Survival, Backpacking Foods.

The folk that do through hikes really work at getting enough calories period and getting the most calories per ounce too. Read the ingredients on a freeze-dried "cassorole" and see how much salt they are made with. It's no big deal what you eat on a 2 or 3 day trip, but you don't want to eat that stuff for months--- not at my age.

Here's my list of favorites:

Freeze dried dinner-- yeah, I like 'em in small doses. Kung Pao chicken :)
Dried Fruit. Pineapple, bananas, apples, raisins, dates, mangos (from costco).
Wheat thins and the like
Bagels
Instant rice
Dried soup mixes
Top Ramen
Spaghetti or smaller pastas
Bagged tuna
Hard cheese (soft cheeses first day)
Dried salami, pepperoni
Candy
Nuts
Peanut butter and jelly in squeeze tubes
Instant oatmeal
Granola bars
Garlic mashed potatoes (only needs water too)
Coffee (tea-bags style)
Hot cocoa mix
Tea
Sports drink mix
12yo Scotch, etc.

Cooking tip: pot cozies. Make a jacket for your favorite cooking pot from aluminized bubble insulation. Boil water, add rice or pasta and put it in the cozy to cook off the fire/stove. Saves a ton of fuel, smoke in your eyes, bugs in your food, etc, etc.
 
ashtxsniper said:
U.S. issue mre's are the only way to go.
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Eat them for a few months straight and you might change your mind.:barf: also IMO they are much too heavy. If you shop carefully at your local mart and use a dehydrator you can put together cheaper, tastier, healthier, and much lighter meals. Chris
 
When going fast and light, I try to plan my menu around avoiding dishes. That means alot of things rehydrated in sandwich sized ziplocks. Backpacking, my body craves carbs and salt so that works out perfectly. In fact, if you're out for up to a month or so, I'm not sure you'll suffer that much for lack of green veggies or "wholesome" food. I eat alot of mashed potatoes with cheese, stuffing with cheese, black beans and rice, etc. I fill up on veggies and fresh foods at town stops.

NOLS (national outdoor leadership school) backpacking and mountaineering courses are usually 30 days long and self sufficient, save one resupply. After decades in the business, they've got their food system pretty much dialed. They've published a book called "NOLS Cookery" with planning advice, technique, food suggestions, and recipes. They do quite a bit of baking in the backcountry. I know quite a few organizations use their system for menu planning on expeditions. The recipes are great. It's a neat little book.
 
Freeze dried has its place.
I always take one or two F.D. meals in my pack just because they are easy.
Most of the time I will just buy F.D. mixed veggies and meat to make up my own meals. Start with instant soup, add more rice or potatoe flakes, extra veggies a pinch of meat and you are done.
 
Hi Task Force, i couldnt stop laughing 80lb of tamales...... What was she thinking????????? look on the bright side im sure the tent was nice and toasty during the night LMAO.
Who knows maybe a new weapon system would come out of it.

Sasha



Sasha,

All I know is, every time we came back from a field exercise, she'd have this huge fiesta for the platoon. One time, she had a roast pig and one of Fuentes' neighbors complained because she had butchered and roast the pig in the back yard...in on-base housing. She was funny as hell...she understood English but refused to speak it and she gave us all nicknames because she said our names were too difficult to pronounce. Wonder why she used to call me seccion ocho?

A weapons system did come out of it...I use it to keep my three-year-old from crawling into my bed at three AM.
 
Well thats a woman that knows her way to a mans heart.... or in this case to all the men heart. A roast PIG and she done the killing her self.... Heck i would marry her my self.
Now about the new weapon system. If it keeps your kid away what about your wife??? sound like a double edge sword for me lol.


Sasha
 
runningboar said:
Eat them for a few months straight and you might change your mind.:barf: also IMO they are much too heavy. If you shop carefully at your local mart and use a dehydrator you can put together cheaper, tastier, healthier, and much lighter meals. Chris
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Agreed.

They are very convenient to grab and go though and are fine for quick overnights when weight is less an issue.

I use them for training all the time.

Skam
 
I've found that eating too many dried foods can be upsetting to your stomach (:barf:) if your adjusting to a higher altitude. Be careful of rehydrating foods in your stomach!

Raisins aren't too bad, but may be better in oatmeal or porridge.

Dried vegetable protein sources are generally lighter, cheaper, and easier to cook. Try Fanatastic Foods Falafil, lentil soup, split pea soup, black beans, or refried beans. They rehydrate well, and with the exception of the Falafil, easily reconstitute in warm water (assuming an available source).

Snow peas or sugar snap peas will last for several days, are filling, and are relatively light.

Watch for puffballs! They are easy to identify. Pick the ones that are white on the outside. Always cut them open and make sure that the inside is solid white and not turning brown or yellow. If you cut open a smaller one and there is a little mushroom inside, it is not a puffball. Mushrooms that grow like this are extremely poisonous! If it is solid, though, it is a puffball and all known species of puffball are edible.
 
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