Just like with our fun activities, there are endless ideas for food while in the back-country.
Louise Miracle, with the Preventive Search & Rescue (PSAR) team at the Grand Canyon in Arizona, suggests packing 3000-4000 calories of food per day when hiking 8 or more hours in that day, with 1000 calories for both breakfast and lunch with snacks almost continuously. You can make adjustments if you are hiking less in a day.
Suggestions:
She suggests electrolyte drinks (not Gatorade). If you will be in warm weather consider 1/2 or 1 quart of liquid intake per hour. You can learn more about water purification in Station 3.
If you will be hiking all of your food in on your back, you might consider dehydrated foods.
You will most likely be packing a portable stove and fuel cans. Decide if one stove for your group is enough and divide up the fuel cans between hikers to distribute the weight evenly. Pack matches in a waterproof baggie if your stove requires it.
Put each individual meal in a separate labeled baggie so it is easy to find in your pack.
You will want to choose meals that require one pot for quick cooking and cleanup.
For clean up bring a small baggie of bio-degradable soap and a scour pad.
She has given a list of suggested foods to pack to the right ->
DO THIS --> 1) Make a list of what meals and snacks you would like to pack for future reference.
2) Share your ideas for foods or recipes for meals that are ideal for back country hiking and cooking with someone or click "share your work" in the navigation menu.
Remember this is different than camping at a non-primitive site where you have wood provided, a grill with utensils etc. You cannot hike in with a large cooler!
Snack & meal ideas from a professional * Brand names are for examples only provided by PSAR and not meant as advertisement.
Snacks-
Power bars or other high energy bars (1-2 per day)
Trial mix (a.k.a GORP = good ol' raisins & peanuts), You can add pretzels, corn chips, M&Ms
Dried fruit
Beef jerky (only if your stomach does well with greasy foods)
Vitalyte or other electrolyte dry drink mix to make 1 gallon per day.
Breakfast:
2 packages instant oatmeal
Powdered milk
Dried fruit
Breakfast bar (not counted as one of your snack energy bars)
Lunch:
Bagels or pita bread
Peanut butter or other nut butter. (Put in plastic squeeze container or a small double baggie.
Tuna or chicken in foil packages (not in a can).
Cheetos, pretzels, Triscuits (something crunchy that will withstand jostling.)
Cookies (soft kind that won't break easily, gingersnaps for helping with upset stomachs)
Dinners: (Communal, meaning everyone contributes part of the meal. This will need to be organized and assigned as part of your planning as a group. Check for food allergies!!!)
Complete pre-packaged dehydrated meals that can be found in most sporting goods stores OR
Egg noodles (Ramen noodles) or dehydrated soup mix mixed with chicken or tuna (in foil pouches, not canned)
Flour tortillas filled with rice and chicken/tuna.
Macaroni & cheese (cheese in powder form)
Dessert- pudding cups, applesauce, or fruit cups.
Other:
Hot chocolate
Coffee if needed, but be careful of its diuretic effects that can dehydrate you!
* Remember every trash item must be hauled back out of your campsite! Keep a large baggie just for food waste. (Not the same as your baggie for toiletry waste!)