Savvy Aussie mum shares budget hacks for camping meals under $10

From food prep tips to her go-to dishes and even her entire shopping list - her tips will have everyone nailing Easter camping!

For some, the Easter long weekend means chocolate egg hunts and buttery hot cross buns. 

For others, it means setting off on a camping weekend adventure with the kids.

If you’re the latter, it's important to nail a low-fuss meal guide that ticks all the boxes — healthy, delicious, low-prep and most importantly, affordable!  

One Aussie who has mastered her food system is Victorian mum Samantha Smalley (@alittlebitofsammy), who regularly goes camping with her partner and daughter Ava. 

To help you prepare for upcoming camping trips, we asked Sammy for affordable meal inspiration, including her go-to meals for $10 or under and even the exact grocery list she follows. 

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Image: Supplied

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A day-on-a-plate: Camping style

When it comes to meal planning, Sammy is all about simplicity. 

“We stick to one-pot wonder meals to save on prep and cleaning. They are also quick and easy to cater to our suddenly hungry toddler!” she tells Kidspot exclusively.

For breakfast, she'll opt for oats with honey, yoghurt and fresh fruit or scrambled eggs with hemp seeds and avocado on toast - both meals designed to be quick, nutritious and, above all, delicious. 

For lunch, Sammy gravitates towards easy mix-and-match dishes like salads with pre-cut veggies and some sausages on the side or canned tuna and coconut rice with avocado and cheese. 

For dinner, her family’s go-to is spaghetti bolognese with a veggie-packed twist. “I’ll pre-grate veggies so we can easily throw them into the pasta sauce to bulk it out,” she says.

“Another favourite is pizza with pineapple (controversial, I know!) and spinach for an extra veggie hit.”

Of course, no camping trip would be complete without snacks, especially when travelling with little ones. “I like bringing hummus, seaweed crackers, and a ton of seasonal fruit,” she shared. 

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Sammy’s top tips for preparing camping meals on a budget

Sammy’s main tip for recreating these budget-friendly camping meals is to shop for seasonal produce on sale at budget retailers like ALDI. 

“So, if pears are in season and available at a great price, I’ll pick up a few so all of us can have a pear each over the weekend,” she says.

She also plans to stretch ingredients out across multiple meals, like using mince for spaghetti bolognese the night before and then making mince on toast for breakfast. 

Sammy also encourages campers to prep beforehand, especially budget snacks like banana muffins ($5 to make) and oat bars with strawberries ($8 to make).

Image: Supplied

“This ensures we have satisfying and healthy snacks on hand. I also prep pancakes made from bananas and eggs ($8 to make). I’ll cook them before the trip, as they last three to five days, so they're perfect for a weekend trip,” she explains. 

“Our favourite under $10 meals are banana pancakes, yoghurt with oats and berries, and bread and sausages with a side salad.”

Image: Supplied

Sammy’s shopping list for a weekend camping trip

Sammy’s shopping list for a weekend away camping is extremely budget-conscious and easy to replicate. 

She says it costs around $80 to buy a variety of healthy ingredients, from bread and almond spread to pasta sauce and salad mixes, all from ALDI. 

Here it is:

• Bread
• Almond spread
• Oats
• Honey
• Blueberries
• Raspberry
• Oat milk
• Asian salad mix
• Coconut oil
• Sausages
• Grapes
• Pear
• Banana
• Strawberries
• Tub of coconut yoghurt
• Mushroom
• Capsicum
• Carrot
• Mince
• Pasta Sauce
• Cheese
• Spaghetti
• Tomato sauce
• Pancake mix
• Seaweed crackers
• Tea
• Sugar
• Hummus
• Soup
• Mac and cheese
• Avocado
• Pizza base
• Pizza sauce
• Cheese
• Tin of pineapples
• Spinach
• Eggs

So, if you’re heading away on a family camping trip soon, why not take a leaf out of Sammy’s book and whip up some of these delicious and budget-friendly meals?

They’ll make for some very happy campers!

Originally published as Savvy Aussie mum shares budget hacks for camping meals under $10