For me, camping usually means back-country, and back-country means bring your own water - i.e. be 100% self-contained. I live in the desert so I can't afford to waste water on washing. Therefore, freeze-dried backpacking food where you just pour boiling water into the food bag is pretty much the dinner staple. I'm not proud, I eat out of the bag with Spork. The used bag makes a good trash container too. I like oatmeal and instant coffee for cold morning breakfasts and carry a few paper bowls for the oatmeal. I don't have to wash those but do carry them out in a Ziplock bag. I also carry a plastic bowl as a backup and to provide support and insulation for the paper bowls. A compact camp stove that fits into a pot for water boiling is my idea of a camp kitchen, and my little fold-up table keeps everything out of the dirt. The rest of the food is mostly dense snack type foods: Clif Bars (granola & protein), dried fruit, nuts, and maybe some sturdy fruits and vegetables like oranges, apples, baby carrots. One of these days I'll try baked potato for breakfast - bury it wrapped in foil in the fire embers overnight. Will bring oatmeal just in case that doesn't work.
Individually wrapped wet towelettes are the best for cleaning hands, face, and are better than toilet paper. Stuff the used wipe back into its pouch and pack it out.
And don't forget Happy Hour! Hopefully there will be a few cubes of ice left in my Camelbak so I can have my Whiskey on the rocks. Add a cigar, motorcycle magazine, headlamp, A-Lite Monarch camp chair, and I'm a happy camper ^-^
I camp out at least once a month, usually just an over-nighter for the sake of camping more than a traveling get-away. It's good practice to know what works, how to pack it, and how little you really need. The experience harkens back to my many years of backpacking as a youth. Never bring anything you don't use, except for first-aid, and you have to be able to carry it all on your back.
When the shelves were desolated, those always remained.
