Do calories count while your camping?

OH, the thought of camping makes me so excited. A tent, a campfire, a fishing pole, a good book, and some sunscreen. Getting out into nature with my family and my dogs is one of my favorite things to do. The part I'm not so hip on is the food. Hot dogs, hamburger, donuts, candy, chips, s'mores. Must we "junk out" when we camp? It seems so much more "natural" to eat closer to nature when your camping.  BY "closer to nature" I mean, "if you can't kill it or pick it don't eat it", think fruits, veggies, nuts, jerky. Sooooo, I decided that this camping trip would be different. As I fill the grocery cart with "good"ies my husband exclaims, "No one else eats like this." I know, I know. I hear it all the time, but if people knew how food fuels their body for better or worse would they continue to make the same choices? Would they pass up the Pringles and pick up pistachios? Or trash the Taki's and take up trail mix?

Here's a little glimpse of how calories from "good, natural, whole" foods differ from those of processed, "convenience" foods as referenced by Dr. Robert Lustig, M.D. in his article ,"Still believe a calorie is a calorie."

1. Fiber. You eat 160 calories in almonds, but you absorb only 130. The fiber in the almonds delays absorption of calories into the bloodstream, delivering those calories to the bacteria in your intestine, which chew them up.
2. Protein. When it comes to food, you have to put energy in to get energy out. You have to put twice as much energy in to metabolize protein as you do carbohydrate; this is called the thermic effect of food, think of putting wood on a fire; the more wood you put on there, the hotter it burns and the higher the flames go. So protein wastes more energy in its processing. Plus protein reduces hunger better than carbohydrate.
3. Fat. All fats release nine calories per gram when burned. But omega-3 fats are heart-healthy and will save your life, while trans fats clog your arteries, leading to a heart attack.
4. Sugar. This is the "big kahuna" of the "big lie." Sugar is not one chemical. It's two. Glucose is the energy of life. Every cell in every organism on the planet can burn glucose for energy. Glucose is mildly sweet, but not very interesting (think molasses). Fructose is an entirely different animal. Fructose is very sweet, the molecule we seek. Both burn at four calories per gram. If fructose were just like glucose, then sugar or high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) would be just like starch. But fructose is not glucose. Because a calorie is not a calorie.

His point in this article is that not all calories are created equal, especially those in sugar, and sugar is in EVERYTHING these days. Sugar just burns through the body with no good benefits, minus some quick energy. If we eat foods with "better" calorie content, our bodies have to work harder for those calories thus producing a higher-calorie burning effect as opposed to cheapy, processed foods that burn through our body in minimal time and end up making us even more hungry. Think of the gas you put in your car. If you drive a Honda, regular 'ol gas works just fine. In dreamland though, you drive a Porsche and you would not put just any old fuel in the tank. It needs the higher octane fuel to burn more efficiently.Then think of firewood. Some woods burn hotter and faster while others burn at a slower rate while still giving off a good amount of heat.
The type of fuel we decide to use in our own bodies can make or break our fitness goals, weight loss goals, or our energy producing goals. I love how Mark Bittman says it in his article "Is a Calorie a Calorie?".  He says, "eating better makes it easier to eat less."  We must remember, our weight loss goals will only be achieved if we can find the magic combination of burning more calories than we consume. If the foods we eat, while providing energy, can help burn more calories by taking more energy to process, then it seems natural to eat foods with "better" calories.
...So I decided that this camping trip would be different. Stuff the s'mores down your own pie hole, but not mine this time. I made Nutty 'nana Cookies for my indulgence. (See previous post "Must BE Nuts" for the recipe). I wanted to make some paleo donuts to take, but my kids protested and said,"if they don't come in the little bag and aren't smothered in chocolate or powdered sugar, we won't eat them." Ok then, one less thing for me to do and pack.
The cooler is packed with meats, fruit, veggies, and cheese. Bags are full of nuts, dried fruit, seeds, crackers, and jerky...oh, and a bag of Taki's that I did NOT put in the cart... you can fight the battle, but some times it takes a while to win the war. 
I'm looking forward to setting my chair by the water and watching the kids and dogs splash in the lake while read and sip on a sparkling, cold beverage next to the love of my life. Ahhhh, summertime!

P.S. My running shoes are packed as well 'cuz I know I can't sit for 3 days without some good workouts thrown in the mix!

Wishing you and yours a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!