One of the most common questions we are asked before a first wild camping trip is:

“What food should I bring?”

The good news is that food for a one-night wild camp does not need to be complicated. You do not need an expedition-sized supply of food, an elaborate menu or a rucksack full of expensive specialist meals.

For a typical one-night trip, the aim is to carry food that is lightweight, easy to prepare and something you will genuinely look forward to eating after a day in the hills.

This guide is written with our guided Lake District wild camping trips in mind, but the same advice works for most overnight mountain journeys.

Download the One-Night Wild Camp Food Checklist

How much food do you need for one night?

For a two-day, one-night wild camp, most people will need:

• Food or snacks for the first day’s walk
• An evening meal
• A hot drink or evening treat
• Breakfast
• Snacks and a light lunch for the second day

You should normally arrive having eaten before the trip unless your joining instructions say otherwise.

A little spare food is sensible, but carrying several additional meals adds unnecessary weight and usually means bringing most of it home again.

Your evening meal should provide at least 800 calories

Your evening meal is the main opportunity to replace the energy used during the day.

After several hours of walking through mountain terrain while carrying a rucksack, a small 400 or 500 calorie meal is unlikely to feel substantial enough for most adults.

We recommend choosing an evening meal that provides at least 800 calories. Larger participants, people with bigger appetites or those completing a particularly demanding route may prefer even more.

Always check the nutritional information on the packet. Some meals look substantial but provide considerably fewer calories than expected.

Guide’s tip: If your chosen meal only provides 500–600 calories, add bread, oatcakes, cheese, a dessert, flapjack or chocolate to bring the total above 800 calories.

Choosing an evening meal

After a day in the hills, most people want something warm, filling and easy to prepare.

Personally, I tend to choose pasta dishes or curries. They are comforting, generally high in carbohydrates and feel like a proper meal at the end of the day.

Dehydrated camping meals

Dehydrated meals are one of the easiest choices for a first wild camp. You normally add boiling water directly to the packet, stir it, reseal it and leave it for the stated time.

They are lightweight, create very little washing up and are simple to prepare in poor weather.

Popular brands include:

• Firepot – Known for good-quality ingredients and a strong range of pasta dishes, curries and rice meals
• Summit to Eat – Offers a wide selection of familiar meals, often with generous calorie content
• Expedition Foods – Particularly useful for larger appetites, with many higher-calorie options
• Adventure Menu – Offers lightweight meals and self-heating options

Brands and recipes vary, so check both the calories and the preparation instructions before buying.

A meal described as a large portion is not automatically high in calories, while some standard portions may provide more energy than expected.

Ready-to-eat pouch meals

Ready-to-eat meals such as Wayfayrer are already cooked and contain water. This makes them heavier than dehydrated food, but for a one-night trip the extra weight may not be significant.

They can usually be heated in hot water or emptied into a pan. They are familiar, simple and useful for people who do not want to rely on rehydrating a meal.

Supermarket rice, curry and pasta pouches can also work, but check whether they are designed for microwave use only. Heating them thoroughly on a small stove may require more time, fuel and washing up.

Simple supermarket meal ideas

You do not need to buy a specialist outdoor meal. A perfectly good evening meal can be made using ordinary supermarket food.

Useful combinations include:

• Quick-cook pasta with pesto and parmesan
• Instant noodles with sliced chorizo
• Couscous with salami, cheese or tuna
• Instant mashed potato with cheese and cooked bacon pieces
• Microwave rice with a ready-made curry pouch
• Packet macaroni cheese
• Soup with oatcakes, bread or a filled wrap

When building your own meal, add up the calories from each item. A packet of noodles or couscous alone may not provide enough energy.

Meals that only need boiling water

Meals prepared using boiling water are usually the easiest option at camp.

They are quicker, use less fuel and reduce washing up. Good examples include:

• Dehydrated camping meals
• Couscous
• Instant noodles
• Packet soup
• Instant mashed potato
• Instant pasta meals

The simpler the preparation, the easier it will be when you are tired, hungry or dealing with wind and rain.

Breakfast ideas

Breakfast should be simple, reasonably quick and provide enough energy for the second day.

Popular choices include:

• Instant porridge sachets or pots
• Granola with powdered milk
• Bagels or wraps
• Malt loaf
• Breakfast bars
• Dried fruit and nuts
• Tea, coffee or hot chocolate

Instant porridge is a dependable option because it is warm, filling and only requires hot water.

Some people do not feel hungry first thing in the morning, but it is still worth eating something before setting off with a loaded rucksack.

Walking snacks and lunch

Eating small amounts regularly can help maintain energy throughout the day.

Useful mountain snacks include:

• Flapjacks or cereal bars
• Trail mix
• Nuts and dried fruit
• Chocolate
• Jelly sweets
• Malt loaf
• Cheese
• Pepperami or cooked sausage
• Crackers or oatcakes
• Filled wraps or bagels

Choose foods you already enjoy. There is little benefit in carrying an energy bar you dislike and will avoid eating.

Wraps and bagels usually travel better than soft sliced bread and are less likely to become crushed inside your rucksack.

Guide’s tip: Keep snacks somewhere accessible. Food buried beneath your tent, sleeping bag and spare clothing is unlikely to be eaten when you need it.

Hot drinks and small comforts

A hot drink can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a wild camp.

Tea, coffee, hot chocolate or soup provides warmth and a welcome pause once camp has been established.

Individual sachets are easy to carry. Remember to bring any milk powder, sugar or sweetener you normally use.

A small evening treat is also worth packing. Chocolate, cake, biscuits or a favourite snack weighs very little but can make a wet or windy evening much more enjoyable.

How much water should you carry?

Your water requirements will depend on the route, weather, available water sources and how much you need for cooking.

As a general starting point, carry bottles or a hydration bladder with capacity for around two litres. This does not necessarily mean every container must remain full throughout the whole trip.

Your guide will explain the water plan for the journey, including whether water is expected to be collected during the route.

Natural water sources vary with rainfall and should never be assumed to be available.

Remember to include water needed for:

• Drinking while walking
• Your evening meal
• Hot drinks
• Breakfast
• The second day’s walk

Meals with long cooking times will increase both your water and fuel requirements.

Foods that are best avoided

Heavy tins and glass containers

Tins are strong but heavy. Glass containers can break and should not be carried into the hills.

Choose packets, pouches or lightweight reusable containers instead.

Food needing refrigeration

Be cautious with perishable food, particularly during warm weather. Choose items that will remain safe and appetising for the duration of the trip.

Meals with long cooking times

Ordinary rice, dried beans and some pasta dishes can take a long time to cook. This uses more fuel and may be difficult in poor weather.

Food that creates lots of washing up

Greasy pans and complicated meals are harder to clean when water is limited.

Simple one-pot meals or food prepared in its own pouch are much easier to manage.

Far more food than you need

First-time wild campers often carry too much.

A small reserve is sensible, but several unused meals can add a surprising amount of weight.

A simple one-night wild camping menu

Before setting off

• Eat a normal meal before arriving
• Make sure you are well hydrated

First day

• A filled wrap or bagel
• A flapjack
• Trail mix or dried fruit
• Chocolate or sweets

Evening meal

• A pasta dish or curry providing at least 800 calories
• Tea, coffee or hot chocolate
• A dessert, chocolate bar or flapjack

Breakfast

• Instant porridge
• A breakfast bar, bagel or piece of malt loaf
• Tea or coffee

Second day

• A filled wrap or bagel
• One or two snacks
• A small reserve snack

This is only an example. Appetites vary, so adjust the quantities to suit what you would normally eat during an active day.

What does a guide typically carry?

For a straightforward one-night wild camp, my food will normally look something like this:

• A filled wrap or bagel for lunch
• Flapjack, trail mix and sweets for the walk
• A high-calorie pasta dish or curry for the evening
• Tea or coffee
• Chocolate or another small treat
• Instant porridge for breakfast
• A second wrap or bagel for the following day

The exact brands and meals change, but the principle stays the same: simple food, enough calories and nothing that requires complicated preparation.

Remember your cooking equipment

It is surprisingly easy to remember the meal and forget the item needed to eat it.

Depending on the equipment arrangements for your trip, you may need:

• A camping stove and suitable fuel
• A cooking pot
• A mug
• A bowl, if required
• A spoon or long-handled spoon
• A lighter or matches
• A small rubbish bag

Check your joining information carefully, particularly if you are hiring camping equipment from Peak Adventures. It will explain what is provided and what you need to bring.

Cooking safely at camp

Camping stoves involve a naked flame and must be used carefully.

Place your stove on stable ground, keep it clear of loose clothing and equipment, and remain with it while it is lit.

Never cook inside a closed tent. This creates a serious risk from fire and carbon monoxide.

Your guide will help identify a suitable cooking area and explain how to use any unfamiliar equipment.

In poor weather, do not improvise by cooking in an enclosed space. Speak to your guide and follow the camp plan.

Packing food in your rucksack

Remove unnecessary cardboard packaging before leaving home, but keep cooking instructions and important allergy information.

Resealable bags are useful for organising snacks and reducing bulk. Keep anything that could leak inside a separate waterproof bag.

Pack food so that:

• Daytime snacks are easy to reach
• Nothing can leak onto clothing or sleeping equipment
• Soft food will not be crushed beneath heavy equipment
• Breakfast can be found without emptying the whole rucksack
• All wrappers and leftovers can be carried home

Food allergies and dietary requirements

If you have a food allergy or specific dietary requirement, check labels carefully and avoid relying on being able to buy suitable food close to the meeting point.

Bring any personal medication you may require and make sure your guide is aware of relevant medical or allergy information before the trip.

Do not share food with another participant unless you are certain it is safe for them.

Leave no trace

Everything carried into the mountains should be carried back out.

This includes wrappers, tea bags, leftover food, fruit peel and biodegradable packaging.

Food waste should not be buried or left beneath stones. Even natural food scraps can take a long time to break down and may attract wildlife.

A small resealable rubbish bag makes it easy to keep waste separate until you return.

Download the food checklist

We have created a simple one-page checklist covering the essential food, drinks and cooking equipment for a one-night wild camp.

Download the Wild Camp Food Checklist

Final thoughts

Food for a first wild camp should be simple, enjoyable and easy to prepare.

Bring an evening meal containing at least 800 calories, breakfast, enough snacks for both days and a small reserve.

Choose food you know you will enjoy, avoid unnecessary packaging and remember that every item must be carried through the hills.

If you are joining one of our guided trips and are unsure about your choices, ask us before the trip. We are happy to look over your food plan and help you avoid carrying too much—or arriving at camp without a spoon.

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