Taking my 5 year old camping next month and he basically only eats chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. Can't exactly bring a freezer. What are some good camping foods that don't require a ton of cooking? Last time I tried to get him to eat hot dogs and it was a disaster.
Bring some pasta and a camping stove setup, you can make him mac and cheese right there. I always pack way more carbs than protein for my picky one anyway.
Honestly just embrace the simple stuff. Cereal, granola bars, PB&J, hot dogs. At 5 years old the goal is just getting him outside and having fun, not gourmet camping meals. He'll expand his palate eventually.
Man, I feel this. My oldest was the same way at that age. We did a lot of hot dogs wrapped in foil over the fire and PB&J sandwiches. Turns out kids think food tastes better when it's cooked outside, even if it's the same stuff.
Real talk - don't stress too much about introducing new foods while camping. Keep him fed with what works, focus on the experience. The adventurous eating can come later when he's not dealing with the unfamiliarity of sleeping in a tent.
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Chicken nuggets and mac and cheese are basically a camping staple anyway lol. You could meal prep both of those at home and bring them cold, warm them over the fire. Keeps him happy and you sane.
My 6yo is the same way. Try bringing the chicken nuggets he knows he likes and then just making everything else taste like what he'd normally eat. Hot mac and cheese by the campfire hits different for kids that age.