These camping snacks for kids will be the best part of your kids outdoor activities and camping trips. Pack up the sleeping bags, your favorite camping snacks from below, and let’s have some fun!
Camping with your kids is a great way to bring the family closer together and zone in on what truly matters. But packing the essentials is vital to a successful trip, and that means lots of healthy foods, yummy snacks and eats.
Make sure to load up on lots of tasty camping snacks your kids will love that will also help them refuel and stay satisfied.
Cooking in nature helps you appreciate the simpler side of life (always an excellent lesson for kids), plus the food tastes incredible.
A folding campfire grill, aluminum foil, a cast iron skillet and pot, basic grill utensils, and skewers are all necessary tools to create almost anything your taste buds can desire.
Even if you don’t know when your next camping trip is, consider cooking over an open fire under the stars.
One night in your own backyard, bring out the camping stove and the best campfire snacks for a great time!
Easy Camping Meals for Families
Whether roughing it in a tent, chilling in an RV, or glamping, nothing says camping quite like cooking over a campfire. You can create some appetizing meals, and your kids will get a kick out of the experience.
After a long hot summer day, even your picky eaters will find a great snack option from the list below.
Hot Dogs
Roasting hot dogs on camping skewers is a classic campfire move. You can eat them straight off the stick, or toast some buns and add your favorite condiments.
If you’re a vegetarian family like we are, there are many plant-based hot dog options.
Grilled Quesadillas
Layer up some cheese and your favorite fillings in between two tortillas. Wrap in aluminum foil and grill for a few minutes for a delicious, cheesy meal.
Franks and Beans
Beanie Weenies are a longtime, easy and quick, kid’s favorite becomes a breeze to make while camping.
Pour a can of baked beans and cut up hot dogs in a cast iron pot to cook over the fire.
Chicken and Veggie Foil Packets
Here’s a healthy meal that’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. Place some of your favorite chopped up veggies and precooked chicken on a piece of foil. Wrap it up to grill over the fire for a few minutes for a satisfying, hot meal.
Breakfast Burritos
Pile some of your favorite breakfast bits on a tortilla for loaded breakfast burritos. You can do eggs, bacon, hash browns, cheese, turkey, etc.
Wrap the whole concoction up in your trusty aluminum foil and set it on the grill for a few minutes. When it’s ready, peel back the foil to enjoy your homemade breakfast.
There are tons of easy recipes for breakfast burritos. Pick what works best for you and your kids.
Mac ‘n Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is a go-to for hungry kids everywhere. And it’s easy to whip up on your family camping trip.
Boil water in a cast iron pot and add the pasta. Once your pasta’s ready, drain the water and mix in your butter and cheese. Done!
Burgers and Fries
Grill some hamburgers or turkey burgers and some fries to go along with them. Season your fries to taste and pack burger fixings in an ice chest so kids can make their favorite versions.
Ham and Eggs
Heat a cast iron pan on the campfire grill and cook some eggs and ham. You can fry it up in the same pan (fewer dishes, yay)! It’s a quick meal and loaded with protein, making it a great way to start the day.
Pancakes
You can keep this super easy by pre-mixing your batter. Or, even more convenient, grab a box of pancake mix that only requires you to add water. Mix it up and cook up some flapjacks for the family. Don’t forget the maple syrup!
English Muffin Pizzas
Pizza always hits the spot and is a fun meal to make together.
Spread some tomato sauce on half an English muffin, sprinkle cheese on top, and let all the kids get in on the action by adding their toppings of choice.
Then, cook them over the fire till the cheese melts and the muffin edges start to brown and crisp.
Over the Campfire Snacks
Of course, your three square meals are critical when you’re camping.
You need to keep your strength and energy up (especially if you’re camping with kids). But, it takes a lot more than those three meals to sustain the necessary energy for camping.
You need to add in lots of healthy snacks throughout the day too. Plus, kids love snacks — it’s likely one of the biggest highlights of their camping trip.
Grilled Fruit Kabobs
Make fresh fruit fun by letting kids grill some fruity kabobs.
Cut up some of their favorite fruits and place several pieces onto a skewer to grill over the fire.
Lay the skewers on aluminum foil and use tongs to turn them. Some popular fruits to grill are pineapple, watermelon, and peaches. But you can experiment with anything you like.
Mini Hot Dog Skewers
Downsize your hot dog meal into a quick pick-me-up snack with some mini wieners. Place a couple on a long skewer for kids to roast them over the campfire.
Popcorn
Check out this recipe from delish to make buttery campfire popcorn. You’ll need an aluminum pie tin and foil, vegetable oil, garlic salt, and kosher salt.
Toasted Marshmallows
No camping trip is complete without toasting marshmallows around the campfire.
Let kids make their own with extendable skewers, so they don’t need to get too close to the heat.
Pigs in a Blanket
Here’s a snack that packs a protein pick-me-up! Wrap mini sausage links in crescent rolls and stick them on a skewer. Roast over the fire till the dough is puffy and golden brown.
Baked Apples
Slice up some apples and lay them out on the aluminum foil.
Sprinkle the slices with cinnamon and sugar and bake for about 10 minutes over the fire.
S’mores
You can’t have a list of camping snacks for kids and not include this campfire classic.
All you need are graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate.
You can roast your marshmallow and place it on the chocolate, or assemble your s’more and let it toast over the fire for several seconds on a piece of foil.
Campfire Cinnamon Rolls
Grab some tubes of refrigerated cinnamon rolls and untwist the roll to wrap it around your skewer.
Make sure you poke the skewer through several places to keep the dough on the stick.
Toast it over the campfire till it’s golden and delicious looking, then you can drizzle on the icing and enjoy.
The Best Camping Snacks for Kids
You won’t always be around a campfire when you’re camping.
Some of the best parts of the vacation are the adventures you enjoy out and about in nature, like hiking, splashing in a creek, or fishing.
When you’re on the move with your little kids, you’ll want snack time to be packed with deliciousness and protein. Avoid junk food so your kids don’t crash and run out of energy.
Even if they have a sweet tooth, you can pack a good snack to have as a “before dinner treat”.
Having some snacks you can take with you on these excursions is essential. Here are some irresistible nibbles that go beyond potato chips and fruit gummies.
Trail Mix
You can buy ready-made trail mix or make your own.
Some good additions for your own trail mix are almonds, cashews, raisins, dried fruit, and chocolate chips. Another fun addition lots of kids enjoy are a few mini marshmallows.
Ants on a Log
A favorite for decades! First, cut up some celery. Then, fill your celery stick with peanut butter, and place raisins on top. Healthy and tasty!
Apples and Peanut Butter
Peanut butter makes a great camping snack since you don’t need to worry about keeping it on ice.
Slice an apple and dip it into the peanut butter for a sweet and crunchy treat. Here’s a quick trick: sprinkle some lemon juice on cut apples to keep them from browning.
Fruit Salad
Ahead of time, cut up some of your favorite fruits and divide it into plastic storage containers. Keep them on ice until you’re ready for a refreshing, cool snack.
Kids love banana chips with coconut flakes and honey! This simple and easy recipe came from my sweet friend, Jessica, at OnMoxieandMotherhood.
Tackle Box Snack Pack
Tackle boxes aren’t just for fishing. They’re perfect for creating a personal snack assortment for each family member.
Before you leave, let everyone add their favorites to the individual compartments. You can share one large box or get everyone their own smaller one.
Beef Jerky
Jerky makes the perfect way to snag some protein on the go.
If you’re not into beef, no problem. You can find all sorts of jerky these days, from turkey to alligator and many more.
Our family favorite is the plant-based jerky.
Protein Bars
It’s always a good idea to toss a few protein bars in your pack.
Protein bars, such as Cliff Bars, can curb your hunger and give you a major boost. Make sure to pack several energy bars if your day involves a long hike.
At the end of this post, I will link up a post about our favorite protein and energy bars.
Carrots and Hummus
Baby carrots deliver a crunchy, healthy snack on their own. But pair carrot sticks with some hummus for an even tastier nibble.
Crackers and Cheese
Pair multi-grain characters with cheese cubes or string cheese for an instant kid-approved snack. Add some hummus for an extra zing.
Mini Sandwiches
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a winner, but jazz them up with some cookie cutters. Cut out shapes to give your kids some fun, crustless sandwich bites.
Hard-Boiled Eggs
Hard boil some eggs before your trip to give everyone the ultimate protein jolt. For some extra fun, why not have everyone dye or decorate their eggs before the journey?
Go-Gurts
It’s always nice to have some grab-and-go options. Keep a few go-gurts in your ice chest for a kid-friendly fast treat.
Applesauce or Fruit and Vegetable Pouches
For little ones, snack pouches are a lifesaver on camping trips. You can grab them in a pinch and they can serve themselves with (almost) no mess.
Granola Bars
Granola bars are another great ready-made snack to take on the go. Or, you can make your own, like these from Yummy Toddler Food.
Protein Cookies
Your kids will have no problem getting the necessary protein when you make these oatmeal chocolate-chip protein cookies from Grace and Good Eats.
Let the kids help you bake them before your trip.
Banana Pops
Cut a banana in half and put on a popsicle stick to make it easy to handle.
Use melting chocolate to coat the banana then roll it in the toppings of your choice, like granola, crushed nuts, etc.
Let the chocolate set and then freeze the treats until it’s time to go.
Keep them in an ice chest until you’re ready to enjoy a refreshing, sweet treat.
Meat and Cheese Roll
Here’s another healthy, filling snack you can prep ahead of time for your cold pack.
Roll up a cheese stick in a slice of ham, turkey, or roast beef. Let your kids pick their favorite.
Again, if you are vegan or vegetarian, the meat and cheese can be substituted for plant-based options.
We hope you have enjoyed these easy camping snacks for kids. If you have a favorite snack idea that was not listed, be sure to let us know on Instagram @ourblueridgehouse
Before you go, here are more posts you’ll enjoy:
15 Best Energy Bars for Hiking
Best Cherokee NC Hiking Trails