Backpacking provides an adventurous way to enjoy the outdoors and get closer to nature. Eating nutritious and high-energy food is important while backpacking in order to have sufficient energy to complete your trip, according to Alan S. Kesselheim, author of "Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling." You have many different options when choosing foods to carry in your backpack.
Dehydrated Foods
Dehydrated foods do not weigh a lot and take up little space in your backpack, says Victoria Logue, author of "Hiking and Backpacking: Essential Skills, Equipment, and Safety." Meals that are dehydrated only require you to add water when you are ready to eat. There are many options made specifically for backpackers. You can buy dehydrated oatmeal and eggs for breakfast, or rice, soup, pasta and meat for lunch and dinner. Many dehydrated foods have nutrition and calories to sustain you while you hike. You can find dehydrated foods made for backpackers in some supermarkets and in sports stores.
Supermarket Foods
According to Karen Berger, author of "Hiking and Backpacking: A Complete Guide," many foods in traditional supermarkets make good choices for backpackers. Instant soups come in a variety of different flavors. Bring a cooking pot, and you can heat soup or make instant potatoes, ramen noodles or boxed macaroni and cheese. Canned meats like tuna or chicken provide protein to keep you going; you can eat them on crackers or bread. You can combine nuts and dried fruits to make high-energy trail mix for snacks.
Fresh Foods
Many backpackers include fresh food if they are going on a shorter trip, because fresh fruits, vegetables and meat provide fiber, protein and carbohydrates for energy. Logue writes that you cannot rely solely on fresh food, but including it in your backpack can make eating on the trail more nutritious. You can cook steak, chicken or hamburgers on a grill. Hot dogs are another option, and they are often lighter than other meats. You can pack frozen meat so it thaws as you backpack and stays cold until you are ready to eat it. Try fresh fruits and vegetables that hold up well to being carried in a backpack, such as carrots, apples and oranges. Eat the heaviest items first to lighten the load on your back.
References
- "Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling"; Alan S. Kesselheim; 1998
- "Hiking and Backpacking: Essential Skills, Equipment, and Safety"; Victoria Logue; 2004
- "Hiking and Backpacking: A Complete Guide"; Karen Berger; 1995
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