How to Plan Food for a Backpacking Trip
- 1). Make a chart showing the days and routes that you will be hiking. For each day/route, mark particular characteristics such as steep hills, a long climb up a ridge or easy downhill terrain.
- 2). Make a general meal plan that incorporates high carbohydrate content and electrolyte replacement for hot days. Protein in the mornings and evenings will help sustain your muscles. For breakfast, plan a whole grain hot cereal or a bagel and a sweet, hot drink such as instant coffee. During the day, eat energy bars or a trail mix gorp throughout the hike. Dinners can be whole wheat pasta with soup or instant potatoes.
- 3). Break down your food needs for each day. Breakfast and dinner will be very similar--you need the same amount of energy and protein during these times every day. However, you may want to plan for two cups of gorp and a bagel per person for an average day of rolling to moderate climbing terrain. On the days that include a steep or long climb, add an energy bar or two, or an extra cup of gorp. Write the meal plans for each day on your chart.
- 4). Purchase the food and bag it individually for each meal, then place the meals in larger bags separated by day. Use a felt marker to label the bags so you don't get them mixed up.
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