While hiking with friends and family provides companionship, a second pack for hauling gear and instant help in emergencies, solo backpacking also has its pleasures. You have the freedom to linger or hurry based on your own preferences; you can more easily become attuned to nature when nature is your only companion and you get to eat whatever you want. Try out food combinations at home to ensure that you'll be happy on the trail.
Breakfasts
Many backpackers opt for instant oatmeal or granola for breakfast. Since you are on your own, add your personal favorite dried fruits or high-energy chocolate chips to your cereal. If you prefer, eat a typical lunch for breakfast, such as bagels and peanut butter sprinkled with raisins, tortillas with cheese livened up with pepperoncinis or an energy bar. Check online for handy coffee filters designed for making just one cup.
Lunches and Snacks
Energy bars provide balanced nutrition with no preparation time. Other calorie-rich foods include gorp mixtures with dried fruit and nuts, bagels and salami, powered humus or black beans spread on tortillas or jerky. Personalize your lunch and snacks with ingredients you have experimented with at home. If you love wasabi peas or dried tomatoes, add those to your salami sandwich or gorp mixture for extra crunch and flavor.
Freeze-Dried Dinners
If your budget allows, freeze-dried foods are the most convenient backpacking option -- boiling water is the only additional ingredient and no clean-up is required. Some solo backpackers with hearty appetites and high-energy needs eat a freeze-dried portion meant for two people or choose single-serving packages that, on the whole, contain more calories per serving than packages for two people. Calories for meals meant for two people range from 250 for beef stew to 410 for rice and chicken per serving, while calories in packages meant for one person range from 480 calories for beef stew to 560 for rice and chicken.
Rice and Pasta Dinners
Instant rice and quick cooking pasta are staples for backpackers that don't mind a small amount of cooking and clean-up. The American Council on Exercise recommends foods with lots of carbohydrates to replenish the stored energy that you used during the day as well as foods with protein to help repair your muscles. Choose your favorite instant rice or pasta and add dried cheese, tuna or salmon from a pouch, bits of jerky or a bouillon cube to replenish your body's salt and add flavor. If neither rice nor pasta are favorites, choose instant mashed potatoes and add the same extra ingredients.
References
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area.com: Solo Backpacking - Four Reasons, Eight Tips
- American Council on Exercise: For Camping and Hiking Trips, What Are the Best Foods to Pack for Proper Nutrition?
- Washington Trails Association: Great Backpacking Food Should Be Easy, Tasty
- Mountain House: Nutrition
- Mountain House: Beef Stew
- Mountain House: Rice and Chicken
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