Way 2 Goodlife

The family that plays together - stay together

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Family Life
    • Family Activities
    • Family Table
    • Family Health
    • New Baby
    • Mama Tech
    • Special Child
    • Mama
  • Family Travel
  • Family Money
    • Money Smart Parent
    • Money Smart Kid
  • Kids Corner
  • Videos
You are here: Home / Featured / Packing Lunches and Day Camp Snack Ideas & Mandarin Marshmallow Fluff Recipe

Packing Lunches and Day Camp Snack Ideas & Mandarin Marshmallow Fluff Recipe

Sharing is caring!

20 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

I can’t wait for school to be over! I am so tired of the homework, fundraisers, craft projects, I could really use a – I need a break, summer break.  However, as I discovered a year ago, summer comes with its own set of challenges. Each camp day is full of exciting games, field trips, and endless pool time. What I don’t like about a summer camp is dealing with snacks for Day Camp.

This location has no refrigerators or storage, and the kids move through their day with their pool towels in the backpacks and lunch bags. 60F or 100F, the lunch bag will be outside most of the time, and that means the lunch would have to be heat-resistant, at least until it gets eaten.

10 weeks of camp, 5 days a week for 2 kids – that is 100 lunches that I will have to make before the summer is up. Let’s chat about snacks for day camp options – choices that would make out life easy, kids snacks for day camp delicious, and our pocket happy. And don’t miss an amazing summer Mandarin Marshmallow Fluff Recipe at the bottom of this article

Pack a Snack for Camp - a lunch box on the grass - 30 day camp food options

Start with a Box

Start with a hard box lunch. With kids running around, throwing backpacks just about anywhere, and building backpack towers, avoid smooshed lunches by using a hard box.

Pack a Snack for Camp cute lunch boxes on the grass

Add Ice Packs

Pack a Snack for Camp - ice packs on the lunch box and grass

Buy Ice Packs and make sure to put a couple of packs in the lunch box. I bought 10 of these at a dollar store years ago, simply because often I forget to throw it into the freezer at night and morning is not the best time to realize that you are out of ice.

Bread Options

Did hate smoosh sandwiches? Use flour tortillas or pita instead. You can still cut them into fun shapes (if you are up for it), make pinwheels or just serve them with a slice.

Pack a Snack for Camp Flatbread with Salmon Spread
Pack a Snack for Camp - Stack of crackers with cream cheese

Looking for more options? Put some crackers, baguette or Cheerios in the lunch bag.

Don’t Forget Drinks

Pack a Snack for Camp - drinking can next to lunch box

Pour kids favorite juice into the drink container and leave it in the freezer overnight. However, consider also investing in a kid thermos – the kids spend plenty of time outside and need a lot of ways to hydrate.

Go for the Finger Food

Here are some of the best finger food examples that are both kid and camp friendly:

Carbs

  • Granola Cereal
  • Pita chips
  • English Muffins
  • Cheerios
  • Crackers
  • Cold pasta (after it’s boiled, toss it is with butter to prevent sticking)
  • Garbanzo beans
  • Oatmeal cookie
Pack a Snack for Camp cute crackers with cream cheese

Good Fats

  • Cheese sticks or cubes
  • Sunflowers seeds
  • Humus
  • Peanut Butter
  • Sunflower seed butter
  • Almond butter
  • Nutella
  • Cookie, Butter

Vegetables

  • Baby Carrots
  • Celery
  • Mini Peppers,
  • Cherry Tomatoes
Fancy sandwiches next to Ritz boxes

Protein

  • Chicken Nuggets
  • Turkey deli meat
  • Hummus
  • Peanut Butter
  • Sunflower seed butter
  • Almond butter

Fruit

  • Apple sauce
  • Grapes
  • Berries in season
  • Small Bananas
  • Apples
  • Raisins
Cucumber sandwich on a saltine

VIP TIP:

If you decide to cut cheese and ham into cubes, consider adding toothpicks for utensils

Sandwich

Use flour tortillas, pita bread or baguette.

Pack a Snack for Camp with peanut butter flat bread

Cut tortillas in quarters. Put your favorite filling on one side and fold it in half. The most natural solutions are peanut butter, sunflower seed butter or Nutella between two pieces, but if you prefer meat – put a slice of cheese and turkey meat instead.

Pack a Snack for Camp with flat bread creative sandwiches

Want to go fancy? Use cookie cutters for super fun shapes.

Pack a Snack for Camp with pinwheels

Alternatively, you can spread cream cheese on a tortilla, roll it up and cut them into pinwheels.

What were your favorite day camp snack ideas growing up?

Mandarin Marshmallow Fluff 

Mandarin Marshmallow Fluff

Ingredients:

  • 2 – 15-ounce cans of Mandarin Orange Slices
  • 8 ounces mini marshmallows
  • ½ cup flaked coconut
  • 1 – 8oz tub whipped topping
Mandarin Marshmallow Fluff Ingredients

Directions:

  • Open mandarin cans and drain the juices.
Mandarin Marshmallow Fluff Mandarins
  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.
Mandarin Marshmallow Fluff Marshmallow
  • Stir well and chill for at least an hour before serving.

MORE CAMPING TIPS:

20 Make Ahead Meals for Camping
Top 10 Campgrounds in Illinois
The Ultimate Camping List for Families15 Camping Activities and Printables

« Best Summer Camps in the Midwest
Things to do in Chicago this Weekend »

Comments

  1. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    May 8, 2015 at 4:36 am

    Those are all awesome ideas. My kids don’t go to camp, but I always pack snacks to come along with us in our day to day travels.

  2. Mama to 5 BLessings says

    May 8, 2015 at 6:41 am

    I love these lunch boxes and how they have all these separate compartments! I really need to get on the ball and make lunches like this for my kid – fun!

  3. Daisy says

    May 8, 2015 at 11:08 am

    I hadn’t thought of it that way … 100 lunches to make for summer! I love your great ideas. It’s nice to plan in advance.

  4. Amy Desrosiers says

    May 8, 2015 at 11:26 am

    My kids would really love these lunch gear staples! I think they are so adorable!

  5. Dawn says

    May 8, 2015 at 11:45 am

    I never went to camp, but my favorite summer food was sandwiches. I loved to run in, grab a sandwich, and then run back out again.

  6. Jennifer says

    May 8, 2015 at 12:13 pm

    I actually never went to summer camp. I did have a favorite summer snack though. Ice pops! Full disclosure: I still love them.

  7. Kelly Hutchinson says

    May 8, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    We always pack a lunch and snacks for the kids when they go away to day camp. I love using cookie cutters for a more fun sandwich.

  8. Tammi @ My Organized Chaos says

    May 8, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    Fantastic post, I’ll be referring to this all summer long! After making lunches all year for school, I dread this for the summer – so I appreciate the tips!

  9. Amber Edwards says

    May 8, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    Such fun lunch ideas! We always try to go for finger foods, It is a lot easier to pack, eat and clean up!

  10. Emily says

    May 8, 2015 at 11:53 pm

    These are all great tips. My son will be in camp all summer too… Lots of lunches needed!

  11. Ann Bacciaglia says

    May 9, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    These are all great lunch ideas. I always packed finger foods for the kids. Wraps are a great option to go with.

  12. Debi says

    May 10, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    We pack snacks for the road when we rake day trips. A box like this wold be very helpful

  13. Lauren Elise says

    May 14, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    those are awasome ideas. who doesn’t love ging to the park or taking day trips?!? awesome.

videos

Meet Us

Our family is just like yours and every day here is a play day! Join us for a movie, a good book or a game. Fix a quick dinner or find an incredible way to clean your house. And have you seen our awesome videos? Because everyone knows, a family that plays together - stays together! Read More…

Our Favorite Articles

101 TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH KIDS
30-DAY CLEANING CHALLENGE
BIG BICYCLE SAFETY BOOK
COLD REMEDIES FOR INFANTS CHEAT SHEET
SUMMER CAMP SAVINGS TRACKER
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS

Contact us at

way2goodlife@gmail.com

Money Smart Kid

Two teens in sunglasses looking up

View more from money smart kid...

Chicago

Kalahari - There is something stunning about the changing seasons in the Midwest. Between fall, winter, spring and summer it's hard to choose which our favorite is. That is why taking a trip to the Midwest is a must. #Midwest #Way2GoodLife #FamilyTravel #travel

View more from Chicago

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

20 shares