backpacking food

phatphd

I'm getting ready to head out on a backpacking trip and am looking for some tips for nutritious and filling food options. I can't bring anything perishable and I won't have access to a fire pit or stove (it's wildfire season here in CA), so nothing that requires cooking. Also, I'm a vegetarian.

Thoughts?

taso42_DELETED

Look into freeze dried food (I think Mountain House seems to be the common one), energy bars, and things like trail mix. Also, FWIW, I think you should focus on high-cal rather than low cal. You want to fit as many calories as you can into as small a space as possible.

Flyntiggr

Get the mountain house meals. If you are backpacking, you'll burn WAY more than you'll ever eat.

spacecase76

How many miles a day will you be hiking? From what I understand about these things, your calorie requirements are pretty high backpacking because of the extreme amount of calories you burn. I am not sure that I would be concerned about low-cal at that time. (I am not a backpacker / hiker, though I like to entertain the thought of doing the Appalachian Trail eventually)

Flyntiggr

Oh, and you do have a jetboil or the like, correct?

abyt42

I agree with the high calorie, light weight recommendation.... Add nuts, dried fruits to the above foods, and you've got my recommendations.

tigersword

Make your own trail mix. Toss in all your favorite dried fruits, nuts, etc.

phatphd

Thanks for the tips! It's been a long time since I've been backpacking and you're absolutely right. It's totally workout intensive and I should definitely find calorie-dense options.

Flyntiggr

REI sells them. The dessert cobblers rock. My fav is the chicken and mashed potatoes, but obviously that won't work for you.

RangerSteve

I've been backpacking for years and years so here is my opinion:

-Don't count calories.
-Take dense foods that are high in calories and stuff them into your pack
-Get squeeze tubes (very cheap) and fill them up with peanut butter and honey
-Eat a lot of food
-You'll still be hungry
-You'll most likely lose weight regardless of what you eat

Good luck.


Also, depending on how far you go and how hot it is, you can get away with perishables. I always pack celery and carrots to get a few veggies in when I'm walking long distance. Well, I usually pack flat bread and salami slices too but some people are pretty hesitant about eating that after a few days.