nartreb wrote:A lot of the weight and bulk in foods comes from the packaging, as you've noticed. Plan your meals in advance, measure out each dish into sealed plastic bags, and you'll make a huge improvement. The basic idea is to take stuff that won't spoil or get crushed, that contains lots of calories (fats are your friend!), and that doesn't take too long to cook (because you have to carry the fuel, and because you don't want to wait an hour for breakfast if you're heading up a glacier before dawn). Instant rice or instant noodles, hard sausage, powdered eggs, powdered milk, vegetable oil, peanut butter are all good backpacking foods. But it's more important to take food that you like. It does you no good if you don't eat it. Bring your favorite spices and sauces, and make sure you have a variety from day to day. [Frites a la Belge le premier jour, frites allumettes le second?
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Sugary foods are quickly metabolized into energy, but that doesn't last, and it's not very easy to match your sugar intake to your rate of exercise. You want a mix: some sugar (especially during or just before exercise), some complex carbohydrates (which are easily converted to sugar), some fats (highest energy:weight ratio, but slowest to digest), some protein (mostly because it's yummy).
Bring sugary snacks to eat as you walk (granola bars, for example), and keep some very salty snacks handy too (if you feel cramps starting, nibbling some salt will often cure you). And carry lots of water and drink more than you did. Try adding a little flavor to your water: sugar, lemon juice, tea, whatever you like. Load up on the carbohydrates and fats during your sit-down meals.
If you buy commercial freeze-dried meals or instant soups, be aware of the salt content. You need some salt to replace what you sweat, but many commercial brands add way too much. It's OK to eat one or two portions, but if you're hungry and eat double or triple for dinner, you'll regret it.
Oh wow. thanks alot for this comprehensive post! Definitely going to be more mindful about the food i take with me next time, very informative!
@Moapakk
A whopping 67kg? im currently at 99kg..(1.88m) not that im that fat..just not skinny either. I really fear that mountaineering is not for me because of my weight... but still got to try it...still got until february before a new year of "climbing school" starts....time to start running again and losing some weight..
And yes. In retrospect there was really no reason to post this big rant on a forum...since its just that "a rant"...guess i needed to share my frustration.
And yes, im not perfect either, if i was more patient we would still be good friends now. Guess it was just hard for me because i was really fanatic about doing the entire haute route..and was really counting the days leading up to it.
Ill probably be trekking alone in the future...unless i meet someone who already has alot of trekking experience and can deal with my ranting and fanaticism.
Sorry for the rant guys!
To make the thread atleast somewhat useful. Something im really wondering about...why do you guys climb or hike mountains? and dont say....."because it's there" ...