Backpacking Food - What to Bring on the Trip
When deciding what backpacking food to bring, there are many things to consider. The first thing to need to realize is that for the most part, eating on the trail will likely be nothing like your everyday eating habits. Forget dieting here: backpacking requires a huge caloric intake. The National Outdoor Leadership School has estimated backpacker will burn between 2,500 and 4,500 calories a day. Really, you will be amazed by how much you will eat,
and trust me, you will need all those calories. This is a strenuous sustained activity; you will likely feel hungry your entire trip, so be forewarned. It’s better to pack along a little bit too much food rather than too little. This is not only because you want to stave off hunger, it is also because it is a good idea to have extra in case of an emergency or an unexpected lengthening of the duration of your trip. Try not to overdo it, though, as you don’t want to have to carry more weight than you really need to. Most inexperienced backpackers tend to bring way more food than necessary. Don’t sweat it; it’ll probably take a few trips to get an idea of how much food you really need.
One of the main things you need to consider when choosing a backpacking food is weight and bulk. This is one of the reasons dehydrated food is popular on the trail: with the excess water weight removed, the food item is much lighter and takes up less space. For instance, opt for dried fruit over fresh, and beef jerky over canned meats. In fact, I’d recommend leaving canned foods at home altogether, as well as anything in glass bottles. Remember that if you have to use a bear canister, all of your food is going to have to fit in the canister from the first night onwards. So if you just have to have some bread along with you, choose flat bread or tortillas rather than a loaf, unless you don’t mind eating squished bread.
Perishability is another consideration. This is the second reason why dehydrated food is so popular. Refrigeration is a luxury you do not have on the trail: anything that needs to be kept cold will spoil quickly.
You also need to consider ease of preparation. Remember, all you will probably have to work with is a small camp stove and maybe a pot or two. Avoid things that will require a lot of slicing or multiple pots to prepare. Keep it simple! It is less to carry, and trust me, the last thing you are going to have energy for after a tough day on the trail is cooking a gourmet meal.
Nutrition is a very important factor. Like I said, you will not be dieting! However, living off candy bars or other sugary foods are not going to give you the sustained energy you need for the trail. Opt for meals and snacks that are loaded with complex carbohydrates and protein, and don’t bother worrying about the fat content.
Finally, you cannot forget about taste. Yes, you are roughing it, and nothing on the trail is going to compare to something you cook at home. By the end of a trip, all I can think about is my craving for a hamburger and fries. But you don’t need to torture yourself. Bringing along small amounts of spices in plastic container can go a long way to improve a boring meal without costing you much in weight. We always bring along salt, pepper, olive oil, and Creole seasoning. (We put that stuff on everything at home.) What spices you decide to bring will depend on your personal taste, and the meals you are planning to make. Also, choose backpacking food that sound appetizing to you. Your tastes are not going to magically change on the trail; if you are not a fan of lasagna, don’t bother buying freeze dried lasagna.
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