Food in other countries

Privet Irina,

Google Translate didn't do the best job, perhaps this is why no one has responded yet.

If you search the BPL archives you'll find lots of articles and postings concerning food quantities, menu planning, cooking methods, stove choice, etc. There is an entire forum dedicated to food and cooking with many active contributors. Some contributors have even published books on the subject!

18 oz of food per day per person doesn't seem like enough unless you forage, fish or hunt for food on the route. The smallest recommendation I've heard is 1.4 lbs (22.4 oz, 0.64 kg) per person per day of calorie-dense dry food (average 125 Cal/oz). I personally take 1.5 lbs, and even more on "gourmet" hikes. Long distance through-hikers often claim they need 2 lbs (32 oz, 0.91 kg) per person per day.

You sure eat a lot of groats, which in the US refer to hulled whole cereal grains. I believe most people on BPL pack a more varied assortment of foods, but this differs from person to person. I typically take noodles, rice and other grains besides groats, and more types of nuts and crackers.

I do agree about bringing lots of chocolate, though!

Hi Irena,

One thing I noticed this summer hiking with BPL hikers and traditional backpackers is the variety of food in the US, mostly processed. This summer for breakfast, some boil fresh eggs in a special plastic bag, some a dehydrated meal of "Chili Macaroni" (a military or school meal usually served at dinner) .

Most eat sugar coated oats that cook instantly after adding hot water. Coffee.

For dinner many eat canned tuna fish mixed with pasta (carbohydrate and protein) or other dehydrated meals they just add boiling water to cook for several minutes. Maybe with vegetables.

"…I am very interested in what and how to eat hikers…"

lol… just so you know, you just proclaimed yourself a cannibal.

I agree with the others, 18 ounces/day is not enough food. Over 2 weeks of heavy exercise, you would probably be dangerously calorie deficient. You should plan on at least 2 lb/day if you don't have back-out points. If you have points along your route where you can get back to civilization, you might want to look at around 1.5 lbs/day.

You just gave one days example diet, I hope you have some variety for other days. It would get tedious. The foods you are bringing look like a decent choice: calorie dense.

Добро пожаловать BPL!

~0.7-1.0 kg/Взрослый/Сутки

Завтрак:
– Крупа (Овёс посевной, Рис, Булгур) + Сухое молоко + Сливочное масло + Сухофрукты + Пряности (Мускатный орех + Корица)
– Полента
– Гранола
– Налистники http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/pancakes_thumb.jpg)
– Бейгл + Сливочный сыр
– Бекон (Моя любимая!)

Ланч:
– Арахисовая паста/Миндаль/Кешью/Nutella
– Тортилья/Пита/Наан (блюдо)
– Врап
– Батончик гранолы
– Салями
– "Trail Mix" Гранола
– Сыр
– Джерки

ужин:
– Суп
– Бобы
– Макаронные изделия
– Полента
– Картофельное пюре

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=en&tl=ru&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.onepanwonders.com%2F

:)

Elliot, what was that lunch, supermarket food or freeze dried/dehydrated?

Hambugero! Unsay magsulti sa Ruski?

Irina, I'm going to agree with the others and say that doesn't seem like enough food, but disagree and say it seems you have decent variety–cheese, jerky, dried fruit, chocolate, nut paste, seeds–if it were me I would add more protein (more meat to add to soup, for example, or dehydrated eggs to be scrambled), and substitute some flatbread or other carbs for some of the groats. I would also add some fresh fruit, just a couple pieces for a treat when you're sick of eating dried food. Apples keep well.

Sure it doesn't seem like enough food to us, but last I checked a fat Russian is a fraction the weight of a skinny American. I had the same thoughts as I was travelling through Russia. I perpetually felt "this is not enough food" even after I finished a relatively large meal. So, I'd imagine that it is easily possible to make do on that little food after you have trained your mind and body to accept it.