Whilst backing backpacking around Europe, or anywhere for that matter, you’re bound to get hungry. The problem is food can take up a lot of room in your backpack and also be quite heavy. Some food can also be ruined in your back pack, stretching a tight budget even further. This article discusses the do’s and don’ts when packing food for a backpacking trip.
Over packing is easy, especially when it comes to food. The easiest way to avoid packing too much is to have a meal plan. Plan what food you will need at certain times of the day, and it should prevent you from packing too little. Always pack some contingency food just in case you are out for longer than you expect. When planning your food supplies for your backpacking trip you also need to consider these things:
- The weight and amount of room your food requires to fit your food into your backpack. Some foods can be packed flat, and others have rigid protective material round them.
- Energy requirements. Trips involving climbing or hill walking require a lot of energy so remember to pack food that can provide a burst of energy such as chocolate, as well as slow release energy such as pasta.
- How long is your trip? Always prepare for the correct amount of time.
- Make sure you take a knife away with you to help prepare the food.
Taking these three points into consideration will really help you to decide what food to pack.
The following are some useful tips to use to help you further develop your food plan:
- Ideally, you will need at least one hot meal a day. The rest should be easy to fix and require little or no cooking.
- Try to get foods that can be prepared in their packaging, too. Buy single servings so you can eat only what you need and keep the rest fresh. Think easy and simple when planning meals.
- You are going to need to eat three meals per day plus any snacks. Staying well nourished is very important if you are travelling long distance. Eating good will help keep your energy up, help you sleep better and improve your mood in general. There is not much worse than being hungry and out of food on a backpacking trip.
- Consider vitamin supplements for longer trips so you can ensure you are getting everything your body needs.
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