Easy Backpacking Recipes

Eating healthy while backpacking doesn’t mean you have to buy costly freeze dried foods from a health food store!  Backpacking does require that you only bring along the bare essentials, keeping your pack weight as low as you possibly can, but there are a number of filling, nutritious meals that are easy to carry and just as simple to prepare.

Backpacking is an extremely strenuous activity.  Keeping your pack weight low is very important to your endurance level and your back.  A lightweight pot, like the Bugaboo Teflon Pot, doesn’t require much space and can double as a bowl to eat from.  The Bugaboo pot also has a lid that functions as a frying pan for more versatility. 

Plan your meals ahead of time, giving yourself plenty of time to prepare and pack your food ingredients.  While backpacking, you should plan a high calorie, nutritious diet with simple recipes and plenty of fruits, grains, and water.  There are a number of easy backpacking recipes that contain lightweight dry ingredients that can be combined ahead of time to minimize waste.

Breakfast
Backpacking breakfasts are usually taking place as you are breaking down your camp, so you will want something quick and easy, but energy boosting and filling. 

Cereal with Milk
In a small Ziploc bag mix together:
1 cup dry cereal
Raisins or dried fruit (optional)
2 Tbsp powdered skim milk
1 tsp powdered coffee creamer
When ready to eat, stir in half a cup cold water and enjoy.

Warm Trail Breakfast
In a small sandwich bag combine:
1 cup granola type cereal, like Grape Nuts
¼ cup nonfat dried milk
Raisins, mixed nuts, dried fruit (optional)
Instant hot chocolate packet (optional)
At camp, stir in boiling water and let stand for a minute.

Lunch
Lunch is usually spent on the trail.  Simple to prepare backpacking recipes that require little preparation are best for lunch.  Choose foods that are rich in calories, carbohydrates, and proteins to replenish your energy.

Quick Peanut Butter Balls
Mix together:
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup oats
½ cup honey
Mix into a ball and place in a sandwich bag.  Pack frozen for a quick and nutritious lunch as it thaws.  These also make good trail snacks.

Backpacking Sandwiches
Many foods are not suitable for backpacking, like bread and sandwich meat.  There are a number of healthy and nutritious sandwich options that are great for packing and keep well with no refrigeration.
Breads:           Bagels, English muffins, crackers, pitas, tortillas
Filling ideas:   Peanut butter and raisins, canned cheese spread (Cheeze Whiz), block                              cheese (like Velveeta) in cool weather, tuna (foil packets) mixed with take-                 out mayo or tartar sauce packets

Snacks
Snacks are a vital part of any backpacking expedition.  Hiking takes a lot of strength and quickly drains your energy.  Stopping every hour to rest, re-hydrate, and refuel with nutritious snacks is a good idea no matter how long you are hiking.

Granola bars, crackers, raisins, and M&M’s are all easy to pack and provide an energy boost.  Gorp, or trail mix, is also a terrific backpacking food.