If you are planning on embarking on a backpacking trip that involves lots of walking it is vital you plan how to fuel your body correctly. The famous saying is that ‘An Army marches on it’s stomach” and the same can be said of backpackers! 4 hours backpacking with a moderately heavy backpack will consume around 1500 calories so this is the required level of intake required on top of your normal requirements.
The idea of this article is to give you ideas for food when your backpacking. Shopping in foreign countries whilst trying to stick to a budget is difficult but hopefully this article will point you in the right direction.
Breakfast – Rice is a great source of energy and although it’s slightly unconventional, rice pudding is a great backpacking breakfast. It’s cheap and can be stored in cans for long periods. The only downside is that it’s quite heavy to carry. To make it more interesting and nutritious, add raises, dried fruit and/or brown sugar.
Delicious rice pudding - A fantastic source of energy!
Click here to see Amazons range of backpackers food
Lunch – Lunch is a funny meal for backpackers as it’s usually a rushed affair that’s eaten either on the move or quickly at a resting point. Carbohydrates are important to maintain energy levels so sandwiches and bagels are popular choices. These can be filled with anything from meat to fish to jam so will rarely getting boring. Pitta breads are also a good idea if they can be sourced.
Dinner – Dinner is the most important meal in a backpackers day, not only because of the nutritional taken on board but also because of the social aspects. Pasta is a good choice as it’s easy to prepare and full of carbohydrates. A cheap way of making a sauce for it is to use a soup sachet and simply mix it with water. It’s also important that you have vegetables with your dinner. I suggest you use whatever is in season and readily available in the locality.
Snacks – Peanut butter is a great energy source and is available in the large majority of countries within Europe. It’s cheap and is perfect for sandwiches or even eating straight from the jar. Peanut M&Ms are a great way of combining chocolate and peanut butter so should be carried in case of emergencies. Fruit should also be consumed where possible as this will help you stay healthy and free of any disease that you may come across.
A great way to keep your backpack light but to carry nutritious food is to carry freeze dried backpacking food with you.
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