variety in meals

[maremieisen]

I try to keep lunch a non-cooked meal. I make up individual baggies with different varieties of single-serve snack items. I love Nature's Bakery fig bars in various flavors, meat bars or sticks, nut butter packets, dried fruit packets, single-serve nut packets (especially pistachios), and candies.

[One Half]

I think that making sure you get enough fat in your diet is pretty crucial to good health, especially on the trail, because our society is so improperly fearful of fats, and because fats can be a bit messy to manage on the trail. My solution is ghee (clarified butter), which in recent years has become much more available in stores, and if you can source it, non-hydrogenated lard. Yes, lard. Pork fat is delicious and incredibly versatile. Fatworks and Epic sell non-hydrogenated lard, though it's a bit pricey. Nalgene jars are leak-proof. Also, individual packets of nut butters, and whole milk powder.

I don't think you necessarily need to avoid "carbs", per se, but you do want to be conscious of not eating too many refined carbs that have no fiber or other nutrients other than carbohydate and protein, like white flour.

TVP and dehydrated or freeze-dried vegetables can go a long way toward bulking up meals and adding nutrition. They are quick to cook and easy to carry.

I have no fear of eating fat. I eat pretty high fat now. Low carb. moderate protein. When I get cravings it's usually for more fat and I am not afraid to eat some butter, just butter, to satisfy the craving.

[Daybreak]

I'm going to be making all my backpacking meals for a thru on the AT next summer (2024).
...
So - just how many meals in rotation would you want given that I will be eating lunch and dinner from my own "stock?"

Any updates?

[Daybreak]

Oops Duplicate.

[One Half]

Our 25 year old son died in May 2023. On Mother's Day. so the update is that our life has changed and plans are out the window. My husband and I are traveling. We live in a skoolie. I won't be separate from him for that long at this time.

[Daybreak]

Sorry to hear. Life has a way changing priorities and goals.

[RockDoc]

I don't think much variety is necessary. Ancestrally people ate a lot of the same thing over and over... I base dinners on a few staples, mostly home dehydrated. Steak, hamburger, vegetables, mixed with dehydrated whole eggs and cheddar cheese powder is generally all I use. I base all meals in protein. I think too many carbs just make you fat and sick; ask me how I know...

[LoneStranger]

I don't think much variety is necessary. Ancestrally people ate a lot of the same thing over and over... I base dinners on a few staples, mostly home dehydrated. Steak, hamburger, vegetables, mixed with dehydrated whole eggs and cheddar cheese powder is generally all I use. I base all meals in protein. I think too many carbs just make you fat and sick; ask me how I know...

It really is a personal thing, like much of hiking. I hear people complaining all the time about being tired of their food on trail and totally don't understand the feeling. I associate my trail diet with being on trail. The thought of a bag of dinner gets me excited on trail and even at home just typing the words I can feel my heart rate go up.