Download Wendy`s Extremely Awesome Backpacking Food List

Wendy’s Extremely Awesome Backpacking Food List
Backpacking burns alot of calories (3500-4000 per day for an average female/male
depending on your own metabolism) so you need to make sure you pack enough to keep
your energy level up. You could technically survive on Snicker Bars and Ramen
Noodles if you want and be just fine for a short trip like this.
I suggest that if you are planning on doing alot of backpacking that you invest in a good
backpacking food book. I use "The Well-fed backpacker" by June Fleming and "More
Backcountry Cooking (by Backpacker Magazine) written by Dorcas Miller. I use these
so often when planning trips that I could not even part with them at all during the
summer.
Our list is for vegetarians so feel free to change the protein source if you choose.
Breakfasts
(we don't bring any breakfast foods that require cooking in the summer so we can get
moving right away, however this is personal preference. If you like a leisurly breakfast
you can tackle pancakes, cornbread, oatmeal (instant could be considered a quick meal),
eggs, omelets, breakfast burritos.) A word on oatmeal - if you don't like it in real life you
will not like it when you are camping! If you need Coffee you will have to break out the
stove anyway - I believe they sell reusable filters that you can place over your mug or
you could use one of those coffeepress-mugs.

Grapenuts/sunflower seeds/dried cherries/1/3c dried milk/1 T brownsugar. pack this
together in a ziplock bag, to eat just add water. You can eat this right out of the bag if
you want.

English muffins (store in freezer until the day you leave), peanut butter and jelly (we
buy the refillable squeezy tubes you can get at any outdoor store and put the peanut
butter in one and jelly in another)

Other options include: pop tarts, granola bars, cereal bars, bagels, candy bars, trail
mix, granola, fruit leather, dried fruit
Morning Snacks:
snacks are kind of like another lunch -- gotta keep those calories coming.

Hard candies like Jolly Ranchers or Lifesavers, Jellybeans, Skittles Trail Mix (I use
peanuts, raisins and M&Ms but really you can include any type of dried fruit or nuts,
seeds, coconut, chocolate covered anything [try espresso beans], yogurt covered
anything) I pack these in single day use ziplock bags so I can stash them in my
backpack in a handy place when traveling.

Granola (check out the bulk food bins at the health-food store or co-op they have
many types of granola so you should be able to find one that suits your taste)
Lunch
Hard meats and cheeses are an option with crackers that are well protected. Bagels and
cream cheese, apples, pitas (I store these in the freezer until the day we leave), hummus
(this comes in a powered mix at the co-op - I cut the mix in half and put in ziplock bags
for 2 people), celery, English muffins, PB & Jelly
Afternoon Snack
Candy Bars, Energy bars, trail mix, fruit leathers
Supper

Curried Couscous with TVP and dried veggies
(couscous - curried flavor found in
the grocery store, open the box put the seasoning packet and couscous in a ziplock
bag, add TVP (textured vegetable protein - I buy in bulk at the co-op), and freeze
dried veggies (I like the Just Tomatoes brand you can find them in the co-op and REI,
Midwest Mountaineering) write the cooking directions on the outside of the bag, be
sure to include extra amounts of water for the TVP and dried veggies.

Falafel (powdered mix sold at co-op) and tahini (I make this ahead of time, it keeps
well if the temps aren't too hot)

Sloppy Joes (Cache Lake Brand sold at Midwest Mountaineering)

Spaghetti (also made by Cache Lake)

Some other suggestions: Soups are easy and filling and there are many dried versions
in the grocery store -don't do the slow cooked ones however.

You can take any boxed carbohydrate at the grocery store and add dried veggies and a
protein source - beans, soy, TVP, freeze dried meat, meat that is canned or vaccum
packed in a bag (tuna, salmon, chicken), sunflower seeds for a complete meal.

Ramen, Rice-a-roni, minute rice, Lipton Noodles and Sauce, Hamburger Helper,
check out the ethnic food isle - there are endless possibilities. You can also create
your own by mixing a carb: minute rice, quick cooking noodles, egg noodles,
couscous, bulgar, etc. With a sauce/ seasoning packet (powdered cheese, gravy,
alfredo, pesto, spaghetti, chili, sloppy Joe, taco, curry, white, mushroom, stir fry, au
jus, bullion cubes) and add protein and a veggie or fruit or dried milk. Be as creative
as your taste allows.

Fresh foods (heavy but travel well): apples, oranges, lemon, kiwi, carrots, celery,
cucumber, radishes, onions, potatoes, squash, avocado, turnips, cabbage, cauliflower,
broccoli
Dessert
We are on vacation so dessert is a must!

Jell-o no bake cheesecake (cut the mix in half add the proper amount of dried milk
and put in ziplock with directions) Snicker Bars Trail mix Pumpkin Pie (Cache
Lake) Other suggestions for dessert: fig newtons, cookies (choc chip and oreos repackage and make sure you carry them in a place where they won't get smushed),
instant pudding, there are lots of prepackaged desserts at the outdoor store also.
This is not an exhaustive list but just a few things to get you thinking about your
options.
Happy Packing! Wendy ;)