The Beauty of Eating Outdoors
Mediocre wine is excellent if you have a view, coffee is exponentially more delicious when brewed after a night in a tent, and trail mix can compete with the fanciest hors d’oeuvre when you’re in the middle of a hike. It’s simple: food always tastes better outdoors.
I was thinking of this in the process of drinking a mug of wine, overlooking a horizon of red rock formations last week. Dirtbags, sunsets and merlot do go hand in hand after all.
I was on the tail end of a trip and my father insisted I take a few days off the grid and get outside. Fathers often know best, so I accepted his invitation and was soon in one of my favorite landscapes of North America, the slickrock country of Southeastern Utah, peppered with canyons, arches and beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Three days of hiking and sleeping under the stars requires fuel, and while for many food is an afterthought, for me it’s the number two priority, second only to water.
There is a certain formula to food when you’re camping. Keep it simple. Invest in good peanut butter. Always have some fresh fruit that can last a few days. This was all instilled in me as a small child, growing up spending summers in a tent across the Pacific Northwest.
The memory of hot chocolate on brisk summer mornings in some far off campground are still clear in my mind. My father would fuel up our old Svea stove, mom would create some fancy one-pot concoction – there is a family standard recipe of couscous with pine nuts and dried apricots that I first remember eating on the Oregon coast – and we would pull out our blue and red checkered tablecloth, intended only for outdoor eating occasions. There was a process; we didn’t leave good food when we left the house, we carried it, and a routine dedicated to appreciating good food, with us.
That process quickly wore off on me, making quesadillas on a kayaking trip at the age of ten that has become another standard family backcountry recipe. Which meant my father was overjoyed when I busted out a new rendition on this recent trip with a sauteed portobello, sweet potato, red pepper combination. But it’s not because I’m a foodie-freak that’s packing a kit of sea salt and fancy spices (although I do believe in always having curry powder and cinnamon along) that food in the outdoors is good. It’s because it’s simple.
Be it on a camping trip or on a picnic, we all have strong attachments to eating outdoors. The second it gets warm we flock to outdoor patios and plan picnics. Think about your favorite moments from last summer and I’ll bet one of them involves an outdoor meal. There is an undeniable connection between food and being outside that not only gives us time to appreciate nature, but makes food taste better in the process. Dig out an apple and peanut butter from your backpack on a hike and it will most certainly taste better than it does when you’re in front of your computer in need of an afternoon snack.
But why does food taste better outdoors? Because in our everyday lives, we are removed from the effort that is involved in food and when we’re outdoors, we’re reminded of what that process looks and feels like.
There was a time when we were responsible for hunting our own food, whittling spearheads out of rock and chasing wild animals in nothing but our bare feet. We foraged for edible plants. Later we industrialized the process, but were still responsible for running farms, waking before dawn to milk the cows and living in rhythm with the seasons as we tilled our own land.
Nowadays, the large majority of us are almost completely detached from that process. Our meat comes on styrofoam beds wrapped in plastic, our milk in cartons and our salad from an aisle that’s doused with refreshing water at regular intervals. Besides the actual preparation of a meal, our most “laborious” moments come from a trip to the grocery story, and if we’re feeling extra lazy, eating can be as simple as picking up the phone, dialing a number and rummaging through your wallet to make sure you have enough cash when the delivery person shows up.
Add a dose of the outdoors into that equation and things immediately change.
If you’re backpacking, you have to haul your food by your own means. If you’re car camping, you have to get creative with what you’re making and do without the usual luxuries of running water and a large stove. Eating outdoors forces us to think more about what we’re eating and truly engage with the process of putting it on the table. We’re still not taking on the labors of working the farm or hunting our own food, but things that are simple and require little thought at home suddenly require more work and attention.
Even boiling water, normally a task we do at home, sleepy-eyed and barely conscious, takes more thought than usual. Because we can’t just open the refrigerator or pantry, instead of mindlessly consuming, in the outdoors, we think about meal times in a different way. We revert to something more fundamental, breathing fresh air and eating food that we put work into making, two activities that are basic, yet essential to our well-being. We’re not texting, we’re not tweeting, we’re not analyzing, we’re just eating.
Food tastes better outdoors because we simplify. We take down all the walls that our everyday routines require us to put up, and we enjoy food for food’s sake.
A worn tablecloth. A spork. A bowl of sauteed vegetables. A group of friends taking the time to reconnect. A view. A sunset. A dinner with no distractions. That’s even better than the best food truck.
Originally published here.
blog.annabrones.com 
Yum. I couldn’t agree more. Dining when camping quickly becomes gourmet, at least in my view of the world. Thanks for a terrific post! Cheers (our tin mugs of wine clinking) ~Gina
Gina's Professions for PEACE
June 5, 2012 at 15:51
Looks yummy, but where do you plug in the coffee machine 😉
Kinked Slinky
June 6, 2012 at 11:37
Ha! French press all the way 🙂
Anna
June 6, 2012 at 12:06
excellent !
Kinked Slinky
June 6, 2012 at 12:36
I got an old-school percolator too. I think it’s a Coleman.
The glass of the French-press scares me.
HipsterApproved.net
June 10, 2012 at 08:46
I roll with a Primus French Press kit that’s perfect for backcountry trips! http://store.primuscamping.com/camp-kitchen/coffee-makers/litech-trade-coffee/tea-press-kit/
Anna
June 10, 2012 at 12:28
Wow…that one IS nice. It’s marked at $38! Yikes!
HipsterApproved.net
June 10, 2012 at 19:16
Cadbury’s instant hot chocolate will always taste like camping to me, such good memories of drinking it in a damp field after a long walk whilst my Dad taught me and my brothers the names of star constellations. Great post 🙂
elsapelle
June 6, 2012 at 11:42
This is a great post. I’ve often said that I’m not happy unless I have my hiking boots on, I’m sitting on a rock and I’m eating the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich known to mankind. There is certainly something to be said about a view changing the way a meal tastes…
Morton Design Works
June 6, 2012 at 11:55
Well said.
Anna
June 6, 2012 at 12:50
You have a really lovely set up – the pans, the tablecloth, the plates and cups are all stylish. I bet that adds to the flavor.
allcancerfightingfoods
June 6, 2012 at 12:04
It’s all old camping gear… and the tablecloth my parents bought in Europe in the 70s!
Anna
June 6, 2012 at 12:50
it does look vintage! thanks for the details.
allcancerfightingfoods
June 6, 2012 at 12:56
i agree, whatever your eating for dinner it always seems to taste better when your eating outside. Also when camping the basic dinner is always far better. Lovely blog.
wildwear
June 6, 2012 at 12:08
What a fantastic post! I really enjoyed reading this and agree with you 100%. It reminds me of cookery shows set outside – the food always looks so much better than it does inside a kitchen! You’ve made me want to go outside and whip up a BBQ in the Scottish rain.
tweedlealice
June 6, 2012 at 12:16
Ooh a BBQ in the Scottish rain… take pictures!
Anna
June 6, 2012 at 12:49
I completely agree! I think a lot of what makes it taste better is the fact that you can’t run to a supermarket if you need to get more trail mix. What you have with you is what you have. You savor it much more because of it’s “scarcity”. Plus, making coffee while camping is definitely not as easy as doing it in your kitchen! Nature is a beautiful thing that allows you to really not take anything for granted! I love this post and your pictures 😀
alphameditate
June 6, 2012 at 12:30
Agreed! Thanks for reading 🙂
Anna
June 6, 2012 at 12:49
My outdoor adventures always revolve around food! It is so true that food tastes so much better outside with a view. Great post, makes me want to pack up the food and head outside for tonight’s dinner with my boys. We do it more often than not but it is always fun to be reminded of why.
Curly Bug
June 6, 2012 at 12:34
Love it!!
Anna
June 6, 2012 at 12:49
Nice One….
Keep Posting such a nice articles…..
MastVid.com
June 6, 2012 at 12:36
I want to go camping now! lol Not in an RV, but actual camping in a tent. 🙂
costeffectivesurvival
June 6, 2012 at 12:52
I was literally just thinking yesterday how eating outdoors somehow immediately transforms the meal into something more. You are using more of your senses and it enhances the experience. Love this post!
Clare
June 6, 2012 at 13:01
It’s funny, I hated eating outside before I started college. The bugs got on my nerves. Now I love eating outside and I do it whenever I can.
kaleidoscope49
June 6, 2012 at 13:09
Agreed.
bellesogni
June 6, 2012 at 13:22
Great pictures! And food does taste better when you put the time into it because you appreciate the work that went into it. Yum 😀
ithopoios
June 6, 2012 at 13:33
After 8 weeks in our trailer last summer and a lifetime of camp food, this post definitely spoke to me! I love wine out of a mug, sitting in a dusty camp chair next to my loved one and watching the sunset. Or campfire. Or fluttering aspen leaves. Thanks for writing!
theusualbliss.com
the usual bliss
June 6, 2012 at 13:36
It’s funny because last night we decided to have dinner around the fire outside. We ended up moving away from the fire a fair bit because there was so much wind the ash was flying everywhere xD
Two Troublesome K9s
June 6, 2012 at 13:51
Amen and amen — amazing how fresh air complements flavors! (:
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Valerie {all mussed up}
June 6, 2012 at 14:24
Reblogged this on innercityfarmers and commented:
Great thoughts on how simplifying, taking food outdoors and being hands-on with the process makes even the most humble meals taste fantastic!
innercityfarmers
June 6, 2012 at 14:36
Even better is finding food outdoors…a Swedish forest,..blueberries for miles…pure gluttony…sick later that night…okay, maybe I’ll bring some trail mix next time!
nordicnoir
June 6, 2012 at 14:40
Agreed!
Anna
June 6, 2012 at 15:21
I love eating outdoors! It’s such a beautiful backdrop!
cragsandveggies
June 6, 2012 at 14:58
I love that you say eating outdoors is more pleasurable because it reconnects us to the effort involved in obtaining it. Working for something–or even just being reminded of what it’s like to work for something–really does seem to increase the enjoyment. And seeing where food comes from reminds us of just what a miracle having something to eat really is. I’ve recently been toying with the idea of putting a picnic table in the middle of my vegetable garden, because I think the food would taste even better when you can see it still growing all around you (though I don’t think working for my vegetables is the ONLY thing that makes them taste better than the supermarket kind!). Thanks for this thoughtful, well-written post!
Sharon
June 6, 2012 at 15:00
Eating and cooking outside is so super. The only better thing than you describe here is cooking and eating outside on a boat! I have to admit I do prefer to someone else doing the cooking and me just doing the eating part. Thanks for sharing.
You Matter! Smiles, Nancy
juststartwithmonday
June 6, 2012 at 17:21
[…] vais ou?: No, I don’t know what that means. This blog is brand new to me. But I read the post that was featured today on Freshly Pressed and was interested. I saw this recipe and printed it. […]
Wednesday SUNSHINE. « the usual bliss
June 6, 2012 at 17:22
Just an hour or so ago my family was tail-gaiting in the back of my mom’s car and eating snow cones. I know it’s not totally disconnected from the city and such, but it does remind you how great it is to just sit outside with your family and have some food. I love to grow plants (I’m currently growing grapes, tomatoes, and herbs), and you really appreciate the process of it all. You know it’s fresh from the garden, which makes it even more delicious!
thegirlwiththespiralnotebook
June 6, 2012 at 17:32
I just came across your blog and love this post. Eating outdoors is incredibly enjoyable…one of the reasons Spenser and I decided to go on a road trip in the first place. Wish you the best of luck!! 🙂
Vikki G
June 6, 2012 at 18:35
For me eating out in the woods is a great experience too. I tends toward light, easy-to-pack foods. My cookset weighs ounces, not pounds, and has to be lugged for miles. I’ll take simplicity over taste for the most part, but good food still has its place…
theosus1
June 6, 2012 at 18:39
Thanks for the timely post. We are gearing up for a camping trip this weekend, our first with the toddler. Many of my favorite meals have come from a backpack, not necessarily because of the meal itself but because of where I ate them. The fact that I was ravenous probably didn’t hurt either! 🙂
kayemdoubleu
June 6, 2012 at 18:40
Hmm makes me really hungry. Now that summer is coming in my country I can’t wait to toss out he grill and get a flame BBQ going.
funeral business software
June 6, 2012 at 18:43
On camping trips I took, I remember that pancakes and bacon were especially delicious cooked on the camp stove. Maybe because I worked up an appetite with all the other activities — hiking, swimming, etc. Great post!
Eagle-Eyed Editor
June 6, 2012 at 19:10
You’re so right, food (and coffee & wine) is so much better outdoors. I still remember kayaking the Abel Tasman National Park (New Zealand) about 10 years ago with my cousins – cask wine, instant coffee and food that I remember tasting AH-mazing at the time, but when recreated later without the exercise and stunning scenery it tasted awful!
More recently we spent 3 months travelling around the South Island of New Zealand in a VW Campervan and being the foodies that we are took WAY too much in the way of cooking equipment for a 2 burner gas stove + miniature grill. Again we discovered recipes that would probably only taste good surrounded by beech forest, with a camp fire burning nearby, frost forming on the grass, and a glass of cheap shiraz in hand.
That experience has also made us better cooks, for precisely the reasons you point out: simplicity is the key. Clean, simple flavours, seasoned well, tastes great. No matter where you are.
Astrid | Pohutukawa PhotoGraphic
June 6, 2012 at 19:29
Love this! Makes me want to do some backpacking myself – just to get out in the wild and eat! 😀
Sarah
June 6, 2012 at 19:37
So true. I love fresh, natural food and I like that you mention the Oregon coast as I just moved back to Seattle. There’s something so special about the Pac Northwest.
angloadventure
June 6, 2012 at 20:11
I initially read the title as ‘The beauty of eating disorders’ (dyslexic moment) and was like whaaa? lol but then I was pleasantly surprised. This is much nicer and I agree totally 🙂
interestingboredom
June 6, 2012 at 20:23
Love this! My boy’s wheelchair we don’t get out too much, but we do have dinner out on the back porch. I look forward to getting out there every night, surveying the garden while we eat and savoring beautiful food. One of these days we will get a camper and make it work, special needs and all!
Beautiful post!
Miriam
June 6, 2012 at 20:34
How awesome to instill the love for outdoors….i hope for much prosperity to enter your life to make that happen. My father was paralyzed so we didnt camp much
butcheringsaint
June 6, 2012 at 21:30
I’m sorry about your Dad. I imagine that’s been quite a trial.
Thank you for your good wishes! I sometimes forget how much beauty is right here in this 1/2 acre we live on…and then I plant a garden and pull out my camera. I’m finding that there is much beauty to share with the kids right here…and we’ll see what the future holds. Whatever it is, I’m determined to open my eyes wide to the beauty God’s put around us!
Miriam
June 7, 2012 at 06:50
Wow! Im impressed. Good thoughts, great wisdom, yes to study the past, when life was quiet, and camping was the only way….thanks for the post
butcheringsaint
June 6, 2012 at 21:28
This is great 🙂
Anthropology Gallery
June 6, 2012 at 21:42
I really enjoy hnnnnnnnnnnn outgoing parties
adsadvantage
June 6, 2012 at 22:40
Reblogged this on Mymindfeeds's Blog.
mymindfeeds
June 6, 2012 at 22:57
Yes, I have to agree; me with my family loves to eat outdoors as well. We do that usually every family day, mostly on Sundays. Barbecue! Barbecue! Barbecue! – favorite. Thanks for sharing your experience and story, I love reading this. 🙂
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Alyssa
June 6, 2012 at 22:59
Like like like the post!
Larva
June 6, 2012 at 23:24
completely agree!
treasuretromp
June 6, 2012 at 23:59
I love cooking and eating outdoors: http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/i-am-a-master-chef/ It’s a much more unique experience and you actually need much less food to get full.
Andreas Moser
June 7, 2012 at 00:24
Thank you for this great article. I totally agree. I love to be on a hike and eat outdoors. I found myself in your words.
nordsuechtig
June 7, 2012 at 01:10
Agreed. I also like eating outdoors at restaurants 😉 or rooftop bars!
Olya
June 7, 2012 at 04:47
Oh how delicious. I’m inspired to do a breakfast picnic tomorrow!
thenutritionguruandthechef
June 7, 2012 at 04:55
Yes! A picnic breakfast sounds amazing.
Anna
June 7, 2012 at 07:33
While I haven’t really camped, I agree that food tastes better with a view. Where I live, I’m more often than not to choose a restaurant with a good view while dining al fresco. View of the sea/river gets first dibs!
rockedbypilates
June 7, 2012 at 05:52
You should write for an Oregon tourism guide, advertisements or app. I have always enjoyed the descriptions and pictures of Oregon. I hope to go one day. It is hard to imagine drinking hot chocolate on a summer morning. I could do that in the Carolinas if I wanted to melt.
You are right about simple nature of food when we’re outside. We’re reminded of what goes into it. This is excellent!
rtd14
June 7, 2012 at 05:57
he he ‘a spork’ 🙂 love the post – so true. looking forward to our next camping adventure and the lovely outdoor meals.
fourchooks
June 7, 2012 at 05:58
I am all about the spork!
Anna
June 7, 2012 at 07:33
i’m inspired. absolutely inspired. good bye freeze dried meal in a pouch. hello apricot couscous.
emily graban
June 7, 2012 at 06:38
Looks fantastic! Here in Canada the weather is perfect for that! great post!
Katie
http://katieraspberry.wordpress.com/
Katie Raspberry
June 7, 2012 at 06:53
waaaw u’re great! u give me a lots of inspirations for my camp …..
thank you so much =-D
Coemi
June 7, 2012 at 06:54
This is a girl who gets it. Probably the best intro sentence of any blog I’ve read! Really well written and I couldn’t agree more. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed. Think I’ll eat outside tonight.
Rebekah
June 7, 2012 at 07:09
Thanks Rebekah!
Anna
June 7, 2012 at 07:32
Reblogged this on Ashlee Craft's Blog.
Ashlee Craft
June 7, 2012 at 07:44
I think all of us need to get closer to nature again, and eating outside is a great way to connect with the outdoors. That’s why I love having picnics outside, even if it just means taking my breakfast outside and eating it on my back porch. Great post! 🙂 Have a fantastic day!
Ashlee Craft
June 7, 2012 at 07:46
I think stuff tastes better outdoors because we are usually there by choice, relaxing, so it is a whole context thing. and usually we are active, so more hungry than usual. cheers.
Barb Drummond
June 7, 2012 at 08:30
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
This was a great piece, really well written and totally relatable. Eating outside is the best, even if it is just your backyard. There’s something so special about the relationship with food and the outdoors, and I had never thought about it being something so basic and primal in us.
arazsunshine
June 7, 2012 at 08:49
EXCELENTE!!!
appunt
June 7, 2012 at 08:55
I love this. I’m sure I’m not saying anything that the other commenters haven’t already said, but this rings so true for me. In fact, as a fellow writer and outdoor enthusiast, I’ve struggled with coming up with the words to describe to others how much better a meal tastes when enjoyed outdoors. I’ve taught clinics on backcountry cooking at a local outfitter, and just began to stutter when it came to the part of describing how great food tastes when prepared and enjoyed after a long days trek. You really nailed it in this post- I look forward to sharing this entry with friends because you said it better than I could.
jenmargor
June 7, 2012 at 09:18
Thanks so much, that means a lot!
Anna
June 7, 2012 at 09:36
Reblogged this on thiswillbecolorful and commented:
She gets it.
jenmargor
June 7, 2012 at 09:18
Great and interesting take on one of the many secret benefits of being outdoors. I always tell people that when I am in the woods I connect to the sacred, whatever that may be. I think this is why most things are more vibrant and meaningful outside. When I am far away from the limitless distractions and mundane tasks I have time to truly let my heart lead me to new experiances. My personal favorite backpacking treat: cheap vodka mixed in grape Kool Aid. I know, it sounds nasty but on the trail its so good! Thanks for the post.
Tanner Colton
June 7, 2012 at 09:49
Food tastes better outdoors because we are meant to be outdoors. Outside is the true reality, and being outside gets us in touch with the reality that isn’t artificially created by humans.
Living Abundance
June 7, 2012 at 11:57
There is nothing better than waking up after a long night of partying with friends on a campsite, getting the fire going and cooking some good ol’ fashioned Bacon. Just the thought of it makes me want to pack the car and head out in the wilderness with a few friends and reminisce the night away.
The Blue Collar Foodie
June 7, 2012 at 12:05
I am a big fan of picnics and there is something about sitting on the top of a hill after a long hike eating sandwiches … none taste better
jensine
June 7, 2012 at 12:30
So true!
Anna
June 7, 2012 at 16:39
🙂
jensine
June 7, 2012 at 17:14
Couscous with pine nuts and dried apricots! That is so amazing! My mom usually left the cooking to my dad during our summer escapades to national parks and his idea of camp meals… well let’s just say there is no imagination when it comes to hot dogs and hamburgers, and, maybe if there is a lake nearby, fried fish! Congrat’s on being FP’d and thanks for such a wonderful story.
kind-cook
June 7, 2012 at 12:55
I’m jealous. You can’t eat outside in Texas. You’ll burst into flame. Air conditioning is life support.
MaxPower
June 7, 2012 at 12:56
Ha! Not even a late evening bbq with brisket??
Anna
June 7, 2012 at 16:39
90 degrees and humid at 10pm.
MaxPower
June 8, 2012 at 07:49
So very true, I’ve never thought of it that way, one of my favorite breakfasts was peach pancakes at Salmon Lake in Montana. I grew up camping in Glacier Park and have to admit, the connection to the outdoors and food do go hand in hand, I’ve never realized that the art of simplifying the meal, preparing for nourishment and taste then connecting to the end of the fork…we’re all looking for connections, sustainable connections. I feel the issues with weight and over eating is not having the needed connection, to the process, the cooking, the eating, the being…eating outdoors is a good way to begin and reconnect. Thanks for this (that trail mix looks delish and I think I may have that couscous recipe at home sometime…on my patio 🙂 Be Well ~Kristy
Kristy
June 7, 2012 at 13:29
Oh man, I have had some good meals in Glacier! And Moose Drool beer 🙂
Anna
June 7, 2012 at 16:39
I love to eat outdoors…when it’s warm!
Steven Wade, Edinburgh and Dundee
stevenwadeedinburgh
June 7, 2012 at 13:36
I really enjoyed reading this. I loved what you said about mediocre wine. It’s soooo true. Your adventurous spirit really sings…I’ll definitely be checking out more of your blogs. It’s right up my alley.
Kansas Love Bird
June 7, 2012 at 13:43
Do you think customs will freak out if I pack crystallized ginger and cardamom in my carry-on?
midnitechef
June 7, 2012 at 14:32
Nope! At least they haven’t when I have taken those two things… and I have 🙂
Anna
June 7, 2012 at 14:37
I never realized it before… but eating outdoors definitely does make the activity of food-intake much more enjoyable. I’m going to be taking my lunch out to the park tomorrow.
JL
June 7, 2012 at 16:41
This is very insightful. Thank you for sharing this. It’s nice how a simple thing such as eating outdoors generates a beautiful reflection in life. What we need! What I need.
A Gracious Life
June 7, 2012 at 16:57
If I could spend every single second outdoors…..I would!
A Table in the Sun
June 7, 2012 at 17:04
I couldn’t agree more. I love simply being outdoors and getting active, but a lot of people I know would prefer to stay inside. Hopefully I can persuade them with this post!
reachingforthestars36
June 7, 2012 at 17:56
I don’t like camping, but I absolutely concur that food tastes better in the great outdoors.:)
booksfromthelaundryroom
June 7, 2012 at 18:44
Yes! Eating when I’m on my backcountry camping trips is da bomb! Also ‘cuz I work HARD for it!
I’m definitely bringing coffee on my next trip 🙂
Cafe
June 7, 2012 at 19:40
Wow Really relaxing pictures of food and the outdoors!
Lon
Lons_Designs
http://lonsdesigns.wordpress.com
mrs_d
June 7, 2012 at 21:08
Reblogged this on EMPOWERED RESULTS ~ Creating A Difference In Our Communities… and commented:
I read the this re-post of and article named “Foodie Underground: The Beauty of Eating Outdoors”
by Anna Brones on June 4, 2012 in Food
I just love the outdoors! This was a wonderful read!
Enjoy!
Empowered Results
June 7, 2012 at 21:24
Hmmmmnn…outdoor barbecue all the way…
tanitoluwa
June 7, 2012 at 21:58
What a very lovely and enlightening post. I love how it acts as a friendly reminder to all of us-that food is something that is to be savored and appreciated, and that nature can help shape some of the most blissful moments in our lives. Thank-you so much for writing this; it was a joy to read! =D
queenoftherighteous
June 7, 2012 at 22:13
So true! Even the simplest food tastes awesome outdoors and we can appreciate what we are eating.
Eccentric Thinker
June 8, 2012 at 00:33
This is so true, and written so beautifully! I’ve often thought the same thing myself. Cheers!
everydaythesunrises
June 8, 2012 at 01:10
wow… there is genuinely nothing compared to eating outside in open. Thanks for sharing. Awesome
paramyogaindia
June 8, 2012 at 03:46
Bam! you hit it right where you should. Though my mum hates it when i do, but i can’t stop eating out…
girllivinglife
June 8, 2012 at 05:37
It’s snowing where I live right now, so you have just made me a wee bit jealous! I am very looking forward to summery nights dining outside in the near future. Thanks for the inspiration.
fleurness
June 8, 2012 at 05:44
I ♥ going camping, and I love that feeling when the first thing I do in the morning, is slide out of my tent on a warm summers day and get the BBQ started. Then all my family pile up after me, and friends come over to see whats cooking. Then they all get their BBQ’s going and eventually the whole camp site is full of delcious sausage and beef hamburger smells. All the kids are rushing off to go and buy an icelolly from the shop up the road (only costs 20p) Then we have all finished our cooked breakfast we bathe in the sun until dinner, and it all starts again………………..
thelifeofkatyperry
June 8, 2012 at 23:14
You’ve given me new insight into the outdoor eats. I am normally loathe to do it since I rather dislike bugs but you’ve reminded me of my childhood days camping with my father and brothers and hot dogs and marshmallows and dried fruit have never tasted as good as they did deep in the Pine Barrens by a raging fire. Thanks for that reminder.
versipellusfenris
June 8, 2012 at 07:00
Inspired for our future camping. Beautiful post.
Lace
June 8, 2012 at 07:46
Reblogged this on greenhousehypermarket.
greenhousehypermarket
June 8, 2012 at 08:00
food does taste better when you are camping or on the trail
on thehomefrontandbeyond
June 8, 2012 at 09:34
I’m going to reblog your first paragraph when I post about our recent west coast Canada camping trip! Awesome and so. Loved your article.
fireygoddess
June 8, 2012 at 10:03
Reblogged this on Make Something Every Day and commented:
Chalk art festival!? C’mooon!
fireygoddess
June 8, 2012 at 10:08
Reblogged this on designergirlz.
designergirlz
June 8, 2012 at 10:34
Yeah, I have to agree…there’s nothing like eating alfresco!
Cherie Roe Dirksen
June 8, 2012 at 10:37
What a beautiful day!
the cook
June 8, 2012 at 10:50
This post makes me want to hurry and plan a camping trip! I definitely agree food tastes better when surrounded by nature. Perhaps another reason why is due to breathing all that fresh air, and being more sensory aware, don’t you think? I know food seems to smell better when it’s cooking outside. Congrats on being Fresh Pressed! – MoSop
Mormon Soprano
June 8, 2012 at 11:41
I just discovered your blog, and I love your pictures. So true- summer is perfect for outdoor dining, too!
xo,
Courtney
http://girlavantgarde.wordpress.com/
girlavantgarde
June 8, 2012 at 11:48
i love eating out side as much as you do but i live in England so there’s all ways rain here i wish i could eat outside more thanx for sharing xx
annaclairysblog
June 8, 2012 at 11:51
i think there’s a certain level of nostalgia and romance that goes along with eating outside… it’s the secret ingredient, if you will:)
nerdpapa
June 8, 2012 at 13:07
everything tastes better with a spork and tin enamel mug 🙂
Life & Sunshine
June 8, 2012 at 15:54
[…] The Beauty of Eating Outdoors >> […]
potluck and other things « hallo
June 8, 2012 at 17:16
Completely agree with you! There’s nothing like eating outside in the open and appreciating everything around you, good or bad.
mischy17
June 8, 2012 at 17:25
I agree with everything you said. Luckily, I have a weekend camping trip coming up next week. Your post made me even more excited about it. I can’t wait! Thanks!
Browsing the Atlas
June 8, 2012 at 17:25
Wonderful train of thought and you couldn’t be more right! My little ones and I LOVE to even take our dinner out on the porch. It’s freeing and invigorating. Thanks!
keepbuilder
June 8, 2012 at 17:26
I really miss doing that..Picnic time!!
pendragon98
June 8, 2012 at 19:26
Couldn’t agree more. My brother and I did a backpacking excursion in Kananaskis Country years back and made a pretty amazing dinner on our little camp stove of stew meat onion and pepper with basic seasoning. We brought in wine and ran around in the wilderness afterwards. There’s nothing better.
beginningstoendings
June 9, 2012 at 01:05
Reblogged this on gdfgerytfg.
gdfgerytfg
June 9, 2012 at 01:17
[…] The Beauty of Eating Outdoors Because we can’t just open the refrigerator or pantry, instead of mindlessly consuming, in the outdoors, we think about meal times in a different way. We revert to something more fundamental, breathing fresh air and eating food that we put work into making, two activities that are basic, yet essential to our well-being. We’re not texting, we’re not tweeting, we’re not analyzing, we’re just eating. […]
“Enact a kind of theft”; nice stories from other writers… | Natasha Latiff
June 9, 2012 at 01:41
haha yes, we definitely do appreciate food more in the outdoors 🙂
aimeerebecca
June 9, 2012 at 04:08
And the fact that you eat outside makes everything just… fresher. I love that feeling. As you said, “add a dose of the outdoors” – is definitely a tip to follow!
backpackerina
June 9, 2012 at 07:19
Great post and reminder. Congrats on being freshly pressed.
Richard McCargar
June 9, 2012 at 08:16
Love this! My husband and I have drunk wine out of mugs many times! While we are waiting for his cornbread to come off the coals out of the dutch oven and my stew over the fire to finish. Thanks for putting those feelings and emotions on paper, I think its time for us to go camping again! lol
cathysgardens
June 9, 2012 at 08:44
I totally agree with your point! Great post!
thebrightoldoak
June 9, 2012 at 09:33
cool post…
Gold fish
June 9, 2012 at 09:50
So true and inspiring me to go hiking in the mountains tomorrow
amaanjourney
June 9, 2012 at 12:23
Very true! We’re waiting for a warmish morning to get out on our tandem with the boy’s trailor hooked up on the back for a picnic breakfast. A loaf of brioche, chantilly cream and strawberries, job done!
notimeforironing
June 9, 2012 at 13:51
Reblogged this on logansinsightjournal.
loganbryant1
June 9, 2012 at 15:13
Not only is the food better, but you can’t write about or experience the smells of the outdoors! Love it!
lynnawiensmd
June 9, 2012 at 16:33
Nothing like a cup of dark roasted coffee near an open fire.
TJ Sizemore
June 9, 2012 at 17:58
So so true.
Anna
June 10, 2012 at 12:28
I think the outdoors is good whether it is summer or winter. My husband travel frequently in the winter months to miss the crowds and though the cuisine changes slightly then it still has the same effect.
triptracker
June 9, 2012 at 19:19
truer words never spoken! …sitting in the kitchen eating a macintosh apple just isnt the same as the crunch of the same while hiking in the woods….
Harvesting Happiness
June 9, 2012 at 21:56
Great topic and great writing! I love to eat outdoors.
Tammy
June 10, 2012 at 06:40
So true,,, only I didn’t realize it before I read this post ^_^
edwinlaguni
June 10, 2012 at 07:02
What a fantastic post and the pictures are brilliant! Really interesting reading!
moviemetropolisadmin
June 10, 2012 at 10:08
Great post and shots! I love spending time in the mountains….it’s such a great way to not only be inspired, but also to appreciate the things that we often overlook!
Cheers!
tarapappas
June 10, 2012 at 14:13
I could not agree more! It’s funny what nature and the outdoors can do to you huh? 🙂
Candy
June 10, 2012 at 19:58
Wonderful! I have a camping expresso maker…really quite simple to use…and, oh, it does taste better than a Starbucks Latte Grande! You are right about the process, and thinking about it…how to make lit better, it all works outdoors, usually! Cooking outdoors requires imagination and creativity. Your quesadillas sound exquisite!
millayt
June 11, 2012 at 00:19
good post !!Totally agree with you….anything taste better when is is taken outside the house…even at the verandah…
Cintana
June 11, 2012 at 01:23
I love eating outdoors. Last weekend I was camping at the Gower in ales and took a big pot of home meade curry with me. 4 hungry climbers tucked in to it huddled under a tent awning, sheltering from the rain. Curried chicken had never tasted so good! Fresh air, less distractions and a connection with the process all make it a more memorable experience! Great post! Leo
Verticalthoughts
June 11, 2012 at 03:31
agreed
insanelyromantic
June 11, 2012 at 07:11
Looks like the perfect meal!
anditfeelslike
June 11, 2012 at 08:19
I love this! You’re so right – eating outside lends itself well to mindful eating. Everything tastes so much better when you’re outside and it’s nice to get back to the basics.
caitlinjacobs
June 11, 2012 at 13:57
This makes me want to go camping again! Hmmmmm, let’s see, decisions, decisions, where to go?
ecodolphin
June 11, 2012 at 16:19
Great post! It makes me want to go camping again 🙂
Delicious History Blog
June 11, 2012 at 17:55
Very nice post. I enjoyed the pictures. I hope to learn more about the edible plants that surround me everyday. Congratulations on being freshly pressed!
DrJeff7
http://www.heritagebreedfarms.wordpress.com
drjeff7
June 11, 2012 at 18:20
Love the purity of this.
ligh4043
June 11, 2012 at 20:02
Hey, awesome post! Really awesome photographs to boot. Love how natural everything looks. And congrats on makin the freshly pressed page!
ellalaughs
June 11, 2012 at 23:38
Reblogged this on camilledodson.
camilledodson
June 12, 2012 at 05:54
I do love a good spork.
asoulwalker
June 12, 2012 at 08:41
Reblogged this on stars in my hands and commented:
Good words.
Amanda McRaven
June 12, 2012 at 09:08
Your writing style is delightful. And I couldn’t agree more regarding your assertion. Dining outside is so simple, yet it can be so revelatory. I always feel so clever and self-sufficient when a make a delicious meal outside.
duetsdatingdilemmas
June 12, 2012 at 10:02
What a delicious post. Eating outdoors is the ultimate in fine dining.
skpadilla
June 12, 2012 at 16:07
I agree completely! I just came back from Asia and all I did there was eat outside and plan meals for all of the family, it really is something special.
0karenalex0
June 12, 2012 at 16:21
Reblogged this on crazy talk and commented:
well said
steveoyugi
June 12, 2012 at 20:30
I love eating outdoors!
beachboundgypsy
June 13, 2012 at 12:15
Great post. Thanks for reminding me of the value of simplicity and mindfulness.
Aileen Torres
June 13, 2012 at 17:05
Wow this post is amazing. you are a fabulous writer… that comes from writing about what you love I think. Ayway. You should check out my bog. I mainly do book reviews at the moment but am looking for something else to write about. http://rangarainbows.wordpress.com
rangarainbows
June 13, 2012 at 19:22
Great post! loved it!! the importance of simple living, and being closer to nature can be so well connected with the bare necessities of life: food
vanillasense
June 14, 2012 at 06:47
Anyone have any ideas on where to go camping like this somewhere near Philadelphia, PA? Love the post!
mixbusinessandpleasure
June 21, 2012 at 21:18
A good read and ahh so true about a hot cup of coffee in the morning while camping! It all tastes better when life is simplified. Glad I found your blog.
Rachelle
founder @ http://www.caramelizelife.com
Rachelle
June 24, 2012 at 22:12
I hope my camping trips can be as delicious as yours one day! I am living in Eastern Oregon with my boyfriend and puppy dog this summer, so there will be lots of camping involved! Yay Oregon : )
mollyru
July 2, 2012 at 19:09
One of my best birthday dinners was a dry tortilla wrap with trail mix and cheese, after hiking 22km that day. We managed to find a spot to pitch a tent and break out the noms just as the sun went down. I love this blog post and find myself coming back to it every now and then 🙂
fiona
October 18, 2012 at 05:31
[…] So true. Read the rest of that awesome blog here! […]
the beauty of eating outdoors | moin
June 1, 2013 at 14:26