Aussie Travellers Love Eating While Holidaying

Food and drinks are a significant part of any holiday experience, however new independent research by BIG4 Holiday Parks shows four in five Australians (82 per cent of 1,009 respondents) still turn to the ever faithful sausage sizzle whenever a BBQ is in sight.

Almost half of respondents (45 per cent) claimed that fast and convenient meals were their first priority when cooking on a self catering holiday. The healthy meal option however, took a back seat with only 23 per cent identifying this as a concern. Respondents also said that having access to fully equipped kitchen facilities (47 per cent) along with quick and easy recipes (47 per cent) would make healthy eating easier when cooking on holidays.

With this in mind, BIG4 set out to prove that healthy holiday eating can be exciting, easy and inexpensive by challenging some of Australia's top food bloggers to explore more nutritious camp meal alternatives.

With over 30 years in the holiday park industry, BIG4 has seen the standards of accommodation and facilities improve substantially; however not the standard of food we generally eat while experiencing the outdoors.

"We all enjoy a BBQ on a warm summer's evening; who doesn't? However, we wanted to highlight that our park facilities and amenities provide our guests with all the tools they need to create fast, fresh and healthy alternatives to the humble sausage sizzle," said Kari Hunter, General Manager of Marketing at BIG4 Holiday Parks.

With a budget of no more than $30 per meal, the masterminds behind Australian food blogs, Fig & Cherry and One Bite More, accepted the challenge to create healthy and cost effective recipes for a family of four. The tasty meals had to be cooked using the camp kitchen facilities available at BIG4 Holiday Parks.

Tried and tested by the food bloggers and their families last weekend in the fully equipped camp kitchen at BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park in Kiama, NSW, the challenge produced simple and healthy recipes that are now available online at blog.BIG4.com.au. Recipes included a delicious BBQ inspired Cajun Chicken with Grilled Vegetables and Polenta and some Healthy Chicken Sausage Rolls (that can be taken cold on a picnic the following day - or cooked before you leave home) served with Sweet Potato Oven Chips.

BIG4 Kiama

BIG4 is also challenging Australian travellers to send in their favourite healthy camping recipes, to be in with a chance to win one of four two-night cabin stays for two adults and two children. Valued at up to $400, each prize can be used at any of the 180 BIG4 Holiday Parks around Australia. To enter, simply email your recipe to marketing@big4.com.au by no later than 30 July 2012. Terms and conditions available at blog.BIG4.com.au.