The list below is just a guideline. If you wish to increase your recipe repertoire and learn more about appropriate food for bushwalking, then attend one of our Food In A Fuel Stove courses!
Here are some tips:
- As with other gear, weight is very important when considering which food items to pack
- On a long hiking trip (say 3 days or more), aim to pack about 700g - 1 kg per person per day.
- A balanced hiking diet includes more fat and sugar than a normal diet
- Buddy-up and share as much as you can - you don't need more than one container of coffee, etc.
- Remove as much packaging as you can – re-pack in snap lock bags, they’re light and reusable
- Label the snap lock bags (eg Lunch Day 1)
- Canned food is too heavy, bottles and glass jars are heavy and may break
- Pack breakfast and dinner in one big strong stuff-bag, and lunch and snacks in another of a different colour – easier to find what you want when you want it.
- Do you really need a bowl – eat from your billy! Do you really need a fork and a spoon?
- “Luxuries” are fine, but you’ve got to carry them – think before you pack! Some high energy and dehydrated foods, which may seem like luxuries, are actually very sensible on a walk eg sun dried tomatoes, fruit leather, chocolate. Take small quantities of highly flavoured, compact ingredients such as capers, herb and spice sprinkles, sambals and pickles, relishes and garlic, to add interest to the bland staples.
- Things that take a long time to cook or prepare can be a hassle if it’s cold, wet or late.
- Think! How much can you really eat during the time you are out there?
Remember:
- You pack it, you carry it!
-
Pack it in, pack it out! (ie if you don't eat it, you must carry it back out. Please adhere to the
Leave No Trace principles for the Bibbulmun Track and
do not leave any food out there whatsoever. This includes apple cores, fruit skins, food scraps, buried or otherwise.
Breakfast
- Cereal: muesli (can be cooked for porridge). Look for a good balance of taste and nutrients. Add powdered milk to cereals and mix with water later.
- Porridge: oats, cracked wheat, semolina polenta plus dried fruit (boil up to create juice)
- Breakfast bars (watch the sugar content!)
- Pancakes
Lunch
You can make sandwiches for the first day or pack some of the ingredients below & make them in the bush:
- Crackers: Ryvitas, Salada, sesame wheat
- Bread: sliced and fairly solid i.e. rye, pita bread
- Cheese: Dutch edam/gouda keeps well
- Salami: Choose your favourites. They will last longer if kept whole – not pre-cut
- Sardines/tuna: sachets are now available
- Toppings: margarine, peanut paste, jam or honey, vegemite or promite, chutney/pickles
- Fresh fruit and/or vegies: Generally for short trips only. Choose items that are easy to carry, such as capsicum, cucumber, carrots, celery.
Dinner
There are many pre-prepared packet meals, either rice or noodle based, available at supermarkets. When cooked simply and quickly, they make a filling and tasty dinner. Add to these any extras you like – cheese, salami, tuna, dehydrated (or fresh) vegetables etc. Most people find they can eat a whole “4 serve” packet themselves, after a good day’s walk!
Freeze-dri meals are lightweight, convenient and quick to prepare. Alternatively dry your own meals or ingredients before you go, prepare meal-sized sachets (snap lock bags) of protein and add-in flavouring ingredients, then simply add noodles, couscous or rice on the walk.
- Protein: TVP/lentils/nuts/beans/salami/coppa or parma ham/split peas/tuna/dried duck or fish / cheese/biltong/chopped nuts-cashews, pistachios
- Carbohydrates: rice (jasmine or basmati is good and cooks quicker than brown), pasta or noodles, dried mashed potato/rice noodles/ couscous
- Add-ins: tomato flakes, dried onions, dried mushrooms, garlic flakes, parsley flakes, dried vegies, herbs and spices (mixed/separate). Remember salt and pepper, curry powder, stock cubes or powder (very good for quick flavour boost), flavouring base - packet sauce/casserole base etc, beef stroganoff/sweet and sour/ etc, grated parmesan cheese (for noodle dishes)
Dessert & snacks
- Instant pudding (packets or 'shake and set')
- Dried fruit and custard (dried custard sachets)
- Rice pudding, biscuits or chocolate!
- Trail mix: sultanas/raisins/nuts/banana chips/m&m's/smarties, lollies etc
- Backcountry Cuisine desserts include apple pie, cheesecake and strawberry ice-cream! Yum.
Hot drinks
Powdered milk, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, sugar, malt powder. Think about how much you will need - don’t just take a full container.
Freeze-Dri meals - by Back Country Cuisine
Back Country Cuisine is easy to prepare and great tasting because of the features of our Freeze-Dri process. This combines quick-to-hydrate, freeze-dried vegetables and meats with sauce mixes that have been processed to retain their natural flavours. The result is delicious meals that can be prepared in the pack in 10 minutes with the addition of boiling water.
In the freeze drying process, crystals of frozen ice in the food are sublimed (evaporated) to water vapour in a vacuum chamber. The result is a completely dry product that does not shrink during the drying process. When prepared for eating, the water quickly gets into the pores left by the ice crystals to give a juicy, tender food product.
After packing, the food is heat-sealed in foil pouches from which all the air has been removed and replaced with nitrogen gas. This keeps the food safe and flavoursome for at least three years without the need for preservatives.
Back Country Cuisine meals are formulated to meet the high energy needs of outdoor activity. There is a careful balance of carbohydrates and sugars for instant energy, protein to replenish exhausted muscles and oils and fat to provide an energy store (oils and fats are kept within the recommended maximum of 30% of total energy).
Freeze drying retains the natural vitamins in the food because of the low temperatures used in processing. Along with naturally occurring minerals and the addition of salt, the meals provide vitamins and minerals necessary to stay healthy.
Check out the range available at Mountain Designs or visit www.backcountrycuisine.co.nz
Dehydrating your own food
Many walkers enjoy the benefits of drying their own food. The food lasts longer, is far lighter and is better for you. Almost anything can be dehydrated from broccoli to lamb stew to mangos. For more information visit the following sites.
Ezidri Dehydrators have gratefully supplied the Foundation with two food dehydrators at a reduced cost so that they can be hired out to members. We thank them for their support. Visit Ezidri Dehydrators at www.ezidridehydrators.com.au.
Dehydrating Hints