The Gear Guide: 5 Easy Ways to Beat the Hunger Games
Adventure Travel, Backpacking & Trekking, Cabins & Camping, Eco-Travel — By Candace R on March 25, 2011 at 12:00 pmBy Jessica Goldstein
Adventure Editor
If you have been keeping up with our handy-dandy gear guide, you are almost ready to venture into the great outdoors. You’ve got the perfect pack and have settled on an ideal destination. You’ve practiced pitching your tent in the safety of your own backyard. You bought a map, a headlight, and extra batteries. Your game face is on.
Yet, as your stomach suggests, you are still missing one vital piece: food.
Food is the kind of thing you can forget to think about until you really need it, at which point it is maybe too late. We’ve already covered how to keep your food (and yourselves) safe from bears and other creatures of the night, but maybe you’re wondering just what food you should even be bringing with you. What will survive the non-refrigerated trek? What will taste delicious even when consumed raw or cooked over a teeny little stove? Fret not! The answers to those questions, and more, in our food guide below:
1. The most important meal of the day
Breakfast food is the greatest invention possibly ever, not just for ordinary life in your kitchen but also for your camping adventures in the wilderness. Many of your favorite morning munchies are perfect for your backpacking trip: cereal, oatmeal, cereal bars, pop tarts. Fun fact about individual packs of Quaker oatmeal – those bags that the flakes come in are waxed on the inside, meaning you can just pour hot water into the open pouch and eat it from there. No dishwashing required!
2. Mixings and Fixings
Remember the purpose of trail mix is not just to taste good: this stuff is your fuel, so select the ingredients accordingly. Good: unsalted nuts (the salt will dehydrate you), dried fruit, non-sugary cereal (Cheerios are always a good choice). Bad: chocolate chips or M&Ms—the sugar will only give you a quick jolt of energy, after which you will crash. Also, chocolate will melt and the trail mix will stick together in clumps. If you must, throw in a very tiny amount of those chocolatey suckers and it’ll be a pleasant sweet surprise when one lands on your tongue.
3. Drink the Kool Aid
The importance of hydration cannot be overstated. On pretty much every camping trip I’ve been on, whenever someone complained of an ailment, the leader’s first response would always be, “Drink more water.” Even if another kid said, “But I’ve got a splinter!” it was still always water. Water heals all. But you know the real downside to water? After a while, the thought of drinking it might make you want to cry. Plus, if you’ve sanitized the water by adding iodine to it and letting it sit, said water probably tastes disgusting. The solution: drink mixes. Bring Kool-Aid powder, instant lemonade, or whatever you’re into. Bring on the deliciousness and the H20.
4. Flatter Yourself
Since you’ve got to consider how well your food will fit in your pack, opt for flatter foods over bulkier ones. Don’t waste space with bread or buns: you’d be surprised how many things you can eat on a wrap or a tortilla. You can even trick your brain into thinking these are different foods: grilled cheese, cheese quesadillas, vegetarian hamburger wraps… the list goes on.
5. Cookables
Bringing freeze-dried food is a good call, as is stuff that expands when you cook it, like pasta. Minimal space in your pack, maximum space in your belly. If you’re going to bring meat, eat it on the first day—E. Coli on the trail would be a downer, to say the least. Canned goods are great, but they can be a little heavy/a lot heavy when you’ve been carrying them for a while, so try not to go overboard on those. Before you hit the trail, mock-pack your backpack and make sure you feel comfortable with the weight.
Thumbnails courtesy of Camping Life and Sphinx Ranch
Tags: Adventure Travel, backpacking, camping food, camping guide, gear guide, Great Outdoors, how to go camping, wildlife
26 Comments
The Gear Guide series is amazing. I’m reading through it and picking up great travel tips.
Thank you, I’ve just been looking for information about this subject for ages and yours is the best I’ve came upon so far. But, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you certain in regards to the supply?|What i do not realize is in fact how you are now not really much more neatly-appreciated than you might be right now. You are so intelligent.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed
account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and
even I achievement you access consistently fast.
Here is my web-site iphone games similar to infinity blade
I couldn’t resist commenting. Very well written!
Feel free to visit my blog; proactiv hyperpigmentation
Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m
undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
My web-site grow taller exercises pdf free download
This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have
found something that helped me. Many thanks!
Also visit my homepage; grow taller fast pills
Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
My web page: grow taller for idiots cocktail
memory foam mattress pros and cons memory foam mattress with pillow
top memory foam mattress sale memory foam mattress yorkshire memory foam mattress king size memory foam mattress king size
Visit my site … memory foam Mattress brand comparisons
memory foam mattress cheap memory foam mattress
mattress firm memory foam mattress reviews costco memory foam mattress kmart memory
foam mattress overstock memory foam mattress back pain
Here is my homepage; memory foam mattress rotate
Hi I am so glad I found your website, I really found you by accident,
while I was searching on Askjeeve for something else,
Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say thanks a lot
for a remarkable post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time
to browse it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and
also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more,
Please do keep up the superb b.
Review my blog … gas grills new zealand
Found this to be really entertaining as well as helpful
Such a useful piece of information, much appreciated.
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
my weblog – memory foam topper toddler bed
went beyond my presumptions certainly interested.
Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us beneficial information to work
on. You have done a wonderful job!
Here is my web page Car Battery Costco
Hi outstanding blog! Does running a blog such as this require
a lot of work? I’ve very little understanding of coding but I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyhow, should you have any recommendations or tips for new blog owners please share. I know this is off topic nevertheless I simply had to ask. Appreciate it!
Check out my webpage … metal detector yorkshire
After looking over a few of the articles on
your web page, I truly appreciate your technique of blogging.
I saved it to my bookmark site list and will be
checking back soon. Take a look at my web site as well and
let me know what you think.
my web site force factor female model
You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the finest websites online.
I most certainly will highly recommend this website!
Feel free to visit my page – improve memory hypnosis free
Hi! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers
and starting a new initiative in a community
in the same niche. Your blog provided us
useful information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
Hello there I am so happy I found your blog page, I really found you
by error, while I was browsing on Google for something else, Regardless I
am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a marvelous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the
theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the
minute but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds,
so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the fantastic work.
Also visit my blog tea party ideas usa
You should be a part of a contest for one of the
finest blogs online. I’m going to recommend this website!
Feel free to visit my page :: camping stove limerick
Hello, I enjoy reading all of your post.
I like to write a little comment to support you.
Here is my web-site; toothbrush sanitizer groupon
Keep on writing, great job!
My website; sleeping bag in spanish
Wonderful work! That is the kind of info that are supposed to be shared across the web.
Disgrace on the seek engines for no longer positioning
this submit higher! Come on over and visit my web
site . Thank you =)
Here is my homepage – Krups Coffee Grinder Bed Bath And Beyond
Hello there I am so delighted I found your site, I really found you by accident, while
I was searching on Askjeeve for something else, Anyways I am here
now and would just like to say thanks for a fantastic post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the awesome job.
Visit my blog post; vacuum cleaner with steam
My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different web page and thought I should check
things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.
Look forward to finding out about your web page for a second time.
my webpage … sleeping bag care