The Ultimate Guide to Allergy-Friendly Snacking While Camping

As the school year comes to a wrap, this means that summer is in full swing and it becomes camping season. It is difficult to plan meals and snacks while camping, especially with allergies and other dietary restrictions. Everyone must always be mindful of the snacks they pack to ensure they don’t pose any risks to anyone they might be around at the camping sight. To make coming up with these ideas a little bit easier, here’s our small list of ways anyone can stay allergy-free with the snacks they pack for a camping trip. 

When preparing snacks, you should always check the ingredient labels to be aware of possible cross-contamination risks. Some packages may list their ingredients to show how the actual product is allergy-free, but this does not mean the product wasnt subject to any cross-contamination. 

Fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy, and allergy-free snack options. Once they are washed off, snacks like apple slices, baby carrots, cucumber sticks, and grapes are not only allergy-free but also packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Including fruit kebabs or veggie cups with a side of allergy-free hummus will also add more protein to your snack.   

Most store-bought granola bars often contain nuts or other allergens, so if you have the time, you could create a homemade version! Any of these bars are customizable to cater to any dietary restrictions. Our favorite bar to buy in store are the MadeGood granola bars! Similar to Absurd Snacks, MadeGood is free of the top nine common food allergens. Their core beliefs include giving back to the community being sustainable, which makes them perfect for a camping trip! 

If you prefer to have a snack in a pouch that fits perfectly in your backpack, Absurd Snacks’ individual snack packs are a great carry-on for camping. Free of the top nine allergens, these packs are a great substitute for trail mix and a can provide that needed protein boost after a long day in the sun! 

While these foods are great options, sometimes fresh foods can spoil if you are camping for a long time. Therefore, you will need snacks with a longer shelf life, like rice cakes and popcorn. You can even top the rice cakes with seed butter like SunButter or pumpkin butter from 88 Acres. These are excellent substitutes for peanut butter and are still protein-packed! 

Other shelf-stable substitutes for fresh fruit and vegetables like applesauce cups and vegetable chips are excellent snacks. Baked chips made from sweet potatoes, kale, or even beets can be a crunchy alternative to traditional chips without the risk of allergens. There are even multiple brands with gluten-free cracker options!

What happens when you need a pick-me-up while hiking to your next camping spot? You can bring energy-boosting snacks like fruit leather, beef jerky, or even create your own energy balls. The energy balls can be made using most of the ingredients used in Absurd Snacks, so if you do not have much preparation time, the individual snack packs might be a good option once again!  

Finding the right allergy-safe and camping-appropriate snacks can be a daunting task, especially with all the food allergies out there. However, careful planning and consideration can help you make the right decisions to still have delicious, nutritious, and allergy-safe snacks. These simple snack ideas can ensure your snack time is always enjoyable and worry-free.

Happy snacking!