Camp food...
I don't know about you, but if you can make your meals on the trail something to look forward to, for more than just sustenance, you can really do a lot to keep your emotional health in check as well. I am not a big fan of pre-packaged "camping food" and on this trip I took extra care to try and choose food that would not only be healthy and energy-packed but also comforting when I needed it the most.
I put together a pretty basic food plan that had variety of low weight, easy to prepare, good tasting choices - all the things the pre-packed meals have without the hefty price tag or the end-of-times preservatives. Here is what it looks like: Breakfast- Granola - a basic blend with some sweetness and grains
- Dried fruits - blueberries, apples, baby pineapple and pomegranate seeds (the latter will blow your mind)
- Mixed nuts - cashews, macadamia and hazelnuts (or are they filberts?)
- Whole fat milk powder - tricky to find, but well worth the effort
- "Energy bars" - a mixture of grains, nuts and dried fruit
- Mixed nuts - a more savory concoction for variety
- Dried fruit - see above
- Veggie-chili soup - a mix of refried beans, vegan chili mix and "miracle burger" (the most flavorful and satisfying)
- Split pea soup - with dried vegetables for variety
- Corn chowder - with dried vegetables for variety
- Curry lentil soup - with dried vegetable for variety
- Miso soup blend with dried tofu and vegetables (this one was really good, but left you wanting something more filling)
- 3 loose leaf green tea varieties prepared with a simple cup and mesh strainer cone - super easy.
- Re-hydration powder mixes - many to choose from. I chose a Gatorade-like product.
Breakfast and lunch did not require any heating of water, with the exception of a few cups of tea for breakfast, and were the easiest to prepare and eat. Dinner was almost as easy. I'd put enough water in my kettle for a few cups of tea and dinner. Let it come to a boil, pour water into my seal-able dinner bowl with the food of choice, screw on the lid and enjoy some tea while the meal re-hydrated. It usually took about 10-15 minutes to get everything re-hydrated and then it was dinner time. I really enjoyed the food choice for this trip and would change only a very few items. First, I was craving salt at every dinner. I think this was part a low salt mix of food and part that my body was putting out so much salt through sweating. Either way, in the future I'd bring along some spice mixes, with salt, to amp up the flavor and further satisfy. Secondly, ramen isn't a super good choice for everyday meals in life, at least the 10 for $1.19 ramen I brought, but on the trail it is really satisfying, fast to prepare and very light. I would skip the rice and bring all ramen. I never tired of it and it even made a passable rice pudding, using ramen instead, that was a nice treat when it was chilly. In closing, be creative when planning your meals and don't be afraid to head over to your local bulk food co-op and mix-and-match until you come up with something that works for your needs and satisfies. You'll thank yourself in the end.
jim Photos: corn chowder all ready to eat and my simple, yet totally solid camp "kitchen"
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"Never stop because you are afraid - you are never so likely to be wrong." - Fridtjof Nansen
