![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Nut butters/nuts, legumes, cured meats (salami, smoked ham, fish) and vacuum-sealed seafood (sardines, mackerel, oysters, tuna, salmon) are all ideal backpacking foods. Pack more resilient produce like citrus and apples and sturdy greens with thicker/drier leaves (think chard, mustard greens or kale) and carrots to use the first day or two of your trip. I avoid highly processed foods, which tend to be high in sodium and low in nutrients, but sometimes convenience and stability win out, as with items like instant rice or ramen.īuilding Blocks: Protein and Complex CarbsĮmphasize protein and complex carbohydrates like beans and whole grains. What kinds of foods should I take backpacking? Pre-portion and weigh each meal if you’re new to backpacking or planning a long trip and remember to consider climate and proximity to fresh water for food prep (and hydration) needs. Focus on packing wholesome, calorie-dense foods. Two pounds of garbage is just that, and it won’t fuel you properly. The problem with this generalized approach, however, is the assumption that said foods are nutritionally sound. Variables like height, weight, age, gender, fitness levels and terrain aside, the rule of thumb is to allow 2 pounds of food per day. Photo by Scott Rinckenberger How much food should I bring?īackpacking food is all about maximizing nutritional density and ease of preparation with shelf-stable foods while keeping your load as light as possible. Even better, mealtimes can become something you look forward to for reasons other than mere sustenance. With pre-planning and pre-portioning, you can keep both cost and weight reasonable. Most grocery stores offer staples that let you stock your pack with nutritious prepared foods and raw ingredients. Perhaps this is why I was a latecomer to the backpacker cooking party (in my early 30s, I embarked on a two-day sea kayaking trip with only a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and summer sausage for sustenance).Īt a certain point in your outdoor evolution, it becomes more pleasurable to elevate the quality of your backpacking food, but that doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money. As a child of the ’70s, dehydrated meals and questionable meaty products like Vienna sausages and deviled ham were a staple of my family’s camping trips. If you’re the kind of outdoor enthusiast who can happily subsist on traditional backpacking food, more power to you. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |