Prepping our snacks and meals before we hit the trail this weekend. Image courtesy of Simon Howden and FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
I need to pick up some grub for our backpacking excursion this weekend. I’m keeping it real simple and looking to prep some of the snacks before we head out. The nice thing about backpacking is that I get to eat foods I normally avoid. You expend so much energy hiking that you need your carbs.
That doesn’t mean a free for all on this trip. Nope. Oatmeal with dried fruit in the morning is as wild as I’m going to get.
Balancing Nutrition With Bulk
You burn up to 5,000 calories a day backpacking. To keep your energy levels up, the rule of thumb is 1.5 – 2 lbs. of food a day. It may seem like a lot of food, but trust me, backpacking works up a massive appetite.
For backpacking, I eat foods loaded with complex carbs and protein that are quick eats, likes nuts and dry fruits. During the hike, I need to feed my muscles.
The difficult part of backpacking is how much to carry. It’s all about weight. You want enough food and a little extra for delays. But packing smart is 90% of the battle. I’ll pack the food in little baggies. No cans or store packaging. Just lightweight and low-bulk foods.
So, what’s on the menu?
- Snacks – Apples, home-made trail mix (peanuts, M&Ms, raisins, pretzels, pumpkin seeds)
- Lunch – crackers, sausage and cheese, and peanut butter sandwiches (for the hubby)
- Dinner – Hot dogs, home-made double chocolate bread (yum!), herbal tea (double yum!!)
- Breakfast – Instant oatmeal and dried fruit
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