What Foods Should I Pack For Backpacking?

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When you go backpacking, one of the toughest things to know is how much food to bring, and what food to bring - after all, you will want to pack as light as possible, but as you hike, you will also be burning through a whole bunch of calories! Because of this, one of the most important things to know is how many calories you are getting per ounce of food - as you will want foods that have a high balance of calories per ounce.

GORP: Gorp ("Good ol' raisins & peanuts") is a mainstay in the backpacker's diet, as it is inexpensive, tasty, easy to eat as you walk, and (of course) is high in calories! You can purchase your own "ingredients" and mix it yourself, and you can add such special treats to yours as dried mango, dried apricots, dried dragon fruits, and any other unsweetened nuts that might taste good.

Peanut butter: Peanut butter is inexpensive, easy to pack, and high in calories; this makes peanut butter a great trail food, and the only consideration will be whether you are able to eat peanut butter straight, or whether you are the kind of person who needs something to put their peanut butter on.

Energy bars: Energy bars can be either excellent for backpacking or poor for backpacking, depending on what you buy; you should be looking for energy bars that pack about 115 to 125 calories per ounce, and even though this means you will be paying more for your energy bars, it will be worth the cost for the benefits you receive.

Grains: Finally, you should be able to get some grains from cereal and cereal bars - and grains will also be important when you are out there hiking along the trail. Of course, make sure you know how many calories you are getting, so that you can ensure you are consuming as much energy as possible for the lowest possible weight.

When you pack for your backpacking adventure, remember that you certainly want to pack light - but it is even more important that you make sure you are getting the nutrition and energy you need!