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backpacking food

phatphd
phatphd Posts: 45
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
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?

Replies

  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    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
    Flyntiggr Posts: 898 Member
    Get the mountain house meals. If you are backpacking, you'll burn WAY more than you'll ever eat.
  • spacecase76
    spacecase76 Posts: 673 Member
    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
    Flyntiggr Posts: 898 Member
    Oh, and you do have a jetboil or the like, correct?
  • abyt42
    abyt42 Posts: 1,358 Member
    I agree with the high calorie, light weight recommendation.... Add nuts, dried fruits to the above foods, and you've got my recommendations.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Make your own trail mix. Toss in all your favorite dried fruits, nuts, etc.
  • phatphd
    phatphd Posts: 45
    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
    Flyntiggr Posts: 898 Member
    REI sells them. The dessert cobblers rock. My fav is the chicken and mashed potatoes, but obviously that won't work for you.
  • RangerSteve
    RangerSteve Posts: 437
    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.
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