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Hiking Food
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tropf
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short rundown on efficient food for short & long hikes
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Introduction
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Rationale
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I regularly enjoy hiking, be it short tours that last only one day or longer ones upwards of 100 km.
Every time i plan those, one of the biggest issues is food –
there is no "one size fits all" solution,
and even if planned, you may not like what you packed when you are on the road.
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To prevent myself from considering things over and over again,
i've collected my thoughts on food for hiking here.
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.NH 2
Objectives
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The objectives of the food listed here are:
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energy effectiveness: does it get me fed?
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cost effectiveness: is it affordable?
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weight efficiency: does it have a low weight?
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Your goals will differ from mine, and you will always have to compromise on at least one of these aspects.
Pick your poison.
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.NH 2
Principles of Selecting Food
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watch your briefcase: i generally don't go for anything fancy, so it should be fairly cheap
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aim for 400 kcal/100 g. 350 might be acceptable, anything below is too heavy
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ignore the rule above for the first day: on your first day pick something special, and it can be a little heavier; you will not carry it for long anyways
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restock on the way: food is heavy, restocking every 2-3 days makes planning much easier
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aim for 2000 kcal per day: this means with energy efficient food 0.5 kg of food per day and person
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a regular meal will be around 500 kcal, give or take: plan plenty of additional snacks to reach that 2000 kcal goal
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only buy things you would eat normally too
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shop locally: maybe more pricy, though higher quality and much more available on your hike
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prefer light packaging: glass is not acceptable, also keep in mind you gotta carry your trash
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.NH 1
Main Meals
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ramen: eat 2x normal serving size
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pasta: make sure they fit your pot, so maybe avoid spaghetti
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cereal: with a high oat share
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rice:
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if fast-cooking
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bread: only dark bread is real bread
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other pre-packaged pastry
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precooked meals from tin cans:
.B only
if you can restock them
.B daily
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To accompany one of the above the simplest option is to get simple instant sauce.
It doesn't taste crazy good, but it gets the job done: get you to eat.
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You know yourself best.
If you are a picky eater bring cream, salt, pepper etc.
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Snacks
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cookies: in large quantities
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gingerbreak
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sweets: purchase in bulk from a large chain store
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white bread: i personally like baguette
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Other
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tea
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powdered milk: order online, test with cold water at home
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boiled eggs: great to take for your first one or two days
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Avoid
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Plan for cooking in the worst of conditions you can encounter on your trip.
Only if they work for that occasion, a meal is acceptable.
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Out of bad experience, i recommend against these:
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vegetables: first day may be an exception
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meal prep > 10 min
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greasy foods (if you can): makes cleaning up easier
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rice, unless fuel is no problem
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These are not banned, but think twice before taking them.