Food Menu

[diamond10x]

Like all of our other gear we're constantly trying to lighten up but still keep quality and performance high. It seems when it comes to food, its the toughest one for everyone to drop weight on or figure out how to go lighter but still be able to have the energy without starving ourselves. I currently have a base list that I've made that comes in around 18.5 ounces per day with 2300 cal + or -.

Breakfast Granola w/ nido milk and protein powder 745 KCal 6.5 oz
Snack 1 Trail Mix 150 KCal 1.0 oz
Lunch Spam Single, String Cheese, Chicken Biscuits 440 KCal 4.5 oz
Snack 2 Trail Mix/Crackers/Candy 150 KCal 1.0 oz
Dinner Freeze Dried/Dehydrated Meal 800-1100 KCal 5.5-6.5 oz

I'll usually pack a few days a tad lighter with the substitution of a green belly or range bar for the granola, other days I'll pack a tad heavier with a snickers bar thrown in there and such. Some of my favorite foods/snacks I rotate through are pringles, cheez-its, different flavored cheese, almond joys, oreos. I'm sure I could get it a little lighter if I really started to pencil it out but for now this seems to work well and isn't too bad to lug around for days at a time.

What are many of you other ultralight fans packing as your menu that you seem to stick with?

 

[Subliminal1]

I do damn near the same except I like tortilla, peanut or almond butter packet, meat cheese stick, honey packet for lunch.

 

[diamond10x]

I do damn near the same except I like tortilla, peanut or almond butter packet, meat cheese stick, honey packet for lunch.

I'll mix the tried-and-true PB&J on a tortilla every now and then. For me I found tortillas to not be high enough in calories for their weight to have as a staple and use it as more of a treat for days I know I won't need the extra calories. I'm always looking for different recipes or ideas to throw in the mix for a better high cal/oz meals.

It's funny how we spend so much time refining gear lists to go lightweight but there isn't much talk about doing this with our food lists/menus.

 

[Subliminal1]

I like your lighter meal day call with Green Belly or Range Bar. The pack space and weight saving by doing that for 1-2 days on a 7 day hunt is making me consider... I'm just a fatty and like my 3 meals and snacks haha

To mix it up a little I might do a protein type shake instead of granola. I brought Pop Tarts on a hunt last year and actually enjoyed those. They held up surprisingly well, and a nice treat when you've been marching all day. Stroopwafle or Honey Stinger are also solid. Oh and Gummi Bears. Well Gummi Bears are a staple actually haha

 

[S.Clancy]

I'm jealous. I pack 3500-3700 cals a day.

 

[Hussar]

Gear Skeptic has a full Ultralight Food Breakdown, along with a spreadsheet of everything - Link

My usual meal list for a 3-7 day hunt is: instant coffee, trail mix (without chocolate/M&Ms), summer sausage links, and a lower carb dehydrated meal (typically Next Mile Meals). This seems to get me around 2400-2600 calories at around 16-18oz of food. Which, for me, I can easily survive on for a week, even with logging miles every day.

 

[diamond10x]

Gear Skeptic has a full Ultralight Food Breakdown, along with a spreadsheet of everything - Link

My usual meal list for a 3-7 day hunt is: instant coffee, trail mix (without chocolate/M&Ms), summer sausage links, and a lower carb dehydrated meal (typically Next Mile Meals). This seems to get me around 2400-2600 calories at around 16-18oz of food. Which, for me, I can easily survive on for a week, even with logging miles every day.

That's a heck of a comprehensive list that guy has. Thanks for sharing that link.

 

[skipper907]

granola with powdered milk 700-800 cals
kirkland nut mix 340 cals 2 serv
big sur bar 600 cals
layered fruit 60 cals each
gummy bears 200 cals
peaks meal 800cals
total 2750 cals
later season maybe add a snickers @ 250 cals

 

[Wolf13]

That's a heck of a comprehensive list that guy has. Thanks for sharing that link.

Here’s another good resource: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DsLpp9lEXGZTKWVMyA3eNTeN4NHTSGGAwln1yoWI0Cw/htmlview

 

[madlivid]

Cheap and easy - I've done packs of ramen with tuna pouches (no draining) for some quick carbs and protein. I just did a backpacking trip over the weekend and tried out the Immi ramen packets - which have higher protein content, but they do end up being a bit chewier than normal noodles

 

[diamond10x]

After deep diving into the 'Gear Skeptic' spreadsheets and nutrition over the last month and a half I've got 5 different rations to rotate through on mountain hunts where weight is everything. Between the 5, they average 1.19 lbs (19 oz) and 2910 kcal per day.

Allows me the calories to sustain during extended strenuous trips, having enough protein to maintain strength and the calories to keep from losing weight. Eating well without eating bars and candy the whole time as well. All without having to pack the 1.5-2 lbs of food per day that seems to be the hiking/camping rule of thumb.