Backpacking Food SuggestionsBy: Steve Graham

Backpacking foods should be:

• Nutritious (more calories and carbohydrates)
• Quick and easy to make
• Lightweight
• Compact and sturdy
• Nonperishable
• Varied

Supermarkets have suitable freeze dried foods: Kraft dinner, Pasta mixes (Lipton) (some just need water). Magic Pantry (vacuum packed -just boil).

• Canned goods are heavy.
• Consider cooking time - fuel is precious.
• Make one pot meals - eat straight from pot.
• Remove most packaging. Repackage into single meal quantities (ziplocks).
• Plan on smaller snacks rather than 1 big lunch.
• Plan each meal and snack.
• Give yourself some treats.

Suggestions

• Cheese (colder weather)
• Dried foods, pasta mixes.
• Soup mixes
• Trail mix - add Smarties, jellybeans
• Granola bars
• Dried fruit - prunes, raisins.
• Fruit leathers
• Fresh fruit
• Dried meats - Jerkey, salami
• Small tins of salmon, shrimp
• Prepackaged oatmeal. Add dried fruit, nuts
• Milk powder
• Juice crystals (tang) - add to treated water
• Hot chocolate, flavoured mixes (cappuchino).
• Coffee
• Tea
• Sugar
• Candy
• Chocolate
• Instant desserts
• Alcohol

References:

• The Well-Fed Backpacker - June Fleming
• Kayak Cookery - Linda Daniel