Ten Tips for Backpacking Meal Preparation
By Kieran Dunch
For any hiker, one of the critical components of a trip is what you are going to eat. As always, planning and preparation are essential parts of a backpacking trip, and meal planning is no exception. There is a large variety of advice when it comes to what to eat and what to bring, but here are some rules of thumb when preparing for your next trip.
Planning:
When planning for a trip, don’t forget to spend time figuring out what you want to eat on the trail. Some of the most important work done for a trip is in the planning phase, and especially meal prepping. Follow these tips to plan effectively:
1. Make yourself a menu
Make sure when planning your trip that you know exactly how many meals you are packing for. I usually create a table on my laptop and fill each slot with a small ‘meal plan’ for each day. This is a handy way to make sure that you know exactly what to pack, and when you’ll need it.
2. Pre-pack each day separately
Pre-portioning and packing meals is a great way to plan your meals. If you get a bulk bag of trail mix for a weekend of camping, you need to delegate each portion of that large bag into a small container for each day. This way you can avoid overpacking food, and be in more control of how you are packing your bag with small portions instead of one big container.
3. Know the caloric value of what you bring
This is an especially useful trick when planning and adapting your ingredients list before you go shopping. A day of hiking can consume around 2500 calories depending on the activity, the amount of time spent, and your fitness level. Reading your nutrition labels and doing some mental math can really help you visualize just how much you will need per day of your trip.
4. Bring a bit extra
The ten essentials recommend bringing an extra day’s food for any journey in case of emergency. I stand by this rule. One time I was on the trail and my stove completely malfunctioned, forcing me to dig into my spare food stores. You will thank yourself for that extra food when you really need it. That being said, avoid overpacking food as much as possible. You don’t need all that extra weight, just a safety cushion.
5. Check your fuel/test your stove
As to my previous point, make sure you test your cooking method for your trip. This includes monitoring your fuel levels of any stove you are using. If you plan to use any meal that relies on hot water, triple check every component of your setup before you embark to avoid any disaster. Your meal is only delicious if you can cook it!
Comfort
Once you’ve laid out the basics of your meal planning, it’s time to upgrade your menu a bit with these tips. Comfort is fundamental to a good trip outdoors, from packing light to eating well. Follow these guidelines to optimize your menu!
6. Bring foods you already eat
Don’t try and train yourself to ‘like’ backpacking foods. If you don’t like protein bars, don’t pack protein bars. Too often we sacrifice what we like about food for the sake of a ‘true camping meal’. Instead, find ways to adapt to what you already like to suit a backpacker’s specifications. Most meals are easier to adapt than you would think.
7. Make your meals dense, not heavy
This tip goes hand-in-hand with adapting your favorite meals to be backpacker ready. When counting calories and prepping, try and optimize what you are bringing to be light, but calorie-dense. Small changes to your ingredients really add up to big changes on the trail. For example, choose a whole grain instead of the bleached alternative. But don’t be afraid to add a little sprinkle of spice to make it a flavourful meal.
8. Treat Yourself
So I know that these three tips seem to be counterintuitive, but it’s important to achieve a balance! Morale is critical to a successful trip and I believe in packing a little extra something that will outweigh itself in value. Chocolate for the end of a long day, even fresh fruits and veggies are worth packing in for a boost.
Stepping It Up
Great work! You’ve done all the basics for meal prepping. If you are looking for ways to step up your game, take a look at these last two tips.
9. Go gourmet
Get dehydrated meals from an outdoor store for a treat. These meals are usually quick, easy to prepare, and have insane variety. Although a bit more expensive than making your own stuff, freeze-dried meals are great to cap off the end of your day. The simplicity and the high-calorie value of these meals make them a staple for some backpackers.
10. Dehydrate
If you are in the mood to try making your own backpacking meals, get a dehydrator and start prepping on your own! Investing in a food dehydrator can be a great choice for someone who loves to camp often, and you can use it for a lot of different snacks. Dehydrating your own food gives you the freedom to plan exactly what you want to eat and how much, without worrying too much about the weight of ingredients in what you are making. Some are not even too expensive! Have a look here .
As always, happy prepping! Hopefully, this guide puts you on track to planning your own menu for your next trip.
