Meal Ideas
Breakfast
- ·Instant oatmeal with dried fruit and nuts
- ·Granola with powdered milk
- ·Grits with cheese and bacon bits
- ·Peanut butter tortilla (no cook)
Lunch
- ·Hard cheese, salami, crackers
- ·Peanut butter and honey tortilla
- ·Tuna packets with crackers
- ·Bars: Clif, RX, Larabar
Dinner
- ·Ramen with a packet of miso and dehydrated veggies
- ·Mac and cheese with tuna
- ·Instant mashed potatoes with olive oil and seasonings
- ·Backpacker's Pantry or Mountain House freeze-dried meals
Snacks
- ·Trail mix (GORP)
- ·Jerky (beef or turkey)
- ·Chocolate — dark holds up better in heat
- ·Energy chews or gels for big days
Tips
Calories are king
Aim for 100–150 calories per ounce of food. Fat is your highest-calorie-per-weight option. Olive oil packets are a backcountry hack for dense calories.
Pre-measure everything
Repackage food at home in zip-lock bags with the exact amount you need per meal. Eliminates wasted weight from packaging.
Altitude affects boiling
Water boils at lower temperatures at elevation (~194°F at 10,000 ft). Pasta and rice take longer to cook. Ramen and instant meals are more forgiving.
Minimize dishes
Eat out of your cookpot. One pot, one spork. Bring a small square of a sponge for cleanup — never wash dishes in a creek.
Leave No Trace with food scraps
Strain your dishwater and pack out all food scraps. Scatter strained water 200 ft from camp. Mice and bears don't need a reason to visit your tent.