Festival Foods to Fuel Every Situation

Music and food are two of the most popular activities that bring people together. While many are busy planning what sets they want to see, the plan for what they are going to eat sits on the back burner. Meal time does come around though, and then it’s time to hunt for the best looking vendor. Lucky for them, vendors keep getting better each year, and those who are camping are finding more creative and tasty ways to feed their group. These days, the food lineup is just as amazing as the music lineup. Get your notepad ready, below is a list of foods you’ll need for every festival occasion.

Fuel For All Night Dancing
Dancing. It’s what we’re all there for. It is dance music after all. In order to dance all night, you need to put some metaphorical gas in your tank! The best way to fuel is with whole grain carbohydrates and lean protein. They offer you the best combo for sustained energy and satiety- keeping you fuller for longer! The longer you are fueled up and ready to go, the longer you can spend on the dance floor! It is also important to make sure your protein sources are lower in fat because they are lighter on the stomach. The LAST thing you want to do at a festival is spend your time at the porta-potties! So, what should you eat? Here are a few ideas:

• Greek yogurt mixed with fruit and granola
• Turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion on whole grain bread 
• Grilled chicken, rice, and a veggie of your choosing
• Protein shake made with fresh fruits (preferably a banana, you will need that potassium!)
• Spaghetti with meat sauce (leaner meat the better!) Or any pasta & protein combo! Pesto Pasta with chicken and veggies, or pasta salad with chickpeas would work here!

Camping Festivals
Camping festivals are truly an experience. You probably have your outfits picked out and packed, makeup and toiletries ready to go, tent in tow, beverages in the trunk. But what about what you’ll be eating for the next few days? Sure, you can buy all your meals there but the price adds up and is often an overlooked expenditure for an already expensive weekend. No need to fear, we thought this out for you so you can hit up the grocery store with your festival tribe on your way to the event! Some ideas to stock up your cooler are:

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• Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches: a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a jar of jelly and you are good to go!
• Protein and Granola bars: for when you need a light and quick snack.
• Beef Jerky: a good protein-rich snack to keep you fuller for longer.
• Frozen Burger Patties Throw them in the cooler, they will keep overnight (while keeping your cooler cold) Get some buns and fixings and you have yourself a nice day 2 dinner.
• S’mores! What is camping without s’mores? Easy to pack, easy to assemble, and easy to share with those around you!

When You Don’t Want to Stop Movin’ and Groovin’
Is your stomach telling you to get off the dance floor even though the DJ is playing a killer set? We’ve been there. Maybe you forgot to eat a proper meal before heading out because you were excited getting ready with your friends. It happens. Luckily there are a lot of handheld foods perfect to take back to the stage and eat because the music does not stop. However, keep the gyrations to a minimum so you don’t upset your stomach or throw food at those around you. Here are some of the best portable foods offered at most festivals so you can conveniently refuel.

• Hot Dogs & Corndogs: unless you go wild with the toppings, you should only need one hand to tend to these.
• A Slice of Pizza: keep it simple with a classic!
• A Burger: a burger without the fries is easy to go in one hand.
• Churro: for when you have a sweet tooth.
• Tornado Potatoes: a spiraled potato on a stick deep fried to perfection!

When You Need Rest and Refuel
Alright, it’s late into the evening, you have been dancing for hours and your feet are screaming for a break. You’re tired and sluggish. Sounds like it is time to take a food break and rest those legs. There are a lot of delicious foods offered that are best eaten sitting so you can take the time to rest and recharge your battery. 

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• Chicken Tenders and Fries: arguably one of the BEST festival foods offered.
• Teriyaki Noodle Bowls: A warm bowl of noodles on a chilly night is what dreams are made of.
• Mac n Cheese: need I say more?
• French Fries: often offered loaded with a variety of toppings!
• Tacos or Nachos: that mix of protein & carb, but too messy to eat walking around!

Beverages That Keep You Going
Not hungry but need a pick-me-up? Every festival has a variety of caffeinated drink options at your disposal! My favorite drink spot at Decadence Arizona 2018 was the coffee stand! These seem to only appear at cold weather festivals, but you may strike gold at any others you may attend! Here is a list of drinks that will keep you bright and peppy during your late night of dancing and debauchery. 

• Coffee, coffee, coffee. With a side of espresso. Iced (or hot) tea.
• Gatorade. Full of electrolytes o replenish!
• Soda. The perfect combination of caffeine and sugar to really get you going!
• Energy Drinks. Get a vodka Red Bull sans vodka (or with, I’m not judging!)

The Most Important Thing to Remember
Drink water! I can’t stress this enough. If you do not do anything else on this list, you must do this. Especially in the summer heat! Water keeps you alive, rehydrates you, and regulates your body temperature, just to name a few reasons why you should always have water at hand. Water is the cheapest beverage at any festival, and at bigger events you can bring in your own (empty) hydration pack to fill at free water refill stations. These stations are a blessing, and you can use any container you have on hand. Just finished a can of soda? Refill it with water. Drank a beer? Fill the empty cup with water. Please just drink water, at the end of the day your health is important for keeping the party going!