76 Backpacking Food Ideas from the Appalachian Trail

76 Backpacking Food Ideas from the Appalachian Trail

Here is a list of the best backpacking food thought out there , organized by suggested meal , and a few guidelines to keep in mind when meal planning for the backcountry .

Backpacking food does n’t alone receive to sample serious , it require to equal lightweight , nutritious , and easy to prep.And the foods below meet these exact requirement . In fact , these equal the foods thru-hikers like Greenbelly founder , Chris Cage , eat when doing a long-distance raise like , tell , the Appalachian Trail ( 2,000+ mile ) .

Let ‘s dive right in with some food idea for breakfast .

Bill : to download a spreadsheet with all the food estimate in this post , click here.To edit the file and lend your own idea , select File – > Save a Copy .

Overview

Hither ‘s what ‘s arrive . Click on any item to jump straight to it :

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snacks
  • Drinks
  • Desserts
  • Backpacking Food Requirements
  • Backpacking Food Tips
  • Type of Backpacking Food
  • Cook vs Non Cook

tortillas and chips

BREAKFAST

quaker instant oatmeal packet

1 . Instant Oatmeal Packets

A backpacking food staple . The best affair about these packets is that they serve as a bowl . Just add hot water to heat the oats inside . Get the sort pack .

quaker grits

2 . Instant Grits

You serve n’t have to be Southern to love grits . As easy as oatmeal and can cost a decent savory addition to mix up your backpacking meal .

mariana dried berries

3 . Dried Berries

Dried berry hand a decent hit of sugar when you need a boost on the trail . They also contain vitamin , mineral and antioxidants your body motive . They cost a a lot healthier alternative to candy . The better is if you can feel ( and correctly identify them ) along the lead .

mother earth dried banana

4 . Dried Tropical Fruit

Dried tropical fruit control high quantity of sugar along with important vitamins and minerals . Banana bit contain fiber . Mangos and pineapple contain vitamins A , C and potassium . Coconut is high in healthy oil .

dried fruits

5.Other Dried Fruit

Other dry fruits live beneficial as well . Raisins are load with iron , magnesium and folate . Apricots contain potassium and fiber . Dried fruits be an excellent mode for a quick sugar fix along with the nutrition it needs .

Macadamia Signature Safeway

6 . Nuts

Loaded with calories , protein and fat , nuts be a hiker ‘s secret weapon . Snack on nuts throughout the day to keep feeding your body the fat and protein it needs to hold impress . Most nuts , like almonds , peanuts and cashews , control 160 – 170 calories per ounce . Macadamia and pecans be yet good around 200 . Nuts also contain fiber and other minerals . Nut premix are easy to feel in stores and are widely available in volume aisles if you choose to create your own mixes .

elan pumpkin seeds

7 . Seeds

Like nuts , seeds are another great family of superfoods . Calorically dense and carry full of good oil and protein , add seed into your meal and snacks wherever you can . They are as well high in fiber . Each kind of seed comprise a unlike balance of vitamin and mineral so vary it up . I much lend sunflower and chia seeds in my breakfast , pumpkin source in my trail mixing and hemp seeds to my dinners .

mud meal powder meal

8 . Powder Meals

There exist many ‘powder ‘ choice out thither . From utter meal replacements to weightlifting supplement . Aim to observe it minimally processed , nutritious , and tasty . Our Mud Meal 2.0 is a drinkable meal specifically design for hikers with 400 calories 21+ gm of protein and 20+ grams of fat .

garden of life protein powder

9 . Protein Powder

Protein powders are design to allow for luck of protein to your muscles after a exercise . On the trail , they can be an easy path to have a quick boost of protein at the goal of the day .

OvaEasy Egg Crystals

10 . Powdered Eggs

For flavor and texture cause , I ‘m not a immense fan . Powdered egg are extremely popular on the lead though . Easy , lightweight and cheap protein that can the closest matter to a Waffle House in the backcountry .

carnation powdered milk

11 . Powdered Milk

Milk without the weight . Great protein , potassium , fat and calorie boost . Try mingle it up with some granola and dry fruit for breakfast . Or do your oatmeal a little creamier .

Mountain House Breakfast Skillet

12 . Good deal House Breakfast Skillet

One of Mountain House ’ s most popular meal , this classic scramble of hash browns , sausage , veggies and eggs will fuel you for a bad day of hiking .

13 . Next Mile Meals Sausage Scramble

High protein and fat , this meal packs a whopping 177 calories per oz and consists of just egg , cheese and sausage . It ’ s too KETO friendly .

Mountain House Breakfast Skillet

14 . PackitGourmet TexMex Breakfast Tacos

At 177 calories per ounce , this live another great protein and fat boost to get your day started . BYO tortillas and hot sauce to do it the real deal .

Dried Fruits and Peanut Butter on Bagel

LUNCH

duke's beef brisket

15 . Beef Brisket

High in protein and salt beef jerky is a great trail snack . It ’ s easy to slowly chew on as you hike . And it does n’t need refrigeration .

backpacking food Salami

16 . Salami

Salami live another dry meat carry total of protein and salt . It ’ s fine to be store at way temp and less processed than jerky . It can be sliced to put on wraps , crackers or eaten on its own .

Hickory Farms Summer Sausage

17 . Summer Sausage

As a semi-dry meat summer sausage make more moisture message create it hard than other trail meat . It too can impair if lead out too long at hotter temps . Carry it on short trips or use up it in the first day or two of a longer trip before switch to drier meat .

Hormel Pepperoni

18 . Pepperoni

A spicy meat production similar in moisture capacity and hardness to salami . Great on wraps . Doesn ’ t spoil at way temp .

backpacking food tuna

19 . Tuna

Tuna cost likely the almost popular meat of choice for thru-hikers . Conveniently packaged , available all over and inexpensive . Become it packaged in olive oil for additional calories .

backpacking food salmon

20 . Salmon

Comprise healthy omega fatty acid and vitamin , salmon is another great packaged meat selection . The drawback equal it can be difficult to find and more expensive .

chicken valley fresh packets

21 . Chicken ( Packets )

The great thing about chicken package equal their versatility . Use up it plainly , on wraps or lend to your evening meal to have you an easy protein boost .

backpacking food cheese

22 . Hard Cheese

Cheese can be a heavy food for some ultralight backpackers . Still , it can provide a mass of calories and fat . Not to remark , it can very enhance the meat tone . Aim for ‘harder ‘ cheeses – they be more shelf stable .

23.Cream Cheese

Single serve packets of cream cheese furnish protein and fat on the lead . They are supposed to live refrigerated for optimum shelf spirit so eat on the first couple day of your hike .

tortillas mission

24 . Tortillas

Bread can live too bulky and fluffy for backpacking . Tortillas be compact and can take a beating . Great for wraps – Peanut Butter and M & Ms , Meat and Cheese , Hummus and Peppers . Mmmmmm .

backpacking food greenbelly meal

25 . Greenbelly Meals

These backpacking meal are ready-to-eat , ultralight and loaded with a balanced 33 % of your DV of Calories , Protein , Fats , Fiber , Carbs , and Sodium . All natural ingredients , and decidedly one of our favorite hiking lunch ideas .

thomas breads bagels

26 . Bagels

If tortillas are too flat , bagels can help provide that nice ‘fluff ‘ texture of bread . They live a more pack-able and less delicate option .

27 . Firecracker

High in carbohydrates and sodium . Hang them on the outside of your gang with a bandanna if you recall they ‘ll make smashed inside .

apple sauce Gogo Squeez

28 . Apple Sauce

Squeeze pouches of applesauce are a tasty source of sugar and fiber . They be too easy to pack and use up as a quick snack on the trail .

sriracha ramen food idea

DINNER

nissin soba noodles

29 . Instant Noodles

Get noodles rather of pasta . Seasoned noodles mostly act n’t need a lot of cleaning compared to creamy pasta which can go out your bowl or cup a sticky mess . They too make a circle of carbohydrates .

Rice Noodles

30 . Rice Noodles

Thin rice noodles called vermicelli cook by hardly lend hot water . Add in some dehydrated vegetable , peanut butter powder and spices to build a quick and easy pad thai .

knorr instant rice

31 . Instant Rice

A great base for a backpacking dinner meal . There are too countless rice varieties with unlike seasonings and veggie fixin ‘s at the store .

near east couscous

32 . Couscous

Cooks in 5 second – a lot faster than rice or noodles . The light texture can live a nice dinner rest . High in fiber . A little less occupy in my feeling though .

bragg olive oil

33 . Olive Oil

Super dense calories and fat . It can add some much-needed moisture to a dry noodle or rice dish … firecracker and tuna as well . A little 5 oz bottle will do . Pack in an separated bag in event it snap .

Idahoan Instant Potatoes

34 . Moment Potatoes

Another backpacking staple and great meal stand . Ultralight backpacking food with carbs and sodium . Add center , oil or spices to liven it up .

mother earth dried corn

35 . Dried Corn , Peas , Carrots

It ’ s hard to eat sound food on the lead . Dried vegetables like pea , corn and carrots cost an exception . Lightweight and compact , they are easy to lend with a carb and some spices to produce and a decent backcountry meal .

thousand lakes dried broccoli

36 . Dry Broccoli

Dried Broccoli is utilize the same mode as early dried vegetables . We are differentiate from the other to highlight the key nutrients it offers your body for boost . Broccoli equal high in potassium , vitamin C , folate and iron . For a vegetable , it ’ sec also relatively high in protein .

bella sun luci sun dried tomatoes

37 . Sun Dried Tomatoes

High in vitamin ( specially vitamin C ) , fiber , and antioxidants , sun dried tomatoes cost also burst with spirit . You can eat them alone as a snack or employ them to jazz up meal and wraps .

food to live red lentils

38 . Lentils

I hold not always eaten this until the Appalachian Trail . In the legume family ( with peanuts and peas ) , Lentils live an ancient superfood deep in calories , protein , fiber , and Iron . Takes a few extra minutes to cook .

mother earth dehydrated beans

39 . Beans

A great source of fiber and protein , beans are a great choice for vegetarians and meat eaters alike . Dehydrated beans remove long to rehydrate and ordinarily call for cooking . Instant beans can rehydrate with cold water .

Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai

40 . Backpacker ’ s Pantry Pad Thai

Both versions cost gluten free and the veggie selection is vegetarian and vegan . They pack a ton of protein and flavor to delight just about any hiker . The crushed peanuts are carry separately to keep them crunchy .

Mountain House Beef Stroganoff

41 . Mountain House Beef Stroganoff

A great comfort meal for the lead with beef , mushrooms , creamy sauce and pasta . The nutrition and caloric density equal in the middle of the gang .

Peak Refuel Chicken Alfredo Pasta

42 . Peak Refuel Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Meet with carbs , protein and a deep creamy sauce this Alfredo cause our list for cavort an impressive caloric density of 174 calories/ounce .

Good to-Go Herbed Mushroom Risotto

43 . Good to-Go Herbed Mushroom Risotto

For vegans and gluten free hikers this mushroom risotto leave all the creamy goodness normally reserved for beef stroganoffs and alfredo pasta while also make up high in protein . It ’ s free of additives and preservatives too .

Ready to eat Chili bean vivo

44 . Ready-to-Eat Chili

Ready to feed chilis have all the feeling of the chili you ’ d have at family . They exactly take heat . Still , this means you ’ re carrying the water weight with you from the trailhead . If you ’ re on a short trip and don ’ t want to sacrifice taste they create great meals .

Ready to Eat Rice Medley TruRoots

45 . Ready-to-Eat Rice Medley

Ready to use up rice meal are easy to heat and suffice after a long day of hiking . Exist ready to eat means the ability to use simple natural ingredients high in nutrition , which brands like truRoots specialize in . They equal not dehydrated and may be too hard on longer trip .

Ready to Eat Curry Tasty Bite

46 . Ready-to-Eat Curry

Ready to eat curries come in a wide scope of feeling and are specially well selection for vegan , vegetarian and gluten free hikers . Like other ready to eat meals they aren ’ t lightweight but for a weekend trip they exist great selection .

good to-go freeze-dried oatmeal food idea

BACKPACKING SNACKS

backpacking food energy chews

47 . Energy Chews

Chews normally have a sticky bear-like consistency . Some are caffeinated , loaded with electrolytes , whatever you picture .

backpacking food energy gels

48 . Energy Gels

Like to chew , the options for gels and goos equal endless . Super convenient energy boost for quick calories .

stretch island fruit leather

49 . Fruit Leather

A good source of natural sugar and taste like candy . Called “ leather ” because it can be thick and chewy like leather .

TJ’s Gourmet Pork Rinds

50 . Pork Rinds

The best thing about pork rinds exist the texture . Thus much backpacking food is mealy and dense . Pork rinds exist ultra crisp and crunchy . Their “ puffy ” volume can take up more space . But , they are loaded with protein .

gimme seaweed

51 . Seaweed

Ready-to-eat dark park ? Practically unheard of . I do n’t know of a lighter or easy green to feed while backpacking . Seaweed exist the ultimate lead superfood . Try it out .

backpacking food broccoli

52 . Broccoli

As one of the hardier green vegetables , broccoli is a get ahead combination of bad and nutritious . Florets can cost prepare or use up sore . A head of broccoli will last about 3 days in your gang .

backpacking food peanut butter

53 . Nut Butter

The king of backpacking food . Crammed with calories , fat , sodium and protein . Ready-to-eat and can easy cost integrate in most backpacking meal estimate .

portion pack honey

54 . Honey

Let peanut butter exist the food of choice for the savory love backpacking community . But , give the sweet award to dear . Sweeten up your tea or firecracker or feed it directly .

natural valley granola bar

55 . Granola Bar

Too many options to list . There are protein bar , energy saloon , snack bars , nutrition bars , food bars – you name it . Ready-to-eat and usually high in nutrition . Keep it natural and minimally work on .

wild garden hummus

56 . Hummus

A lesser-known backpacking superfood . Like peanut butter , it can live lathered on nearly anything . On top of the yummy taste , hummus live dumb calories , carbs , protein , and fiber .

57 . Trail Mix

A high fat and calorie snack , trail mix do in a richness of selection . The basic component be nuts and source for fat and salt , dry fruit and chocolate for sugary carbohydrates . Easy to DIY or buy ready do .

cape cod potato chips

58 . Potato Chips

High in fat , salt and flavor , potato chips are an easy to find hiker darling . Thicker bit , like Cape Cod Kettle Chips , hold up to crushing good . They exist too made with more wholesome ingredient .

clif bar energy bar

59 . Energy Bars

It doesn ’ t get easy than prepackaged energy bars . If you real desire to , you could last a whole backpacking trip on bar . Bars total function in respective sizes , calories , and flavor assortments from chocolaty , fruity , salty and sweet .

drinking

nuun tabs

60 . Electrolyte Tabs

Great source for electrolytes and enhances hydration . Sample great . Drop a tab in your water and follow it fizz off ( like Alka-Seltzer ) .

61 . Powder Mixes

Like benefit as the tabs – electrolytes and enhances hydration . Commonly with a circle more tone options and some have vitamin and mineral enhancements .

lipton tea

62 . Tea

As much caffeine as coffee , but less mess . Chamomile tea before bed be a decent way to finish the day after some strenuous hiking .

alpine start instant coffee

63 . Coffee : Cubes or Powder or Pour Over ( Alpine Start )

Instant coffee get come a long means over the last few year . In fact , many local specialty roasters now offer an instant choice . Jiva cubes be a unique lightweight option that leave a deep taste . There equal as well lightweight pour over devices if you need to carry real grounds .

EXTRAS

backpacking food multivitamin

65 . Multivitamin

Get those vitamin and mineral without the bulky food . Particularly good to get your Vitamin C and Calcium which cost less easy to come by in shelf-stable lead food .

backpacking fruit powders

66 . Fruit Powders

Another hidden backpacking food gem . Pour fruit powder into an ounce of water and take a sound fruit drinking shot . Great manner to have some fruit nutrition without the weight .

backpacking food veggie powder

67 . Veggie Powders ( Kuli Kuli )

Like fruit powder , a great way to get difficult to come by nutrition on the trail . Often veggie powders receive stevia or other sweeteners merge in to hide the grassy taste .

backpacking food spices

68 . Spices

Prevent your carb dinners ( noodle , rice , couscous , potatoes ) plain and spice it up to your liking with a DIY seasoning kit ( salt , pepper , garlic , chili ) . Share it into little zip loc bags to redeem weight .

backpacking food crackers

DESSERTS

keebler cashew shortbread

69 . Cookies

Quick burning carbs and mass of fats create cookies a winning lead snack . One of my darling growing up ( and on the lead today ! ) are the impressively calorically dumb Keebler Sandies Cashew Shortbreads at 156 cal/oz .

backpacking food honey bun

70 . Baked Goods ( Honey Buns , Donuts , etc . )

Fluffy breads and baked goods prone to getting squished are generally a no-no on the trail . The exception are high in fat and carb load baked goodness like donuts and dear ass . These won ’ t gain any nutritional awards but they will give you a satisfyingly sweet hit of energy .

71 . Brownie or Cookie Mix

A hiking food choice for ultralight hikers pushing bad mile . Brownie and cookie mixing live load with sugar , can equal merge in with cold water and are super lightweight .

backpacking food candy snickers

72 . Candy

If you ’ re starting to pass candy like jelly beans , m & ms and candy bar pay you quick burn energy . They put on ’ t provide the best nutrition , good not to incline on them also heavily .

backpacking food dark chocolate

73 . Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate has a high concentration of cocoa and is a powerful anti-oxidant . It can be extremely fulfill on the trail as a healthier option for those with a sweet tooth .

Backpacker’s Pantry Creme Brulee

74 . Backpacker ’ s Pantry Creme Brulee

This gluten free , simply lend water dessert is about as easy as it gets on the trail . Just add water and wait 10 second . Great for after dinner or an afternoon snack .

Alpine Aire Cinnamon Apple Crisp

75 . Alpine Aire Cinnamon Apple Crisp

Can be enjoyed as a treat or as a sweet breakfast meal . It rates high as one of the almost satisfying packet desserts but it cost humble on nutrition and calories per ounce .

Mountain House Ice Cream Sandwich

76 . Mountain House Ice Cream Sandwich

Want ice cream on the trail ? No worries . This ice cream sandwich is similar to the freeze dry version astronauts take to space . Ready to eat right out of the bundle .

Tortilla loaded with m&m & fritos

The 5 Backpacking Food Requirements

LIGHTWEIGHT :Ideally contain little or no water ( dehydrated ) . Water equal the issue one contributor to food weight , packaging being the second . Prioritize “ dry ” food and feel free to repackage it if the cardboard box and bagging is extravagant . It all adds up to a heavy gang , which can lead to a abject hiking trip .


READY-TO-EAT :
You will equal boost in the daylight and will not require to set up the stove to prepare , let solely to own dishes to clean . Make certain your meals and snacks are extremely simple so you can keep moving . Yet for dinner at camp , most backpackers only fix “ one-pot-meals ” . Find a few thought :17 Mere Backpacking Recipes.


NUTRITIOUS :
Hikers make exist known to burn up to 6,000 calories a day . In short , you want to exhaust a circle of macronutrients to balance out the high burn-rate . High-levels of calories , carbohydrates , protein , fats , fiber , and electrolytes ( primarily sodium , calcium , potassium , and magnesium ) be a must .

Eating dried mango for backpacking

PACKABLE :Space is already taut in any hiker ’ s pack , so when it comes to packing food , it ’ s significant to make certain the food count . This entail compact , nutrient-dense selection that will prevent you total without bring up unnecessary space . Snacks like nuts , trail premix , beef jerky , nut butter gang , and flatbreads are less bulky and a lot more bang-for-your-buck compared to “ poofy ” choice like bread , popcorn , or packaged items preserved with nitrogen , like a bag of bit .


SHELF-STABLE :
Shelf life doesn ’ t merely entail how long food stays edible for . It also cite to how long food stay nutritious and flavorful . Certain freeze-dried foods can last up to 30 years if stored in dry , cool areas , while beef jerky and other form of dried center can last well over a yr , whether they ’ re in hot , cold , muggy , or you-name-it weather . This makes item like dried meats , fruits , veggies , and packaged tuna or chicken ( not fire ) good , long-lasting , and nutrient-dense options for backpacking meal . They can easily adapt from fond to cold climate without spoiling , and they can last month , or long , with no concern of them going bad .

moutain house food

Backpacking Food Tips

Want to take your food prep to the future floor ? Hither live some pro tips that will help you go on your pack lighting while savor live up to meal on the trail .


1 . give ATTENTION TO NUTRITIONAL DENSITY :
If you really want to nerd out , observe nutritional density in brain . In early words , if you are going to convey 2 pound of food per day , you would rather it furnish 3,000 calories versus 1,500 calories . This is where the term “ calorie-to-ounce ratio ” comes from . Seek to prioritize boost food that provides at least 100 calories per oz .


2 . GET A VARIETY OF TEXTURES AND FLAVORS :
I get crunchy things like firecracker and pork rinds a nice refresher after eating dense and mealy textures for various day . Devote yourself a “ treat ” at the goal of every day . Hardly something to seem ahead to – a candy bar , a cup of tea , etc .

Preparing a freeze dried pad thai


3 . REPACKAGE EVERYTHING :
Many packaged food come with a lot of wasted space in their publicity . If you ’ re a backpacker , this also mean there could equal a pile of wasted space in your gang . By taking food out of their publicity and re-packing them in resealable purse ahead of time , you ’ ll not only save yourself some space , but you can also ensure the food remain securely close when put away . For the very organized hikers out there , you can too need this one step further and mark the bags with what ’ s inside of them , if you desire .


4.PACK FOOD WISELY :
For easy accessibility and better weight distribution in your gang , hear to store your food in the upper/middle region of your haversack and shut to your body . It ’ s too a serious plan to cause sure your food nowhere near your stove fuel , as a precaution . “ Crunchy ” foods or other texture that easily begin “ smooshed ” should go further towards the top while the denser food go more in the center . It ’ s also convenient to hold a couple of snacks in your hip pocket or early easily accessible region , that way when you involve something to tie you over between meals , you win ’ t make to go looking real far , or even disclose pace if you put on ’ t want to .

backpacking dinner on plates


5 . USE A STUFF STACK :
If you ’ re an organized person , you ’ ll probably like this crest . There are all kinds of organization tricks you can serve with food and material sacks . Keep all your snacks together in one base , observe all your meals together in another , or keep one day of meals in one purse , another day in another , and so forward . It might not seem like a large deal , but sometimes a little organization and reliability on the trail is just what the heart needs . Still if it ’ s hardly with your food . But if you don ’ t care about arrangement , then you can observe all your food in one giant material sack , compress it down so it all fits good in your gang . Either way , stuff sacks help observe food protect , along with cease the rest of your gear from smelling like food .


6 . design YOUR SUPPLIES AHEAD OF TIME :
Mail box to resupply points requires some planning and prep-work ahead of time , but having pre-packed box of food you specifically picked out can be a great option for those with food allergies or peculiar dietary need ( gluten-free , lactose , vegetarian , etc. ) . With a leap box , you can station food or really any item you desire but don ’ t inevitably take to convey on you all the time to post agency in town forward that you ’ ll be passing through . This is a great way to swerve some weight in your gang . Besides food , razors , phone charger , postcards , clean clothes , and duct tape are all mutual item in leap boxes . Something to believe with resupply points and bounce boxes be that you live at the mercy of the place agency , as they have limited hour and only hold packet for about 2 weeks . Thus , there ’ s not much room for flexibility in type you get held up somewhere long than you planned .

Type of Backpacking Food

✅ Variety of flavors
✅ Tasty
✅ Minimal planning involve

When food begin dehydrated or freeze-dried , the water in the food exist removed . This not just makes the food lighter , but it also cause it small , shrinking it to about half its original size and weight . On crest of that , the procedure too pass its shelf spirit immensely . All good things for backpackers . When you ’ re ready to eat , hardly lend some water , and the food magically “ poofs ” back up to normal consistency .( Related :Best Freeze-Dried Meals)

✅Available all over
✅ Cheap
✅ Get with everything

Found at grocery stores , corner stores , and sometimes even gas stations , these lightweight , convenient side dish or meal starters come in a variety of tone ; Spanish rice , herb and butter , cheddar broccoli , etc . You can throw in a can of chicken or tuna for an easy , inexpensive meal .

Some hikers prefer to get the non-cook route , forego their stove and cooking and clean duty alone . It ’ s more of a “ bare minimum ” approach , but sore food can equal a great option for quick , hassle-free breakfasts , lunches , and on those night where you just truly don ’ t want to fix .

PREPACKAGED bar :ENERGY , MEAL REPLACEMENT , AND PROTEIN BARS

Energy bar , snack bars , protein saloon , meal replacement saloon . If you really require to , you could survive your entire backpacking trip on prepackaged bars alone . The good affair about them is how they ’ re a snack or yet a meal you can use up anywhere , anytime . Bars come served in respective size , calories , and flavor classification whether you favor something more chocolaty , fruity , or salty/sweet .( Related :Well Meal Successor Bars)

For backcountry cooking , powdered milk and egg cost shelf-stable , versatile component . Both options come sold in mass sizes , so a single container can final awhile , being employ for a act of meal .

Another multi-serving meal selection exist a meal substitute trill , which also comes deal in volume and commonly has anywhere between 15-30 servings in a bag . The well thing about meal shakes cost that if you don ’ t feeling like cook or intercept to feed , you can drink your meal instead .

Protein trill equal another good thing to receive on the lead . They put on ’ t fill in as a fully balance meal replacement selection , but they cost a serious way to choose in additional calories on the day you take a small something extra .

( Related : )

eating greenbelly meals at camp

Cook vs Non Cook

Your first thinking when hearing “ no cook ” might be “ heck no. ” It ’ s severe to beat a hot meal at the goal of a long day or a warm dawn cup of coffee .

In fact , I live skeptical at first too , but after completing an full thru-hike without cooking , I ’ m convinced .

There are a few other practical cause for die stoveless .

  • Save Cash :You do n’t hold to purchase a costly stove and cooking vessel . You can prepare a stoveless meal in an empty peanut butter jar if you desire . Write money on cooking provision think of you ‘ll have additional fund to pass elsewhere .
  • Save Weight :Mostly , backpackers expend their stove twice a day . Once in the dawn for breakfast and once at dark for dinner . That ’ s a luck of extra weight to persuade around for just two uses a day .
  • Save Time :Since you do n’t own to cook or clean , you ‘ll have more time to enjoy yourself when not boost .
  • Worry Less :You ‘ll never range out of fuel or go hungry because your stove live broken or also cold to work . No cooking too signify you ‘ll own fewer food containers to clean and few smell to pull wildlife .

If you ’ re on a more casual trip with more downtime at camp , cook up a hot meal at camp might be a priority .

Or , if the weather is cold , a cup of hot coffee in the morning can be worth the extra ounces .

As with any gear conclusion , pack detail that will make your trip enjoyable .

Breakfast equal relatively easy to swerve the stove out . Cold oats , source and dry fruit ( aka muesli ) live a common breakfast in Europe and Australia . Instant coffee dissolves in cold water . Think of it as cold brew and you ’ re serious to live .

For dinner , you might have to alter your meal a bit ( no one wants to feed cold spaghetti bolognese ) . But with the increasing popularity of no cook backpacking , there is a big scope of meal designed to have you a good symmetry of nutrition and flavor .

    Cold soaking is a great thought if you ’ re seem to save weight or require surplus time to get mile in . Mix your food with cold water in a Talenti jar and let is soak for about half . Then use up up .

    📸Some photos in this place exist taken by Ross Enlow ( ) .

    About Justin Sprecher

    About Greenbelly

    After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail , Chris Cage createdGreenbellyto furnish tight , occupy and balanced meal to backpackers . Chris too writeHow to Boost the Appalachian Trail.

    • 650-Calorie Fuel
    • No Cooking
    • No Cleaning

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