Ever get to a camping site realizing you forgot the can opener and can't get the beans out with a sharp rock? When it comes to camping, lists are the key to success because you can pack ahead. Fortunately, a camping kitchen doesn't have to be expensive to be effective. It can easily be assembled on a budget if you shop at thrift stores or at low-cost stores such as Target. The good news is, none of the following items needs to be brand new or top quality. Remember, this is camping. It's called a vacation for a reason. So use this list as a reference and tweak to meet your individual needs. Ready?
If you are going to be camping with babies or toddlers, you will need:
- Baby bottles that won't break (leave the nice glass ones at home and pack BPA-free plastic bottles instead)
- No mess bibs such as the BabyBjorn Eat & Play Smock for full coverage or the BabyBjorn Soft Bib for "experienced" eaters
- Smart sippy cups fit for camping such as the Klean Kanteen bottle with insulated sleeve (or buy the SIGG accessory that converts a regular bottle into a sippy cup)
- A travel seat that you can clip to your picnic table such as the Chicco Caddy Hook-On Chair
- Eco-friendly wipes
Older kids will love to have their own:
- Kids fun bowls sets such as the Squishy bowls
- Kid size sporks (spoons and forks combined) such as the Light My Fire Spork Little
As far as regular family life, the kitchen should include the following to cover all meals from breakfast to dinner:
- 1-quart pot to boil water/clean baby bottles and nipples
- 1 tall pot (preferably with incorporated strainer) to cook pastas, rice, chili, oatmeal
- 1 non-stick pan
- Cutlery – 2 sets for each family member so that you can have a clean set in case you haven’t washed your last meal’s set yet
- Plates and cups– pack sturdy reusable plates and cups that won’t break when handled roughly
- 1 spatula (to flip the morning pancakes)
- 1 ladle (for soups, stews, liquids)
- Barbecue thongs
- A cutting board
- 1 sharp knife (ideally with safety sheath such as the Kuhn Rikon paring knives
- Serving utensils
- 1 can opener
- 1 cork screw/bottle opener (if you are drinking alcohol)
- 1 thermos bottle if you are going to need to keep liquids warm
- 1 table cloth if you prefer fabric to wood (or want to avoid splinters)
- 1 roll aluminum foil (if you are going to bake potatoes in the fire)
- 1 box of Ziploc bags or reusable food contaners (for leftovers)
- 1 bottle earth-friendly dishwashing soap (such as Seventh Generation, Method or Mrs Meyers)
- 1 plastic basin or folding sink to wash the dishes
- 1 sponge
- Kitchen towels
Once you've got all your kitchen stuff together, how do you pack it in the car? A single box (think milk crates or clear boxes with lids) containing all the kitchen equipment makes organizing a breeze. That's how you know exactly where to find your cooking stuff when it’s meal time.
Want to know more about camping? You can alo read:
- Camping with young children: choose the right sleeping or napping gear and clothing
- When camping with young children, choose natural and safe care products for sun, bugs and dirt
Comments