Ok, I'm thinking about hitting the road later this summer, but I have a question about food. What are some good things to eat (energy wise...as well as taste) that are also easy to transport (i'll either be on foot or on a bike)? I may or may not get a cookstove so suggestions that don't need cooking are appreciated.
I'd check out whiteblaze.net ...it's a site for AT hikers but they have some information on food and much of it applies to road travel. they have a forum section for food and a long article on nutrition. i'd also suggest looking into (and making) a soda can or pepsi can alcohol stove. they are very lightweight, cheap and easy to make, and work well. even if you dont want to cook with it you can use it to boil water in an emergency. anyway, here's a list of what i like (although some of this requires minimal cooking): nuts, peanut butter/bread, dried fruit, fresh fruit and veggies when possible, black bean flakes, spinach wraps, salsa, cous-cous, oatmeal, cheese....and if you aren't a vegetarian beef jerky is a good option
Thanks bro. I'll check out that site. How long does cheese keep good? And what is cous cous? EDIT: that is a pretty cool site, lots of good info on all kinds of stuff. Thanks
Couscous is a very small morroccan pasta that almost cooks itself in hot tapwater. Very easy to transport, very easy to cook.
Trippin, if you get a stove buy a cheap alcohol stove. You can use multiple kinds of fuel and they weigh less than a pound and have a 0% failure rate (not so good for cold conditions though). They are also super easy to use. Food: The flavored tuna in the packages (not the cans) rock. Very yummy warm or cold, and lots of protein. Lemon pepper is the best. And they keep forever. They also have packaged salmon and chicken like that. Hard sausages (like summer sausage) is good too. For carbs, granola bars are nice and don't melt in the heat like a snickers would. Jerky, tortilla shells (instead of bread - packs easier), kraft singles cheese (keeps forever), vienna sausages, ramen noodles, and don't forget condiments! Food is my speciality on backpacking trips, since we usually bring along the stuff that gives us the munchies ya need a good satisfying meal to keep your tummy happy!
As far as the stove goes, I got bored and made one. I hope it works (I'd test it but still need some high temp heat tape to seal it, and I don't have any alcohol. I'll get these things tomorrow and let you know if it works). Thanks for the food suggestions though, I appreciate it. Some of that sounds good, and probably better than all the processed food I'm used to eating (I usually camp out of a car and have a big camp stove, so none of this was an issue).
Small cans of ham spread are awesome. Lightweight, and cheap, like 50 cents a can. Good by itself or with crackers, chips, rolls, etc. If you can boil water, make some tea from pine needles for a powerful energy boost...200 percent vitamin c per cup. Slightly bitter with no sugar, but well worth it. Better than energy bars any day. All pines are safe in the eastern U.S., but read up on the westen ones, a few, like ponderosa pine, are harmful to drink. Peace
PB and jelly is a good cold food on the road. On foot or on bike you will need some food energy. You can save lots of money on the long run if you get a stove. A multi fuel stove you can just get 20 cents worth of unleaded and cook for a few days. Pasta and oatmeal cheap to cook and have lots of carbs. Be careful of those homemade alcohol stoves they don’t cook well at all and are extremely dangerous. I’ve played around with them before and they don’t get hot enough to cook jack shit.
I know weight is a big issue, but consider grabbing a few pop-lid cans of pasta, beans or chili ! Of course, I can eat those bastards cold, so there'd be no need to cook them, and damn, they taste good. haha. You'd probably want to pack lighter things, though.
Lipton Pasta and sauce or Rice and sauce, a foil pouch of tuna, chicken or spam, a little water and you have a meal that is high in carbs, high enough in fats to replenish you and good protein. Best of all you can pour boiling water right into the pouch it comes in so you don't even need a pot. Pour in the water, roll the top down a little, wrap it in a watch cap or fleece hat to keep it warm and in 15 minutes, FOOD! Good job on the alky stove, I experimented with several designs before I settled on the white box design, made out of an aluminum Bud bottle. NOS (an energy drink) makes a great 20oz bottle with a cap like a propane tank that is excellent for carrying denatured alcohol, you can't mistake it for a water bottle, and it carries enough fuel for 10 days (for me anyway, YMMV). **EDIT** Well of course you'd need a pot to boil the water, but if you cozy cook it in the pouch you have nothing to clean up.
I'm sure we all know that no matter where you are, or what you're doing, sometimes SHIT happens!!! Being prepared is key to surviving past that ordeal, in this case... food. On all my hikes, as I travel, I constantly scan the area for wild edible's including plants, trees, fruits, nuts, roots, even small critters or insects, and gather as I go. I'll even eat things you'd get grossed out over, but either that, or go hungry. I know if I lost my pack food somehow, or a critter got to it, I'd be just fine with natures bounty. You might want to read up on such things just in case. But get to know a plant or such 100 percent before you try it, also learn any poisonous look a likes to be sure... safety first. Not only are plants good for food, but also medicine and remedies for emergencies health situations. Wouldn't you like to know what plant will clean out cuts, sooth rashes, stop bleeding, or get rid of that jungle rot on your feet? Just something to think about... Peace everyone, Spirit Wynd
TrippinBTM, All types of bars are good (cereal, breakfast, granola, etc). Also, I would opt for foods heavy in carbs and fat for energy. Peanut butter is always good and even beef jerky can work well. Hope this helps, Jeff Marshall Camping Books
I like fruit rolls, or make your own fruit spread, like jams and jellies, but thicker, let it set on wax paper and roll it up... it saves space, and cuts down on weight big time. Yummy!!!
Also another cheap stove recommendation, found this video on youtube while browsing difrrent videos on camping, and equipment. Made from one of those bigger bulk cans. Should work pretty good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTcIuT3Q2fM&NR=1 and another site on freezer bag cooking for meals on the road and on the trail. http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/index.htm
That's a pretty cool looking stove but the chimney would get broken my first hour of hiking. Here's one that won't have that problem and the pot stand is something you'll likely already have in your pack: http://www.csun.edu/~mjurey/pennywood.html As for freezer bag cooking, be careful what bags you use. Some of the cheaper bags have a history of breaking in boiling water and in the case of cheap Chinese made baggies, the hot water may release toxins into your food. Not good. I've used FBC and I know the author from WhiteBlaze. It's a good process, especially when combined with a cozy and a wood or alcohol stove. The only clean up is the soot on the bottom of your pot.
