OP, seriously, thank you for doing this thread.

I am a camping novice but my husband isn't into it, so all the figuring out is on me. But our kids love the outdoors and I want to encourage that, so....

Get a mountain pie iron. Bring bread, marinara sauce, mozzarella, basil. Pepperoni or other pizza-like toppings if you would like. Assemble in the pie iron. Stick it in the fire until it's toasted and melty. Eat.

OP again. Someone asked about meals. I think this depends on (a) your general inclination toward cooking and (b) your experience with cooking over a fire. But here are three ideas.

1. I don't cook, period.

If you don't cook at home, and don't really wanna.

Breakfast: Cold cereal and milk. Bananas
Lunch: PB & J in a pita bread (pita doesn't squash like regular bread)
Dinner: Buy hot dogs, buns, a prepared salad, potato chips. Grab packets of ketchup and mustard. All you need to do is grill the dogs. If you mess it up, put peanut butter and potato chips on the hot dog buns and tell the kids it's a camping special

2. I can cook fine, but let's keep this low fuss

A few make-ahead pieces, but keeping it simple

Breakfast: Banana bread (make at home before you go, or buy from the store) with peanut butter; yogurt
Lunch: Pita bread again; sliced salami, sliced swiss cheese, a nice pickle
Dinner: Burgers. Pre-form patties at home; bring buns, ketchup, mustard, lettuce/tomato (pre-sliced). A side salad and potato chips. You'll need a spatula and a skillet (or some aluminum foil to keep them from falling through the grill).

3. I'm a gourmet at home but not super practiced with an open fire

This one is all about the ingredients; grab some fancy stuff and then use the fire for easy enhancements, rather than cooking

Breakfast: English muffins, hard boiled eggs, pre-cooked sausage, grated cheese, hot sauce. Toast the muffins. Compile. If you are feeling fancy, wrap the whole thing in foil to grate the cheese and warm through before eating. Can be eaten 100% cold if the fire is a failure
Lunch: Pita/salami/swiss, plus a home quick pickle. I like to slice excellent farmers' market tomatoes and put them in a jar with a vinagrette.
Dinner: Cold pulled beef with a salad of cucumber, radish, cilantro, and a fish/soy sauce dressing. (Keep these elements separate until you are ready to serve -- kids can eat the beef without the veggies/dressing). Wheat tortillas, warmed over the fire. Grated cheese for the kids. Grilled romaine hearts for the adults. Gazpacho -- make ahead and freeze in individual portions.

A yoga mat to keep the camp mattress from sliding around.

great advice from OP.
only thing I can think to add, bring flip flops for the shower stalls if available.

Anonymous wrote:I'm going in a place where there are bears and am due to get my period while we're camping. Will they be attracted to the smell of blood? Is there anything I can do? I know how to handle food but I can't lock myself in the car overnight...

Unlikely to be a risk: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/grizzlybear-menstrual-odor.htm

Just don't leave used tampons lying about.

Wait, did anyone say absolutely no food in the tent?

Absolutely no food in the tent. Preferably no smelly items either, such as soaps and deoderant.

I've done everything from glamping to full on wilderness for a week. We always pack plenty of nuts and dried fruit, also those packets of tuna a some bread make a nice lunch. We did a trip one time where we had to take all of our gear and food with us for about two weeks, and I stuffed my clothes into my sleeping back sack and used it as a pillow. We always carry a rain coat and a baseball cap just in case we get caught in the rain.

I'm going in a place where there are bears and am due to get my period while we're camping. Will they be attracted to the smell of blood? Is there anything I can do? I know how to handle food but I can't lock myself in the car overnight...

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Mosquito repellent -- I don't use any. I'm a bit immune, I think. Also, since they are really most active at dusk, a pair of socks and long pants are probably a better bet than a repellent product, especially if you are concerned about washing it off of kids.

Alas the mosquitoes love me and bite through my clothes! I may have to go with full-on DEET next time.

Pic of a handwashing station that I was trying to describe above:

For camp food, this is a family favorite and the site has a lot of other recipes I use (we camp and backpack):

https://trailcooking.com/lunch/asian-chicken-slaw-wraps/

OP here.

Mosquito repellent -- I don't use any. I'm a bit immune, I think. Also, since they are really most active at dusk, a pair of socks and long pants are probably a better bet than a repellent product, especially if you are concerned about washing it off of kids.

Agree on organizing your gear. Know where your flashlight, car keys (and glasses) are in the dark. We also don't leave shoes outside overnight (they get damp) -- shoes go right inside the tent door. If it's going to be wet, I bring a cardboard box to keep mud contained. (Also for wet weather, bring wellies for your kids. Easy to slip on and off).

We typically lock food in our car overnight, which is fine for mid-Atlantic campsites (I've done this is MD, VA, DE, PA, NY with no ill effects). Camping in bear country is different -- if you live somewhere that is a concern, there are different practices. We do get raccoons, so don't leave food sitting out. Also, whatever you do with your food -- also do that with your trash.

PP who asked about showering/bathing ... if there are no facilities for bathing, it depends on the season and what water is available.

-A handwashing station at camp is a nice to have. Ours is home-made from a gallon jug, with a hole for a faucet and a golf tee tied to the handle to plug the hole when it is not in use. I put a bar of soap into a pantihose leg, and also tie that on to the handle.

-For a few days without a bathhouse, you can do a sponge bath for face, pits, and bits -- twice per day.

-If there's a body of water, I'll rinse off in that (but no soap in streams! Not good for them)

-I've also done a bucket shower, in a pinch, which is exactly what it sounds like. You need a friend to administer. It's cold and you have to be naked outdoors. Not for the faint of heart.

-Dr Bronner's is a nice biodegradable soap. Get the liquid, and you can also use it for dishes. (You need to dilute it with water to use it.)

Camp Food...if arriving late at camp site (after 5 pm) pick up take out on the way in. As for actual food, we make a lot of foil packets like Nachos, faijitas, sliced potatoes/veggies and meat), we also freeze steaks ahead and then cook on 3rd night, frozen cooked rice is super easy to heat up, I make sides/salads (without dressing) ahead of time and store in gallon ziplocks, and we bring breakfast “cookies” for those who can’t wait for hot food.

More camp food suggestions? Great thread!