

• Rice chips

• Snap peas

• Low-fat pretzels

• Graham crackers

• Dark chocolate

• Mini marshmallows

• Dates stuffed with marshmallow and chocolate (roasted, this is a great alternative to s'mores)

• Lesser Evil popcorn singles

• Spiced nuts

Zero Calorie Drinks

• Diet soda

• La Croix

• Sparkling Ice drinks

• Mio or Crystal Light (perfect for backpacking)

• Zero-sugar electrolyte tablets (easy to toss in a pack and don't need refrigeration)

A Few More Ways to Stay Consistent

Staying on track while camping isn't really about eating perfectly. It's about not letting a few days outside your routine turn into a full reset when you get home. A couple things that help:

• Decide your non-negotiables before you leave. Maybe it's hitting your protein target every day, or maybe it's just not skipping meals. Pick one or two things to prioritize instead of trying to nail everything.

• Don't let "I'm camping" become an excuse to abandon the plan entirely. You don't have to be as precise as you are at home, but a loose plan still beats no plan.

• Give yourself grace if a day doesn't go exactly as planned. One off day doesn't undo your progress. Get back to your normal routine at the next meal, not the next Monday.