BWCA Cooking for a family Boundary Waters Group Forum: Canoeing with kids
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Woodtick
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12/18/2011 01:06PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Next summer will be our kids' first overnight trip in the BWCA. They'll be 4 and 6. What kind of cooking gear do you bring with for the whole family? The last time my wife and I went on a canoe trip, it was before we had kids so our gear is more for just the two of us.
 
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northallen
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12/20/2011 09:51AM  
When it's the kids and I (two boys now 10 and 12) I keep it simple. For cooking I take a two burner Coleman stove, a pan and a pot. It's a little bulky/heavy for backpacking, but I have a XL duffle that serves as the kitchen, and since we cut travel distances it's not too bad.

We typically do two main meals per day (breakfast and dinner). Breakfast is usually a burrito (eggs, sausage (packed frozen), cheese in a tortilla). Or pancakes (put the dry mix in a freezer zipper bag, add the water at camp, and squeeze into pan from zipper bag. Dinner is fish (God willing), hot dogs, or burgers (frozen 'til we leave) plus an easy boil and serve side.

Plus lots of high energy snacks for the day (energy bars, gorp, pop tarts, lunch meat on a tortilla, chips, dried fruit...)

Best of luck.
 
luft
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12/20/2011 12:41PM  
Woodtick, I am in the same camp as you. I am still using my pre-family cookware for 2.

On BWCA trips we are 1 adult and 3 boys 10,12,14, and we have used a MSR pocket rocket or a whisper light. I use a old Sigg cooking kit from the 80's that can boil enough water in the large pan for our dehydrated meals and then put back on for a beverage boil, and then a third time for clean up water. At some point I want to invest in a a slightly larger set of pots and 2 burner stove that is light enough to portage. I am too wimpy to portage my Coleman Suitcase...
 
12/20/2011 12:49PM  
we usually do flavored oat meal for breakfast, with a rice crispy treat. For lunch we do soft shells with p&J, beef jerky, gorp fruit snacks and Ginger snaps. For supper lately we have been eating a lot of mack and cheese lol. we also do soft shells with cheese, pizzas, and other things

for dishes collapsible bowls.. just got them a year ago. Very easy to use for the kids and doesn't take up much room for a family of 5. We use one small stove and make most of our meals one pot. Sometimes we all just eat out of the pot together so we have less dishes except the youngest one)

We don't bother with bibs.. we just put a rain jacket on the youngest then when he is done wash him off lol
 
paddlefamily
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12/20/2011 07:30PM  
For our family of 5 we bring our basic cook kit. Similar to this. We cook over the fire or use a MSR pocket rocket.

These sturdy, spill-free, heat resistant plates for our kids. My husband and I eat out of the cook-kit lids.

A spork for each family member and a few mugs to share.
 
12/21/2011 12:04PM  
luft - I've got the portaging 2-burner for ya... Coleman Expedition. love it.

That said, my biggest issue when kids were little was getting enough food ready at the same time, so we migrated to mostly dehydrated stuff that can "cook" in the bag and everyone can eat at once.

Eat out of the camp mugs with a handle (easy to clean with paper towel). Have the origami folding bowls, but they haven't held up so well over time for us - now I bring one or two as a plastic plate and will occasionally mix pudding in one. Not sure I'd recommend them if you don't already have them.

Luna Bars are now huge hit with all the healthy flavors like cookies n cream, ha! Cheese YES, tortillas YES, ham or pepperoni YES. I like to bring nuts, but kids not so into them. Fun dessert like raspberry crumble, mmmmmm.
 
12/30/2011 08:59AM  
Not cooking gear recommendation, but a food one. One thing I loved bringing for snacks last year was applesauce that comes in the plastic pouch deal with a cap. It's kind of heavy, but kids love applesauce, and they eat it right from the pouch, can eat some but not finish it, because it has a cap (but I wouldn't let it sit more than a couple hours unrefrigerated after being opened), and you don't need a silverware, and the cap goes back on at the end and anything left inside won't drip out. So eat it on a portage, put the cap on, shove it in your pocket...no nasty pocket later when you find the trash bag.
 
mogos
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01/20/2012 08:39PM  
For your kids' ages, I think that baked goods can make some wonderful memories. You might consider the Bakepacker ($21 and 8 oz.) or the aluminum Jello mold oven (DIY for with some thrift store hunting and less than $10).

Hot brownies or muffins served lakeside can't be beat. And there are plenty of just-add-water mixes available, which keeps prep and packing simple.

The Bakepaker needs a 8" diameter pot, so you'd need something bigger than what you've got or what paddlefamily uses. For more than 20 years I have been very happy with the Coleman Outfitter Kit (marked down to just $30). At 3+ pounds, there are plenty of lighter options available, but the kit is bulletproof, affordable, and perfect for a family crew. I love having a 3 quart pot to heat water for dishes, etc. Often, for groups of four or more, I find that I leave the 1-quart pot at home. For groups of six or more, I bring along a cheap 4-quart aluminum pot that the Coleman set nests smartly into.

We use the origami dishes, partly for the novelty (the kids get a kick out of them!), but also for the minimal weight and bulk. But like bwpaddler, I'm not sure I'd recommend them unless you find them on a good clearance sale (as I often have). Light My Fire sporks are great, kid-friendly utensils. They'd be our daily ware at home if my wife would allow it!
 
luft
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01/24/2012 10:26PM  
I like those Light My Fire sporks too. We have the 4 pack so we each get our own color. They fit inside my Sigg kit with 4 plastic bowls from Target.

This year I would love to invest in some Titanium mugs but they are awfully pricey. I keep looking at them but usually have something else more pressing to purchase.

@Bwpaddler
Thanks! I will look into that Coleman Expedition. It would be great to be able to boil enough water all at once for a change! I assume the boys are only going to eat more and more as they get bigger so 2 pots of water are going to be a necessity soon if we all want to eat at the same time.
 
CrookedPaddler1
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01/25/2012 08:51AM  
I routinely camp with my family. One of things that they really like is that we cook primarily over the wood fire. I have a nice set of stainless pots that are easy to clean up after the trip and I do take along a 1 burner coleman stove(for emergencies). The girls like that we are "primative" and learning how to cook over the fire.

Breakfasts are often eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, pancakes, biscuits and gravey, or oatmeal. Dinners are usually fish with a side dish like mac and cheese, rice, potoatoes, etc. Lunches are bagels, summer sausage, cheese, cream cheese, trail mix, etc.

Have fun with your kids in the backcountry. They will love whatever you choose to do!


 
paddlefamily
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01/26/2012 08:01AM  
quote CrookedPaddler1: "I routinely camp with my family. One of things that they really like is that we cook primarily over the wood fire. I have a nice set of stainless pots that are easy to clean up after the trip and I do take along a 1 burner coleman stove(for emergencies). The girls like that we are "primative" and learning how to cook over the fire.


Breakfasts are often eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, pancakes, biscuits and gravey, or oatmeal. Dinners are usually fish with a side dish like mac and cheese, rice, potoatoes, etc. Lunches are bagels, summer sausage, cheese, cream cheese, trail mix, etc.


Have fun with your kids in the backcountry. They will love whatever you choose to do!
"


Your meals sound great and give me some good ideas for our summer trip! We try to cook over the fire whenever we can. Kids love it too.
 
01/27/2012 11:25AM  
quote luft: "@Bwpaddler Thanks! I will look into that Coleman Expedition. It would be great to be able to boil enough water all at once for a change! I assume the boys are only going to eat more and more as they get bigger so 2 pots of water are going to be a necessity soon if we all want to eat at the same time."

VNO sells their used ones for under $40. I want to pick up a second, but the first is still going strong after about 10 years. One thing to consider is that it burns a special fuel (can get at Gander Mtn). OR you can get a $25 adapter to burn more common fuel. I have the adapter in case I need it, but I have always been able to find the right fuel so far. (PowerMax)
 
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