Must-have Ingredients For Easy Camping Meals That You’ll Be Excited To Eat

Easter is the perfect time to head outdoors and enjoy simple, delicious meals. Whether you’re camping or exploring, you’ll want fuss-free, healthy recipes that bring Easter fun.

Dietitian and nature lover Rebecca Gawthorne, of popular Instagram page @nourish_naturally, shares her Weet-Bix™ Hot Cross Bun collab creation that captures the essence of Easter and outdoors, as well as some of her other camp kitchen pantry must-haves, favourite meals and treats.

Rebecca’s Campfire Friendly Weet-Bix Hot Cross Bun

Rebecca’s Weet-Bix™ Hot Cross Bun takes camping cooking to the next level by combining the iconic Easter flavours of hot cross buns and a healthy Weet-Bix twist.

“Damper (an iconic campfire bread recipe) was one of the first things I cooked in food tech at school. It’s always been a camping favourite, so I thought I’d try using it as the base for creating a modern take on the nostalgic Easter hot cross bun,” Rebecca said.

“As well as being fun and delicious, these Weet-Bix™ Hot Cross Buns are also a healthy treat, easy to make over the campfire or in the great outdoors. The B vitamins in Weet-Bix™ help with energy production, while the iron helps boost your energy levels and fight fatigue. Plus, it contains fibre from the Weet-Bix™ and sultanas, which promote digestive health and regularity when part of a balanced diet. The wholegrains in the Weet-Bix™ are also a fantastic source of quality energy, keeping you fuelled for all your outdoor adventures.

“This recipe is incredibly versatile. Whether you’re in the bush or by the beach, you can cook it over a campfire, in a camping stove, on a wood BBQ or on a gas stove top. You can make this into one large damper loaf style hot cross bun which can be sliced, or roll the dough into smaller sized buns to share with your family and friends.

“For something a little different, I like to serve mine with apricot jam because it adds a sweet, tangy kick that pairs perfectly with the warm, soft bun and traditional spices.

“With the Weet-Bix™ you’ve packed in your camping pantry, you’ll also have the option of prepping tasty overnight Weet-Bix™ combinations for a great high-fibre start to the day. Plus, it’s always a handy afternoon snack to fill hungry kids after a hike.”

The Ultimate Easter Hot Chocolate

As for what to drink with your delicious Weet-Bix™ Hot Cross Buns, Rebecca washes hers down with her ultimate hot chocolate recipe. It’s a delicious way to indulge after a busy day of exploring. Her secret ingredient? Leftover Easter eggs.

“As a Dietitian, I’m a big believer in eating healthy, but with balance. This So Good™ Plant-Based Milk Hot Chocolate recipe is all about enjoying Easter and living in the moment,” shares Rebecca.

“I love making a classic hot chocolate recipe and then adding leftover Easter eggs to turn it into a rich, decadent treat. It’s so easy—you warm milk over the stove or fire, then melt the chocolate into the warm drink.

Rebecca’s Top Ingredients to Take Camping

As well as Weet-Bix™ here are Rebecca Gawthorne’s top plant-based ingredients to take camping and her tips on how to use them:

1. Plant Based Milk like So Good™:

Plant-based long-life milk like So Good™ is an easy-to-pack option for camping because it doesn’t need refrigeration until after it’s opened. As well as adding it to your hot or cold drinks, smoothies and cereal, you can use it for extra creaminess in a campfire veggie curry or pasta.

2. Tofu:

Tofu is my camping must-have because it’s a versatile protein that provides dozens of meal solutions. You can scramble tofu instead of eggs for breakfast, add it to veggie skewers or curries, or grill it up for a tasty burger. 

Here’s a scrumptious Spanish Scrambled Tofu recipe. When camping, I simply switch up the vegetables in this recipe to ones I have handy. 

3. Tinned Beans and Legumes:

Shop the staples you already have in the pantry. A tin or two of beans and legumes is always a handy camping ingredient. They are no prep, easy to pack and can be added to campfire dishes to bulk up the meal and feed an army. They’re also an excellent source of plant protein. 

This Smoky Red Kidney Beans is ready in 10 minutes and you can easily swap the fresh cherry tomatoes for tinned tomatoes. This meal tastes even better the day after and any leftovers make a yummy topping for campfire baked potatoes. 

4. Vegie Delights™ Plant-Based Proteins:

I am a big fan of barbequing vegetables for a tasty lunch or dinner. To make sure I’m still getting plenty of protein, Vegie Delights™ Vegie Sausages make the perfect addition and they are an absolute crowd favourite. I also use them in camp stove stews and curries. 

5. Robust Vegetables and Fruit:

One of the biggest challenges with camping is packing fresh fruit and veggies that will survive the trip. While you may need to forgo fresh leafy greens, there are plenty of hardy, longer-lasting options such as potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, onions, courgette, green beans, broccoli, oranges and apples. These travel well and bump up the nutrients in your meals and snacks. Other clever travel options are dried fruits and nuts, as well as tinned vegetables. 

These corn, courgette and chickpea fritters use a mix of tinned and hardy veggies to make a tasty, high protein breakfast, lunch or snack. When camping, instead of placing the chickpeas in a food processor, I just mash them with a fork. You can also prep by measuring your dry ingredients at home and placing them in a zip lock bag, ready to use. 

For more recipe inspiration, visit https://www.sanitarium.com/nz