Ultralight backpacking meal plan. See Nutritious Backpacking Meal Recipes here.


  1. Ultralight backpacking meal plan. Aug 7, 2024 · Sample 4-day Backpacking Meal Plan. How to eat well without breaking your budget. Calories, to be more specific. This first meal plan example is for 2 nights with my hiking partner and me. 43 Sample Meal Plans Weighing Less than 2 lbs per Day. 5 oz tomato powder; 0. Follow the steps below to learn the basics of food dehydration, then try some of our favorite recipes for inspiration. Store-bought freeze-dried meals are convenient and lightweight, but they can be expensive and full of preservatives. If you’re an ultralight backpacker, this meal plan is less desirable when trying to reduce your pack weight. Packing the right backpacking food, and the right amount, can be the difference between having an amazing hike and wishing it was over already. Everything for these meals was very calorie dense (averaging 130 calories per ounce). See Nutritious Backpacking Meal Recipes here. Learn how to reduce food weight without sacrificing nutrition. We've narrowed in on the best backpacking meals of 2024, with options from Mountain House Jan 14, 2024 · Our backpacking meal plans are available to our Meal Planner and Meal Planner+ tier members. Our Meal Planner lets you easily incorporate our 200+ recipes, your own recipes, and hundreds of commercial foods into fully customizable plans. Breakfast at trailhead. Meal planning is one of the most important considerations for any backpacking trip. Jul 9, 2023 · Sample Ultralight Backpacking Meal Plan 1) Breakfast. How to choose foods that will reduce your food weight without sacrificing nutrition. 2. Keep the big three ultralight. Sep 3, 2015 · NEW June 2016 – Meal Recipes are Posted. They include 3000 calorie, 4000 calorie, 5000 calorie, mega-calorie thru-hiker, no-repeat, and no-cook options. 1 lb or less for a tarp. Still need some more inspiration? Here are some additional backpacking food ideas: Backpacking Breakfast Ideas Sep 20, 2024 · I help backpackers (like you!) meal plan with ease so that you can spend less time, money, and effort meal planning for your next adventure. 5 oz grits; 0. The goal is to balance easy mobility and preparedness. Good To-Go‘s lightweight dehydrated backpacking meals are meat-free, gluten-free, and have less sodium than the competition, filling a huge gap in the food aisle at REI. 1 ounces per serving Backpacking meals are light, easy to pack, long-lasting, and simple to make with just boiling water. It fuels your body and keeps you hiking day after day. See ultralight backpacks. Lunch Mar 3, 2024 · In this post I’ll share 57 of my best backpacking meal ideas (including vegetarian options). Some backpackers choose a “food is fuel” mentality. Although a lighter backpack allows for more flexibility, ultralight camping has its disadvantages, especially figuring out where to save some ounces out of your traditional loadout. Hopefully these tips will help make that task a little easier. I've eaten A LOT of trail food. My list focuses on items that are affordable, easily sourced, and quick to prepare. Food. Some hikers bring dehydrated meals because they’re quick and easy. You’ll notice that each day of this meal plan is about 55% fat, 20% protein, and 25% carbohydrate. So here’s the Backpacking Meal Plan I came up with for my upcoming overnight backpacking trip. See ultralight sleeping bags. Meals are tasty and filling, with a strong focus on being lightweight. Here’s the best part… Jan 14, 2024 · However, note that this meal plan provides 3500 calories compared to the previous meal plans that provided 5000 and 5200 calories, respectively. 9 ounces per serving. Resource Intensive Production: I help backpackers (like you!) meal plan with ease so that you can spend less time, money, and effort meal planning for your next adventure. Lighten the Load Jun 9, 2020 · Here is a list of 17 easy backpacking meal recipes. A LOT of these recipes are from @backcountry_foodie foodie , created by a nutritionist whose passion is backpacking (bonus points for being a woman owned small business too!). 3 grams, a fact that will help you compare food labels, measure out portions, and calculate the caloric value of your backpacking food bag. I’m shooting for around 2,500 - 3,000 calories per day and hiking between 10-13 miles per day. Lunch/Dinner: Cheesy Ranch Noodles 588 calories, 28 grams of protein and weighs 5. Grits belong on any meal plan for backpacking without a stove. Day 2. r/Ultralight is the largest online Ultralight Backcountry Backpacking community! This sub is about overnight backcountry backpacking, with a focus on moving efficiently, packing light, generally aiming at a sub 10 pound base weight, and following LNT principles. One ounce is 28. Serious Eats / Grace Kelly. Many ultralight backpackers aim for about 1½ to 2 lbs. of food (or 2,500 to 4,500 calories) per person per day, depending on many factors such as their size, weight, intensity of exercise, exertion level or how many days they'll be out. 202 votes, 16 comments. Dehydrated meals: Dehydrated or freeze-dried meals are lightweight and can be rehydrated Sep 11, 2024 · So, in what way does backpacking food affect the environment? Backpacking meals, while convenient for hikers, have environmental implications to consider: Packaging Waste: Many backpacking meals come in single-use packaging. 1 oz garlic powder; 1-2 olive oil packets 25) Good To-Go Backpacking Meals. Jan 14, 2024 · Backpacking meal planning tips by a long-distance backpacking dietitian. The most important thing to do when packing food for an ultralight backpacking trip is meal planning. 24. 5 days ago · The best ultralight backpacking and fastpacking gear can allow you to cover large distances on multiday excursions on all types of terrain. Some ultralight food tips: Food is one of the most important elements of a backpacking trip. Aug 28, 2020 · Learn how to pack high-calorie, nutrient-dense and easy-to-prepare food for your next backpacking trip. This way, you’ll stay organized, ensure you have enough calories per day, and avoid over or underpacking. Getting all of this from different flavors, textures and nutritional sources is the goal. Here is a complete 5-day backpacking meal plan similar to what I eat on my hikes. It’s based around whole foods , it’s anti-inflammatory and it’s suitable for stoveless meal prep (optional) . Check out her website if you want the recipes!. Rich will be thru hiking about 700 miles down river and then back up the other side, all below the rim of the canyon and all off trail. Additionally, we provide 40+ sample meal plans and customizable templates to kickstart your journey. The food you eat while backpacking won’t be the same food you eat at home due to bulk, weight, or time-consuming preparation. 30 oz or less for a 50 liter backpack. As a registered dietitian and ultralight long-distance backpacker with over 20 years of experience, I am passionate about creating delicious backpacking recipes. Nov 14, 2023 · Consider using prepackaged, already-made meals to reduce storage space in your pack and ensure your food will not spoil. LEARNING THE ART OF BACKPACKING MEAL PLANNING AND PREP Mar 13, 2023 · Backpacking Meal Plan. They can be used in a breakfast mix or as the foundation in this creamy polenta recipe: Polenta & Peppers. However, warmer sleeping bags contain more insulation and can weigh more. Revamp your morning meal with these ultralight backpacking breakfast ideas that are sure to add variety and flavor to your outdoor adventure. Whether you're planning a multi-day camping trip or just an afternoon hike, having tasty backpacking meal recipes can make all the difference in having a successful excursion. 75 oz dehydrated peppers; 0. This list is packed with nutritious backpacking food for a “week long” trip of 7 days Lightweight Backpacking Gear List (12 lbs) Ultralight Backpacking Gear List (10 lbs) Midweight Backpacking Gear List (16 lbs) Budget Backpacking Gear List (Under $1,000) Day Hiking Gear List; Erik The Black’s Backpacking Gear List; Build Your Own Gear List Spreadsheet; Food Ideas. That's why ultralight backpacking recipes are a game changer, allowing us to enjoy delicious meals without the added weight. Jul 14, 2023 · How to Plan a Full Day of Ultralight Backpacking Food. Below, she gave us the inside scoop on making ultralight backpacking meals and cooking techniques, as well as some recipes you’ll be dying to hit the Planning meals for a multi-day backpacking trip can be daunting, but with our 5-Day Backpacking Menu, you’ll have a balanced, nutritious, and delicious plan ready to go. 5-2 pound package. Most of them can be made with foods you find in the supermarket, though some do require freeze-dried or dehydrated ingredients. The ultimate goal is to consume the perfect amount of food as you hike and camp at correctly timed moments throughout the day. Through my experimentation and the feedback of other cold-soak junkies, here are the key benefits of Cold-Soaking Backpacking Meals. See the detailed list of ingredients, calories, weight and nutrients for each meal of this 5-day ultralight meal plan. Some are non-cook meals, others just need hot water. What is cold soaking and how to do it? List of 38 non-cook foods (ready-to-eat, freeze-dried, dehydrated and raw) to get started, complete with a five-day sample no-cook backpacking meal plan. Any fresh produce, heavy packs of rice, beans, and meat should be eaten first, while foods such as pasta and dried powders are lighter and better eaten later in the trip. Here’s a breakdown of what I’ll be taking next week. He needs roughly 2,800 calories per day whereas I needed 2,200. This is a good starting point for most backpacking trips up to a month long. With the right ingredients and gear, you can create delicious meals Jun 24, 2016 · In order to keep your food load as lightweight as possible, you want to carry foods that have 100 calories per ounce or more. 5-Day Backpacking Meal Plan; 1,000 Calorie One-Pot Backpacking When we hit the trails for a backpacking adventure, every ounce counts. Breakfast. By keeping pack weight as low as possible while still staying safe, fastpackers can often run downhills and flat ground and move fast on technical terrain, opening up seemingly endless possibilities for anything from simple overnight trips to multiday Meal planning for backpacking trips can be easy and fun! This is a quick look at a 5-day meal plan I made for a backpacking trip. These recipes are designed to be nutritious, easy to prepare, and light on our packs, ensuring we stay fueled without sacrificing flavor. Savvy food management on the trail starts and ends with numbers. I’m not overly concerned about hitting a certain number of calories each day, but you could calculate your estimated caloric needs and plan your meals around that. I try to stay adequately fueled, so I have energy, but I don’t want to feel full or get stomach cramps from eating too much while I hike. one stop shop for a lightweight, delicious, and nutritious backpacking meal plan. The food you choose will depend on taste preference, nutritional value, caloric density of each meal, and how easy it is to cook. If you're covering 15 to 20 miles a day, you'll need many more calories than if you're doing 5 to 10 miles. Maximizing both nutritional value and taste while maintaining an ultralight pack requires thoughtful planning and smart food choices. This meal plan includes three meals and four snacks a day, providing around 3,500 calories a day from 2 lbs of food. Trail Granola: Embrace the customization spirit by crafting your homemade granola mix. Whether you are day hiking, or thru-hiking, this article will help. Pancakes, instant coffee. Basic fueling strategies using ultralight foods. Although expensive, they’re a great addition to the final days of your backpacking meal plan because they’re ultralight and won’t go bad. Based on a vegetarian diet, you can add meat to any recipe for the Feb 27, 2024 · The ambitious hiker knows the importance of efficient backpacking meal prep. May 5, 2021 · In this article, you’ll learn how to plan your meals for your next hiking trip. Aug 23, 2024 · Step 1: Plan Your Calorie Intake. Backcountry Foodie provides dietitian-created ultralight recipes, backpacking meal plans, nutrition coaching, and resupply coordination. Sep 3, 2015 · Words by Mike St. These are all super fast to make and only require 4 ingredients or less. The best foods for backpacking usually have these three things in common: Lightweight (high caloric density, or calories per ounce) Not overly bulky; Easy to eat Oct 26, 2021 · Full list of the best backpacking food ideas organized by suggested meal. Even if some are recyclable, many wilderness areas lack facilities for proper disposal. This menu is designed to keep you energized and satisfied, featuring easy-to-prepare meals and snacks that are lightweight and packable. Nov 3, 2023 · Logistics Guru and Backcountry Chef for this backpacking Expedition, Chelsea Miller helped her team stay organized and well-fed for a week spent in the Wind River Range. You can find most ingredients at your average grocery store on the Appalachian Trail. The convenience of freeze-dried backpacking meals is undeniable – they’re ultralight and just require boiling water. Mar 1, 2024 · Making your own backpacking meals can be fun and a great way to take control over your nutrition while saving money. Benefits of stoveless backpacking and important considerations. Jan 6, 2024 · I help backpackers (like you!) meal plan with ease so that you can spend less time, money, and effort meal planning for your next adventure. All of their meals are vegetarian, but if you’re vegan, here is their vegan line-up: Aug 13, 2024 · Backpackers are in the midst of an ultralight backpacking debate - with one-upmanship seen in having a base weight in the region of 10 pounds. See ultralight tents. Sep 30, 2024 · Most backpacking meals were super easy to prepare: just add hot water, stir, and let sit. Jan 3, 2024 · Sure, many ultralight hikers would laugh at me because they had opted to ditch the stove and fuel to save weight, and here I had both in my pack, but I wasn’t sold on cold-soaking just yet. Here’s what I included… Aug 7, 2020 · All you need to know to hike without a stove. Day 3. Shelter/ Tent. 8lbs). This is because the foods included fewer calories for the same weight. May 9, 2024 · Backpacking Food. Here are some lightweight, calorie-dense backpacking meals which are also easy. Quick, easy, ultralight backpacking recipes created by a registered dietitian and long-distance backpacker. 646K subscribers in the Ultralight community. Breakfast: Berry Breakfast Crumble 583 calories, 15 grams of protein and weighs 3. By understanding your calorific needs and planning accordingly, you can ensure a steady supply of energy to power through the trails, while still keeping your backpack This is another area that stumps people. Aug 28, 2023 · How can one plan nutritious and lightweight meals for the trail? To plan nutritious and lightweight meals for the trail, consider these tips: Opt for calorie-dense foods: Choose high-calorie foods that provide ample energy for the least amount of weight. Jan 12, 2024 · 3000 calorie, 4000 calorie, 5000 calorie dietitian-created meal plans; High-calorie thru-hiker meal plans; No-cook meal plans; Meal planning on a budget; Meal plans for when your appetite hits the road; Grocery-friendly meal plans; New sample meal plans are added as Aaron completes her thru-hikes. 18 oz or less. Your food needs to provide high levels of nutrition, require minimal preparation and be ultra lightweight for thru-hiking. Plan on bringing enough food to give you 3,000 to 4,000 calories per day, or about two pounds of food per day, depending on how many miles you cover and how fast, and how strenuous the elevation gain/loss is. Feel free to mix and match any ingredients. Jul 2, 2019 · My Consumable Strategy and Meal Plan for the West Coast Trail. When it comes to backpacking food, the bottom line is to consider lightweight, easily packed food that optimizes macronutrients (protein, carbs, fat) and gives enough calories to keep you fueled. They opt for lightweight, densely caloric foods that are easy to prepare and eat. Jun 4, 2019 · Here’s a full 5-day healthy lightweight backpacking meal plan. The high cost of Learn more at Backpacking Stoves: How to Choose. r/Ultralight is the largest online Ultralight Backcountry Backpacking… Jul 17, 2024 · More Smart Backpacking Food Ideas. Feb 24, 2023 · When meal prepping for a backpacking trip, keep in mind what day each meal should be eaten in order to lose the greatest amount of food weight and bulk as early as possible. Sleeping bag. Aug 25, 2014 · Keeping your food weight down is a critical lightweight backpacking skill that will take experience to master. For my recent trip to the West Coast Trail, I packed 3 full days of food with a touch extra in the form of trail mix just in case, knowing I would be exiting the trail on the fourth day in the mid-afternoon. Here is your guide to the best inexpensive, lightweight, and tasty backpacking food. Enjoy! Meal Plan Description Ingredients for the meals emphasize the nutritional requirements specific for backpacking. The goal is to pack ultralight meals with a Jul 7, 2016 · 23. Feb 1, 2024 · To solve these problems during my recent 13-day, 220-mile thru-hike of the John Muir Trail, I created the following ultralight backpacking food list with a goal of packing 3,000-3,500 calories a day into a lightweight 1. How a backpacking dietitian’s definition of ultralight meal planning differs from the two-pounds of food per day rule. Some of the things you’ll learn include: Food considerations while backpacking; Hiking food ideas, and; How to create a meal plan for your hiking trips; But before that, let’s first understand how much food you’ll need to keep you energized during your Mar 12, 2023 · Using Grits for Stoveless Backpacking Meals. Whether you’re new to backpacking or you’re a traditional backpacker looking to lighten your load, we’ll break down everything you need to know about getting started with ultralight backpacking. It ended up weighing just 77 ounces total (4. These homemade backpacking recipes are designed with those advantages in mind, because at the end of a long day hiking, I look forward to a hot meal at camp with minimal preparation and clean-up. 2 lbs or less for a solo tent. Feb 8, 2022 · Our guide to meal planning for backpacking cover how to plan and pack your meals to make sure you stay fuelled on your adventures Feb 28, 2023 · Backpacking meal recipes can provide a great way to stay nourished and energized while out in nature. Pack. Dive in to discover a hassle-free way Sep 1, 2024 · Incorporating a well-rounded, calorie-focused approach to your lightweight backpacking meal plan will make a big difference enjoyment of your multi-day backpacking adventures. I’ve indicated the calories for each meal and I put a BF after the meal if it’s a Backcountry Foodie recipe. Trader Joe’s Almonds Almonds – 160 Calories per ounce Sep 16, 2024 · Super Ultralight Backpacking: Sub 5-pound base weight; Ultralight Backpacking: 5-10 pound base weight; Lightweight Backpacking: 10-20 pound base weight; Traditional Backpacking: 30-50 pound base weight ‘You’ve Lost Your Mind’ Backpacking: 50+ pound base weight We love hiking with an ultralight kit because it allows us to spend less time worrying about aches and pains and more time enjoying side trails and the beautiful scenery around us. Example Backpacking Meal Plans. I’ll also show you what to look for when selecting backpacking food, and how to plan and pack your meals. Pierre Prep Makes Perfect: Ultralight Backpacking Food Best Practices I will soon be heading into the Grand Canyon for 16 days with Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ambassador Rich Rudow. Coconut Chocolate Granola, tea. A sample of food to bring on a 3-day backpacking trip Meal Day 1. It then generates a shopping list, eliminating the hassle of planning, shopping, and recipe creation. Freeze-dried or dehydrated backpacking meals are meant to be lightweight and easy to make—just add water, stir, and steep, and your meal will be on the proverbial table in 10 to 20 minutes. May 28, 2023 · My Overnight Backpacking Meal Plan. onub amj awfh bmvflw qkycifs nmhkwvy eyxeq citsk dtrzng zyrpugmw