Would you rather do group meals or cook your own?

[Gamma1214]

We regularly packed c-rations on Scout trips. Scoutmaster & Assistant both smoked so the cigarettes were dutifully collected.

 

[billconner]

To like camp cooking, it has to be for pride and pleasing others with above average fare. I take ingredients and plan meals in the woods. I love baking and a lot more than boiling water.

I respect spending time cooking and baking in camp is not everyone's cup of tea. Just as I like and look forward to hanging the bear bag, others seem to detest it. Luckily

 

[Chip]

For health reasons, I avoid eating saturated fat. Most meats, many fish, and most processed foods have sat fats. I'm worse than a vegan. Most groups don't want to be on my diet, so group meals are out. I hate pot lucks, where I bring food to share and everyone else brings food I either can't eat or can't tell by looking at it if I can eat it. One frequent paddling buddy is vegan and processed-food averse, and when we trip we will share meals, but mostly I cook and eat on my own. Alan Gage's quinoa/lentil stew is frequent camp fair, but not sure you can really call that cooking!

 

[recped]

Roughly speaking......

50% of my extended trips are solo, nothing is easier than cooking for a group of one, other than the odd "fancy" breakfast it's meal in a bag with an occasional "real" meal on a layover day or the rare time when I catch my entree.

50% of my extended trips are a group of 2 - 4 (also solo boats) for those trips each person is on their own for breakfast and on the water snacks/lunch. That said if I'm offered bacon and eggs in the morning or handfuls of jerky on the water I'll gladly take them. Dinner responsibilities are divided equally although side deals can be made to transfer responsibilities.

Not sure I've ever paddled with people who gave much thought to dessert, I like to fill that gap with an assortment of pies, cakes and cookies regardless of who is supposedly taking care of dinner.

Of course I warn companions in advance that a couple of our "group dinners" may mean you get to dig into the bag of MIAB to select the most tolerable from the selection.

 

[Odyssey]

Eating is one of those functions of daily life that can be more than merely practical, more so in that we make it part of whichever culture we ascribe to. No strict adherence to rules and dogma is always required, unless you're in that camp. That's cool too if you are.
I never knew there was such a thing as food writing until just a few years ago, which to my mind is the exploration of food cultures and experiences shared with curious foodies. It's more than mom's old recipes scribbles in sauce stained notebooks. Even those have stories to tell.

Food Culture: 30 UNESCO Culinary Traditions Around the World

Explore the intersection of food and culture with this complete list of culinary traditions designated UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

wander-lush.org

All this to say if you're going to trip with someone you might as well include mealtime as part of the group experience, even if you're sharing the cooking fire but making your own individual meals. Whatever works for the dynamic of the group members. Everyone should be invited, none should be coerced IMO. It helps if all group meals are discussed and agreed upon before the trip. Opt-outs to be respected.