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As an outbound backpacker, your answer to
that important question was made days, maybe weeks in
advance. When you finally make camp after a full day of
vigorous exercise, you're going to want to be happy with
the decision you made. You want food that will nourish
you, strengthen you, revitalize you and taste really good.
The National Outdoor Leadership School estimates
that backcountry travelers burn between 2,500 and 4,500
calories per day, depending on their individual physiology
and their activity. That translates into roughly 1.5 to
2.5 lbs. of food per day.
In a diet-conscious society, that may sound like a huge
caloric intake. But food is the fuel your body burns as
it powers up and down wilderness terrain. Finicky eaters
typically morph into indiscriminate chow hounds after
a few high-output days on the trail.
Anticipate that you will feel hungry often and that much
of your quiet time on the trail will be spent thinking
about food. It's true! Plan ahead for this stomach-gnawing
reality.
If you're facing a borderline decision about how much
or little to carry, take a little more. Feelings of unsatisfied
hunger can distract you from the other sensory joys of
a great hike. One of the 10 Essentials for an overnight
trip, in fact, is a supply of extra food. One day's worth
of food is a smart emergency backup.
On the other hand, don't overdo it. A common
beginner's blunder is to bring too much food on a trip,
forcing you to lug unwanted bulk and weight in your pack.
Experience will teach you what amount of food works for
you. Consider a few basic guidelines:
Taste—Eat what you like. Don't try
and convert your taste buds to new types of food deep
in the backcountry.
Calories—Don't inaugurate a diet program during a
multi-night hike. You'll need ample calories (and water!)
to fight off fatigue and headaches.
Nutrition—It's fine to tear into a candy bar during
a trip, but for the long haul you want to rely on complex
carbohydrates and proteins. Intelligent quick-eats such
as nuts and dry fruits provide a stable flow of energy
to your muscles.
Weight and Bulk—Stick to lightweight and low-bulk
foods as much as possible, especially on long journeys.
Ease of Preparation—Unless you are an experienced
gourmet, keep things simple. It's smart to be well-supplied
with no-cook food items in case your stove malfunctions.
Cost—Convenience has its price. Freeze-dried meals
and energy foods can be expensive, but at the end of a
long day when your weary body only has enough energy to
boil water, such luxuries seem justifiable.
Refrigeration is one of those civilized
luxuries you leave behind at the trailhead. Thus fresh
foods are good for 1 day inside your pack, maybe 2. Carrots
can sometimes last longer.
Canned foods sometimes have a place in your pack if the
trip is short and your hunger for grocery store food is
high. Tins of tuna or other canned meat products can be
a nice toss-in item for a pot of rice, for instance. But
skip foods packaged in traditional 15-ounce (or larger)
cans. The weight and bulk just aren't worth it. Don't
even think about toting glass bottles.
Dry foods (pasta, noodles, instant rice, soup mixes, drink
mixes) are light, take up minimal volume inside a pack
and offer you some decent taste alternatives.
Freeze-dried/dehydrated foods have improved considerably
in taste, texture and appearance in recent years. They
cost about the same as a meal at a modestly priced restaurant,
but they won't taste quite that fresh and savory. Still,
put into perspective, they deliver above-average taste
sensations in far-flung places.
Spices can be crucial to boosting the appeal of backcountry
food. Consider bringing your own spice kit, which could
include pepper, garlic powder or salt, basil, cayenne
pepper, lemon pepper, cumin, crushed red pepper, cinnamon
or whatever else is essential to your home kitchen.
Flavored beverages can taste mighty refreshing after a
few days of nothing but water. Powdered drink mixes are
a nice mid-trip treat. Take note that the caffeine in
coffee and tea is a diuretic, which counteracts your efforts
to keep yourself hydrated.
For winter camping, bring extra food to help keep your
internal fires stoked and rebuff any chance of hypothermia.
Carry your ready-to-eat items close to your body during
the day so they are not frozen solid when you want to
eat them.
Breakfast
Backpacking breakfasts can range from something fast and
basic (an energy bar) to a lavish spread involving pancakes,
eggs, meats and coffee. A hot meal can give you an extra
boost, true, but a quick snack means no cleanup and a
quicker start to the day.
Ideas: Instant hot cereals, dehydrated eggs, pancake
mix, breakfast bars, granola, dry cereal, instant tea,
coffee, powdered milk, juice, fresh fruit, dried fruits.
Lunch
Rather than take a prolonged break for a midday meal (involving
unpacking, preparation, cleanup and repacking), a smarter
strategy is to eat a series of modest energy-boosting
snacks throughout the day. Such gradual calorie consumption
is known as "grazing."
Ideas: Dried fruit, fig bars, bagels (which you can lug
along on a shorter trip), energy bars, jerky and nuts.
Dinner
The evening meal is your reward for a full day of exhilarating
exertion. If you possess elevated culinary skills that
translate well into a backcountry setting, you're set
for a powerful sensory treat—great food amid great
scenery. If you don't mind the expense of packaged, freeze-dried
or dehydrated food, the simplicity of a tasty, just-add-boiling-water
meal is a relaxing treat.
Ideas: Packaged meals, pasta, instant rice, ramen noodles,
instant soups and sauces, instant stuffing, instant potatoes
and tuna. Consider bringing along some favorite spices
(onion and garlic powder, basil, oregano).
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