Camp food is all about ease. The old adage about breakfast being the most important meal of the day takes on a whole new significance as you emerge bleary eyed from your cosy sleeping bag to ponder on another day of fresh air and outdoor life. A good breakfast prepares you for the day ahead especially if it is likely to be a strenuous one.

Eggs

Anyone over a certain age will remember the 80s advert on TV extolling the virtues of eggs and their versatility of use. For those in the sub 40s category I can tell you that the advert had a chirpy voice over that listed over and over all that you can do with an egg and, although vaguely irritating, it had a point. Scrambled (with or without toast, bagels, waffles, croissants etc), poached, boiled, fried or made into an omelette are the obvious choices and the more adventurous chef could probably name several more.

So, not only can you have a different camp breakfast every day with just the humble egg but to add to the convenience eggs are easily available. Even if you are somewhere a little off the beaten track the chances are you will be able to find a farm or small holding selling fresh eggs and it has become rather trendy for private households to keep chickens once away from the towns and cities.

Fry-up

No camp trip would be complete without at least one lazy morning fry-up and even the most health conscious can allow themselves this one fall from grace as a holiday treat. Fry-ups can be simple affairs or elaborate, plate loaded feasts – the choice is yours. And if the wine has flowed a little too freely the night before there really is no better hang-over cure than a fry-up. Strange as it may seem, those in the know have actually investigated the science behind this so it's not just a myth expounded by those looking for an excuse.

Breakfast Baps

If you don't want to go the whole way down the fry-up route you can do it on a smaller version with breakfast baps – sausage, bacon, bacon and eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes or any combination of these – the choice is yours. What's more, you can cut down on the washing up by serving the baps in paper serviettes too.

French Toast

Yet another use for the mighty egg. Dip your bread into a mixture of egg and milk, coating thoroughly and then simply fry in a pan. Optional extras add a bit of variety to this breakfast option. Our continental cousins go for vanilla or cinnamon topping or bananas and tomato turn plain French toast into something a bit more interesting.

Waffles

If you are a bit of a kitchen whizz then you can rustle up a few home-made waffles before leaving for your camp trip. Otherwise buy ready made for another basic breakfast option that can be served in a variety of ways. You may prefer your waffles simple with a drizzling of honey or maple syrup or you can add chopped bananas or melon to make them more substantial. Yoghurt and any fruit work well with waffles and don't forget it doesn't have to be fresh fruit; dried or tinned fruit make  good additions to your camp kitchen supplies as they will keep until you need to use them.

Breakfast Muffins

This is a simple, washing-up free, breakfast option borrowed from across the Atlantic. Personally, a muffin for breakfast isn't my idea of fun but I'm assured that the muffin is gaining in popularity for British breakfasters. Again, if you are that way inclined you can make a batch ahead of your trip.

Cereals

Filling, easily stored and available in such a vast variety of choices you are never likely to get bored. Perhaps the quickest and easiest to prepare of all your breakfast options and creating minimal washing up. Many hardened, off-trail campers swear by a bowl of porridge or oatmeal to start their day but as this choice seems to fall into the love it or loathe it category it may not be for everyone. If you are a muesli lover then taking a few ingredients to make your own muesli could offer you variety over many mornings. Go for a tropical muesli by combining rolled oats, chopped Brazil nuts, coconut flakes, dried pineapple, dried banana and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Combinations are endless with dried and/or fresh fruit, seeds and nuts. And don't forget, cereal can be eaten with yoghurt as well as milk.

Fruit or Fruit and Yoghurt

If the weather isn't too baking and you have selected carefully you may be able to keep fruit fresh for a week long camping trip but don't forget the tinned or dried fruit options. Contrary to popular belief, eating fruit in this way reduces little or in some cases none of its nutritional value so making them a really good choice for camping. A dash of yoghurt can add variety to a simple fruit breakfast.

Toast

The staple of traditional English breakfasts and still the choice of many to start their day. Don't panic if you only have a one ring camping stove either. Those clever camping goods manufacturers have a variety of choices with little add on gadgets to overcome the problem. Often very cheap and small, camp toasters come in a variety of designs which can be used in conjunction with any kind of camp stove on the market. It has to be said however that some of them are about as effective as chocolate tea-pots but there are others that will toast your toast to perfection.

I personally don't think you can beat a cup of strong coffee followed by fresh grapefruit, toast and a fruit juice as a camp breakfast so I'm rather easily catered for but if you have many mixed tastes within your camping party it may take a little extra work. Careful planning ahead with meals really can help with some of the headaches you might face though. You can do this as loosely or as rigidly as you wish but either way it will prevent you taking the entire contents of your kitchen cupboards 'just in case'.