Hate Oatmeal? Try This Hot Camp Breakfast Instead

Instant oatmeal is a classic backpacking breakfast—it’s light, conveniently packaged, easy to prepare, and filling. But it can also be gluey, bland, and, for those non-oatmeal-eaters among us, downright unpalatable.

If you hate oatmeal like me, there’s no need to choke down slime just because it’s easy. There are plenty of camp breakfast alternatives that are as convenient and nutritious. My favorite? Instant grits.

Like oatmeal, instant grits come in packets and rehydrate in seconds with boiling water. They’re as versatile as plain oats, a blank canvas for savory or sweet mix-ins and toppings. Grits are warm and comforting, with a texture oatmeal-haters like me might find more appetizing.

When it comes to nutrition and calorie density, instant oats and grits are generally on par. A 28-gram packet of Quaker Original Instant Grits is 100 calories—the same as an Original Oatmeal packet of the same weight. While neither packs a major caloric punch in a single packet (we like to double up), they’re both great bases for heartier toppings to fuel the first few miles of your day. And while grits have slightly less fiber and protein than oats, those, too can be compensated for with toppings. Add some milk powder or butter powder for extra calories and a richer, creamier dish.

Cheese grits offer a savory alternative to cloying oatmeal flavors like maple brown sugar. Add bacon bits, extra cheese, dehydrated eggs or sausage, jerky, butter, dried veggies, beans, and more for a diner-worthy camp breakfast. If you have a sweet tooth, grits also go great with maple syrup, jam, sugar, berries, or other fruits and spices.

Grits offer a perfect canvas on which to unleash your camp culinary imagination. They even make a great base for camp dinners—I’d like to see oatmeal do that.

Try These Winning Combinations

Bacon bits + cheddar cheese + chives
Maple syrup + foraged berries
Hot sauce + black beans + cheese
Salmon packet + dried mushrooms
Banana + brown sugar + pecans
Summer sausage + egg
Chopped dates + honey + cinnamon
Jalapenos + cheese + avocado