|
FOOD FOR THOUGHT...
Remember that food is fuel! You get to decide what kind of fuel you'll run on! Remember to remove all packaging from your chow so that all your trash for the week will fit inside one gallon-size zip-lock bag. As a general rule, hikers have brought too much chow and gained weight on the trail.
Also remember that the more food you eat, the more water you have to drink to process it! We will be drawing water from streams and springs along the trail; remember that you are responsible for purifying and carrying your own water. You may bring any type of water purification device you like, or go the old fashioned way with hydroperiodide tablets.
Estimated Baseline Calorie Needs:
120 lbs ----- 1600 calories/day
140 lbs------1900 calories/day
160 lbs------2200 calories/day
180 lbs------2500 calories/day
200 lbs------2700 calories/day
220 lbs------3000 calories/day
Backpacking is a high intensity activity and can burn up to 400-600 calories/hour.
The average male hiker doing 20 or more miles each day will burn almost 5000 calories/day.
Calorie Distribution: 50%-60% Carbohydrate
30%-35% Fat
15% Protein
Be sure to pack light but calorically dense foods such as:
GORP (Trail mix) - mix nuts, seeds, dried fruits, chocolate, cereal- each cup can provide up to 700 calories
Snickers- a less expensive energy bar , each king size bar provides 510 calories
Peanut Butter- 2 tablespoons provide 190 calories
Tortillas/Wraps
Bagels
Foil packed Tuna
Salami and cheese
If you want to cook, you can take macaroni and cheese (forget the instructions and mix with 2 cups boiling water and the cheese packet) or Lipton sides (mix with 1.5 cups boiling water). Another good alternative is orzo with pieces of smoked bratwurst or salami (which is easier to clean-up than a cheesy goo). No open fires are allowed on the trail - small backpacking stoves are OK.
Snack often while on the trail: (25-50 grams of carbohydrate every 2 hours)
Examples that will provide 20-30 grams of carbohydrate
Dried apples - 7 pieces
Prunes- 5 pieces
Raisins- 2 tablespoons
Pretzels- 1 ounce
Graham crackers- 4 squares (1 whole cracker)
Plain Bagel- � bagel
Banana chips- 1 ounce
Plain M&Ms- � package
Granola bar
Crackers- 10 crackers
| 
