What we’ve come to accept as a convenience: prepackaged, processed and fast foods are quick solutions that come at the expense of our health. The good news is, we can eat simple and satisfying meals with a minimum of planning and effort — and it’s especially enjoyable when we’re spending time outdoors.
I don’t know about you, but it’s a lack of planning that gets to me every time I end up resorting to convenience food. It’s not that I actually crave the factory or fast food that ultimately leaves me unsatisfied and feeling guilty. The good news is, if we keep it simple, we don’t need to plan as much.
“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
Confessions of a Food Fantasy…
Ever harbor a dreamy scenario of an ideal life that seems just out of reach, so you don’t pursue it at all? Maybe it’s just me, but I can imagine living in a small, semi-urban village and walking daily to an open-air market to select fresh ingredients for each day’s meals: a loaf of fresh sourdough bread, a variety of seasonal vegetables, a wedge of cheese, a small portion of lean meat. Because I’m only buying for the day, there is no impulse buying and little to no waste. I spread the day’s purchases on a rough-hewn wood kitchen table and assemble a simple yet satisfying meal in a matter of minutes.
The only staples I would have in my pantry at home would be olive oil, balsamic vinegar, herbs I grow on my windowsill, jars of favorite spices, local honey and a variety of teas. Unhealthy processed foods, sugary snacks, and artificial ingredients wouldn’t even exist in this fantasy world.
“The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one.”
― Erma Bombeck
My food fantasy may not be so easy to achieve these days, but perhaps more likely in the spring and summer when farmer’s markets open for the season. And although most of our camping adventures involve areas we are not familiar with, the USDA provides a searchable directory at usda.gov or type “farmers’ market” into Google Maps.
In researching the potential reality of these ideas, I came across some interesting facts that have caused me to rethink my campground cooking approach and may actually motivate me to pursue my food fantasy with more passion…
(warning: good news, bad news, folks!)
Aluminum Foil: Good Idea or Bad Idea?
I’m sure most of us have enjoyed a foil packet meal, hot from the coals, for all it’s seeming simplicity. No fuss, no muss, individual portions ready to eat straight from the grill or campfire. But is that actually safe for us — or the environment?
It’s tempting to buy both foil sheets and disposable aluminum containers in bulk to cook with while camping. It’s heat-retaining and quick clean up qualities are undeniably attractive. But how does aluminum affect us?
Aluminum is already found naturally in our air, water, and food. Vegetables absorb it through the soil it’s grown in. In processed food, it may even be added as a preservative. If we’re healthy, most of the aluminum in the food we ingest passes right through us unabsorbed. However, as with most things, moderation is key.
While there are minimal risks to the aluminum levels found naturally in our food supply, the aluminum absorbed by meat when cooked at high temperatures (such as a campfire or grill), especially when used with acidic ingredients such as tomato sauce, lemons or vinegar (think marinades) will add a substantial amount of aluminum to the food. One study found aluminum levels increased as much as 378 percent, so frequent use is something to rethink. While the effects of excess aluminum in our bodies are not fully known, there are concerns that it is linked to kidney, bone, nerve and brain health (Alzheimer’s in particular).
What is the impact on the earth from our cooking foil waste? Aluminum is easy to recycle. In fact, almost 75 percent of aluminum produced in the United States is still in use today and may be recycled indefinitely, but aluminum foil contaminated with food and grease residues damage recycling equipment. So please take advantage of the can recycling receptacles available in most parks and campgrounds to dispose of your used aluminum soda cans, but only add other aluminum items if they are clean.
Healthy Grilling Alternatives
That said, skewered meats and vegetables are a healthy and more environmentally-conscious choice. Or at least an option to add into the mix of our cooking convenience options. Metal skewers are easy to clean. We can even opt for the bamboo variety and throw them in the campfire when we’re done. The only set-back with skewers is the prep time.
Stainless steel grill baskets are another great option. I’ve tried quite a few basket options over the years — ones made for easily cooking fish or burgers by turning a two-sided basket. They work well for keeping fragile foods intact, but I recently found a stainless steel professional grade grill pan on Amazon that I love! It’s super sturdy, makes small pieces easy to grill without the added prep time of assembling skewers … and it’s easy to clean.
Another reason I like grill baskets is that they make it easier to avoid the carcinogens that come with charred food. Marinades made from citrus or vinegar can also help to reduce charring, but this grill tray will quickly cook vegetables without exposing them to too much flame. That’s win-win in my book.
But Back to Fresh Produce …
Those who are on the road adventuring often (or full-time), are unable to maintain a garden of any consequence — but we can still benefit from and support those who do! We’ll also reap the benefits if we’re able to find some freshly-harvested seasonal foods as we travel.
Because fruits and vegetables are composed mostly of water, they begin to lose moisture from the moment they are harvested, and their nutrient levels begin to diminish. Refrigeration slows this process. Freezing, canning and dehydrating will also help to preserve some of the nutrients, but they will never have the ideal color, flavor, texture and nutrient level as they do when they are fresh-picked.
Stopping at farmer’s markets or produce stands whenever we pass them is a wonderful way to enjoy nature’s bounty — not to mention another way of exploring the unique varieties available in each different region.
Plant-based diets are just healthier for us. I was a vegetarian for fifteen of the healthiest years of my life … until I married a devoted carnivore. We compromised on our eating styles, with me eating meat again and Patrick adding more vegetables to his diet. Lately, I’m craving more vegetables. It’s better for some of the health issues I struggle with, and I just feel better when I’m getting plenty. I don’t think a strict regiment is necessarily required, but I’m thrilled that farmers’ markets are back open for the season!
It just feels good to buy fresh and local. We pare down our consumerism by eliminating shipping waste and food packaging. We’re also supporting the local economy if we take a few cloth bags to a farmers’ market and just buy what we need for a couple of days. We’ll throw away less, and have the benefit of crisp, colorful fruits and veggies at their peak nutrient potential.
The Ultimate in Simplicity
There is something freeing about not needing to cook at all. While that may not sound appealing, hear me out. The more I learn about intermittent fasting, the more intrigued I am by just foregoing a few meals a week. The ancient practice of fasting is said to be good for suppressing cancer, diabetes, liver disease,
Evidence suggests that restricting meals to an eight to ten-hour window during the day is not only effective for losing weight and improving health, but also easily sustainable for most people. Only eating between 10 am and 6 pm is an easy adjustment for me and allows my body to metabolize food better. Avoiding snacks and staying active allows our bodies to burn fat between meals.
After an eight hour fast, the liver’s glucose reserves will be depleted. Our body will begin to burn calories at an increased rate. With no carbohydrates coming in, it will create its own glucose from fat.
Always consult your doctor before changing your diet, and if you have conditions such as hypertension or diabetes, do not fast for more than 24 hours at a time. Talk to your doctor about exercising, and taking medications or supplements while fasting. Be sure to stay hydrated and ease into eating afterward.
Anyone attempting fasting for the first time should proceed with caution. Most of us will have a headache, feel dizzy, tired or become irritable. But — if we make healthy, fiber-filled food choices when we eat (avoiding carbs and trans-fats) our bodies will thank us and should reward us with increased energy and mental clarity in the long-run.
It’s Just Better Outdoors
Eating healthy meals doesn’t have to be complicated. If we can keep a few lean proteins in the RV fridge and pick up some fresh fruits and veggies along the way, we have a meal that will satisfy both our health needs and our taste buds.
Camping adds a delicious primitive dimension to our cooking. It’s more than the act of roasting meat over a fire. We’re under an open sky, surrounded by the savory scent of our cooking meal, with the sounds of nature. There is nothing like enjoying a meal outdoors. It’s one of the effortless luxuries of camping.
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold,
it would be a merrier world.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien
References
To learn more, consult these online resources…
Bassioni, Ghada, Fathia S. Mohammed, Essam Al Zubaidy and Issam Kobrsi. Risk Assessment of Using Aluminum Foil in Food Preparation. International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 1 May 2012. http://www.electrochemsci.org/papers/vol7/7054498.pdf
Turhan, S. Aluminum contents in baked meats wrapped in aluminum foil. U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, July 2006. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22063217
Sloan, Hayden. The environmental impact of aluminum (and why it’s still better than plastic). Student Conservation Association, https://www.thesca.org/connect/blog/environmental-impact-aluminum-and-why-it%E2%80%99s-still-better-plastic
Toxic substances portal: Aluminum. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. 12 March 2015. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/TF.asp?id=190&tid=34
Rickman, Joy C., Barrett, Diane M., Bruhn, Christine M. Nutritional comparison of fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Part 1. Vitamins C and B and phenolic compounds. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2007. http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/datastore/234-779.pdf
Tello, Monique, MD, MPH. Intermittent fasting: Surprising update. Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, 29 June 2018. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/intermittent-fasting-surprising-update-2018062914156
© Lauren Lynch and artofrv.com, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Lauren Lynch and artofrv.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
When you buy recommended products through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn a small amount from qualifying purchases. We appreciate your support! By buying through our links, you make this website and future reviews possible at no additional cost to yourself.
