Nearly 30.3 million Americans are diabetic. That’s about 9.4% of the total population. Fresh, fast, tasty food with the correct nutritional balance is a struggle for many camps. Add in dietary limitations like a diabetic-friendly menu and you may find that the camp food choice is confined to a lackluster plain green salad day after day.

Here at Pali Adventures, we believe that food does more than nourish the body. We believe food is part of the Pali Adventures spirit. Our new, state-of-the-art dining facility, Huckleberry Hall welcomes more than 500 campers and staff to meals three times a day, plus some special events during the week. 

Learn why Pali Adventures is the best diabetic-friendly camp!

Food Every Camper Loves- We Can Do That!

People really don’t choose to eat with an eye to their blood sugar levels for fun. For kids, it can be especially challenging. Sugar and simple carbs are everywhere, often in very tempting forms. On top of that, many diabetic children also skip eggs, milk or sugar substitutes because of allergies. 

Pali Adventures accommodates all. Our executive chef explains: “We prepare almost all of our food from scratch, every day.  We know the ingredients of every dish. All of our dining professionals are Serv-Safe trained to protect against cross-contamination.”

If your child needs a diabetic-friendly diet or has food allergies, let us know. We can accommodate almost any request. Our kitchen staff is well trained in food service protocols and we use state of the art sanitation methods to avoid cross-contamination.

It’s All About the Best Diabetic-Friendly Camp Food

The food at Pali Adventures is served buffet-style. Campers are free to make their choice from a variety of main dishes and sides. Camp food is so much more than BBQ beans, hot dogs and s’ mores. Our award-winning executive chef oversees child-friendly favorites such as wraps and burgers, nuggets, whole-grain pancakes and more.

Don’t worry, every meal includes a couple of protein selections such as grilled chicken, marinated tofu, hearty chickpea hummus, macaroni and cheese, omelets and more.  We can even prepare diabetic-friendly BBQ beans, hot dogs and treats for campers looking for the traditional experience.

It’s not just carbs and sweets, either. Our themed food nights might include a veggie stir-fry, incorporate Mexican tacos or delicious curry.  Kids (and their parents) regularly rate Pali Adventures’ food as the best—including our diabetic-friendly meals.

Starvation Not Allowed

Campers have very full schedules at Pali Adventures.  Most campers have hearty appetites and full activity schedules and we adjust our portions accordingly. A typical camp offering of a sugar-free packaged pudding cup and a plain chicken breast won’t make the best diabetic-friendly camp food list at Pali Adventures.

We start with a full American-style breakfast that includes hot and cold whole-grain cereals, a non-sugar syrup, eggs, fresh- baked goods from our in-house bakery, fruits and more. At lunch and dinner, two entrees and a fully stocked salad bar gives lots of choices. For example:

• Mixed Iceberg Salad
• Spring Mix Leafy Greens
• Grape Tomatoes
• Spinach
• Cucumber Rounds
• Olives
• Beets
• Garbanzos
• Broccoli Florets
• Peas
• Corn
• Red Bell Pepper
• Carrot Shreds
• Croutons
• Cheese
• Sunflower Seeds
• Fruit
• Salad Dressings

For main dishes, we always include a hearty protein at each meal.  Our burger/hot dog bar includes bun-less lettuce wraps served with a selection of toppings.  Just be sure to let us know about any dietary needs well in advance of your child’s arrival, so that we can have the right foods on our weekly menu.

Fresh and From Scratch

Pali Adventures maintains its own bakery to ensure that our daily breads and cakes are fresh and free from preservatives. We also control all ingredients and additives to assure even the strictest dietary needs are met.  Fresh foods arrive in our kitchen for preparation daily.

From scratch preparation means that we know the exact content of every dish we serve.  If your child is diabetic, our staff can explain all the ingredients of a meal without fuss and help them select the right foods. For children who suffer from allergies, our staff can offer information and help them to make good decisions. 

Our high standards mean that even the pickiest diabetic child will find proper nutrition, satisfying taste, and sufficient choices. 

Dessert Choices

The best diabetic-friendly camp food doesn’t stop with main dishes and sides. Our in-house bakery serves up some of the most over-the-top dessert choices too.  Egg-free, dairy-free, even sugar-free pastries and sweets are on the menu.  

Diabetic-friendly does not mean bland, preprocessed or boring packaged gelatin cups. Not even for dessert! Our camper favorite, the midnight chocolate buffet, always includes diabetic-friendly options. No one is ever left out- even if everyone else is eating dessert. 

Nurse On Duty

We do not allow snacks in cabins due to our mountain location. Animals have been known to enter cabins in search of food. However, we understand that a diabetic child may need frequent and small snacks throughout the day.  Please make sure to let us know in advance of your child’s arrival.

Our camp is fully staffed with trained counselors with first-aid training and a nurse is available at camp 24 hours a day. Emergency services are 4 minutes away and a hospital is less than 10 minutes away if necessary.  

Just Ask

Our helpful food and nutrition director and our executive chef are always available to answer questions about our world-class food and nutrition program. For the best diabetic-friendly camp food, Pali Adventures has no rivals.

We take pride in freshly made, minimally processed, healthy food that our campers love.  Old favorites and innovative new recipes are on the menu at Pali Adventures. Come join us at our open day for a sample!

Does your camper have special dietary needs? Click the Live Chat button below to discuss them with Parent Liaison today!