A few years ago I injured by jaw in such a way that eating really chewy foods makes my jaw really sore. I do really long days in the mountains alpine climbing and such and have always used things like cliff bars and snickers (among other things) to keep the calories coming.

But, these types of foods often make my jaw sore (becuase they are pretty chewy and not super soft).

Are there foods that you can recommend that are good in the mountains but are still easy (soft) to eat?

Any recommendations would be helpful. Thanks!

Rice sugar gels like Gu and Clif Shot don't require any chewing. I don't know what temperature they freeze at though. I carried some Clif Shot Blocks (basically gummy cubes) in -20 celsius and they were still very easy to eat. The Clif bar I had was rock hard and almost shattered my pocket knife.

DanTheMan wrote:Rice sugar gels like Gu and Clif Shot don't require any chewing. I don't know what temperature they freeze at though. I carried some Clif Shot Blocks (basically gummy cubes) in -20 celsius and they were still very easy to eat. The Clif bar I had was rock hard and almost shattered my pocket knife.

that's helpful. thanks. yeah, that's another problem I have. I do keep food close to me, under my jacket, but I can't keep tons of food that way. I'll look into those clif shot blocks.

Ensure drink is really nice balanced energy food.

It's easy on the stomach too.

Unfortunately - it's heavy stuff to carry. I'm not sure if there's a powder version.

One of my favourite energy sources are shelled walnuts, which are not hard to chew and are not affected by low temperatures. Things don't have to be sweet, and they are both carb and fat - one the best combinations of the fats around.

Also olives. I eat jars of them. Good energy, fibre, and of course very healthy with the olive oil content.

These aren't really good for on-the-go eatins, but in camp oatmeal and pita bread with some peanut butter is always good.

I ate rice crispy treats on Denali ( homemade with lots of butter, chocolate, peanut butter ). They froze but still barely maintained some flexibility. Probably about as bad for the jaw as you can get. But they mad a good pillow ( I had alot ) .

I really like the stuff that most people disdain.

Have you tried those soft "cereal" bars (e.g. nutrigrain)? They are typically filled with a fruit jam.

The crackers that come prepackaged and filled with cheese or peanut butter are actually pretty easy to chew.

You might want to package the soft stuff in one of those disposable polypropylene of linear polyethylene containers by glad or other companies.

Unless you are out for more than a few days, you can live off junk like this and get your more balanced meals later.

Kendal Cake.

Impossibly sweet at sea level, but great to dissolve on yer tongue when you are feeling exhausted on the hill and yer blood sugar drops to the point where the idea of eating makes you feel nauseous. (well maybe that doesn't happen to everyone, but it does to me).

It's also very minty so it freshens up your mouth.

If I'm just doing a long day I like to bring peeled hard boiled eggs. Reese's peanut butter cups melt very quickly in your mouth even if frozen so they are in my pack anytime it's cold. Make extra oatmeal at breakfast, throw in some raisens, and pack the leftovers in a zip lock bag.

Fig Newtons, but I like the whole wheat health food variety.

Good cheese - like some smoked Gouda which of course will be fairly soft without refrigeration. Incidentally the Newtons and the cheese go surprisingly well together.

When I first read your thread title I thought it said, "Jew trouble and eating in the mountains". Man I spent waaaaay too much time in PnP!