Food

"Has anyone created any sort of chart to compare various backpacking foods in terms of weight vs. calories?"

Yes. That has been published here. However, using the BPL search tool might cause you to pull your hair out.

Despite the majority view on this subject, I do not want the most calories for the lightest weight. I first try to keep my backpacking diet somewhat well-balanced with an emphasis on easily digestible carbohydrates. I do not load on extra fats, because those tend to be high in saturated fats, and my body handles those very inefficiently. Instead, for fats, I go for monounsaturated fats. That means olive oil, so a bit is generally simmered into my evening meal.

It is not unusual for me to experience a lot of weight loss on a trip. Last summer, I did one trip where I was gone from home for five days of trail plus one day driving. I lost twelve pounds. Now, half of that loss was purely water loss from dehydration. Of the other six pounds, I figure three pounds was regained within 48 hours of eating at home again.

–B.G.–

B.G. –

We are on the same page concerning food (and the BPL search engine – so frustrating); I'm just looking for a reference for information to help planning. I'm not really up on the latest high energy foods, so it's nice to look.
I like a balance of carbs/protein/fat because I tend not to eat much during the day, so it's nice to have that slow digesting fat kicking in with the occasional carb boost.

I want easy to eat (even if I am not hungry), real (not chemical packed), somewhat nutritious food that I can make with hot or no water. Lightweight is nice, but I do better eating things I can tolerate than trying to live on Gu or nothing but almonds and olive oil. Variety and palatability are my priorities as well as fitting in the bear can.

Gummy bears and licorice I can eat are better than a crappy cardboard meal that makes me throw up…

If I am out on a long day and I still have miles to travel before camp, nothing hits the spot better than one square of Logan Bread, some Reese's Pieces, and then wash it down with a pint of cold Cytomax.

–B.G.–

I really don't obsess about cal/gram either. I do watch total calories to be sure that I have enough, but otherwise just pick stuff that I know I'll eat. Exertion and altitude are appetite suppressants, so it's most important that I bring something tasty so that I won't be as tempted to skip meals and just go to bed. For instance, I can't stand instant rice, so why bring meals based upon it? OTOH I love Fritos, so they're my go-to salt source. Etc. This is my opportunity to eat crappy fatty food, so I'm taking it!

I do favor dehydrated food for the weight savings, as opposed to ready-to-eat food. I also load up on Nido powdered milk and add it to almost everything. Heck, I've been known to just brew a pint of warm milk to drink before turning in. I've never carried olive oil (paranoid about pack spillage) but I'm sure I'll try it some day. It certainly seems like a handy way to bring a heck of a lot of calories.

I cook for breakfast and dinner, and bring snacks for an extended lunch throughout the day.

If I were doing a thousand-mile Brooks traverse or something equally epic I might get more persnickety about caloric density.

In addition to others' thoughts (eat edible food), I try to transition slowly to trail food. My first day looks like pretty normal food, in part because I won't carry it very far. Like a deli sandwich or wraps. My second day is half normal food and half UL stuff (noodles, dried beans, salami, etc). By day three or four, I've transitioned to almost all no-water options.

"Has anyone created any sort of chart to compare various backpacking foods in terms of weight vs. calories?"

Yes!

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/2005_trip_planning_spreadsheet_contest_winners.html#.VRNkLFxUMr0

The above post dated 6/6/06 announces the winners of the BPL Trip Planning Spreadsheet Contest. The first place winner was Meir Gottlieb. His spreadsheet is downloadable. Click on the "Menu" and "Pantry" tabs.

I bulk up a couple of pounds before a trip and concentrate of getting enough carbs in my carried food to support the metabolism of my body fat. I've done it successfully for 9 day trips at a carried weight of 19 ounces of food per day, and figure I could extend it to about two weeks before starting to burn the fat that protects vital organs, a situation to be avoided. The only other concern I have is getting enough protein for tissue repair and the ~5% that gets metabolized for energy. Not for everyone, to be sure, but it works for me.

Running out of body fat is definitely NOT one of my worries…

Fat's, salt and sugars are hard things to find enough of in nature, which is why you're attracted to them. Human physiology hasn't taken grocery stores and fast food joints into account yet lol.

I sometimes render grass fed beef fat and add it to my jerky to make pemmican. Doesn't taste as good as straight jerky but it's a proven trail food, I also make hard tack to take with me. It adds that "grrr… I am Tim of the woods" thing, also I find the pemmican helps me stay warm.

Nutritionist's opinion over here:
http://thru-hiker.com/articles/pack_light_eat_right.php

At the bottom of this spreadsheet you can click on what you are interested in(breakfast, dinner, snacks…ect.) The Ultimate Backpackers Food Guide

Check the different options at the bottom of this spreadsheet also Caloric Ratios

Breakdown — A week of food

Food & Nutrition..Sample Daily Menu

enter in the food you to know the calories and nutrition on CalorieKing

13 posts none commenting that the OP should have posted in Food Hydration and Nutrition.
A BPL record.