Food - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1 
									What are some good, high caloric (but not big space takers) foods you can take in your pack for the trail?

									_Sebastian_
#2 
									Hi Sebastian,
 Will you be cooking or eating cold?  Do you want recommendations on full meal food items or snacks?  There are lots of variables so be more specific...
 

									_TicTac_
#3 
									I will be able to cook, but I can also eat cold. Snacks, full meals, anything.

I just want to know about good food to take whatever it may be, give me all you’ve got.

									_Sebastian_
#4 
									tree nuts of any kind, dried edamame (not super high calorically, but a sound source of protein), REAL DARK chocolate (i.e relatively unprocessed), and of course powders to hike (no pun intended) up your overall nutritional content-- namely hemp, chia, salba, maca, or a combo of these, which can be added to oatmeal, yogurt (grab when in town or travels well for the fist night's dessert out-of-town), or even granola. dried fruits that pack nutrition-- goji, lucuma, wheatberries, acai to name a few.

quite honestly, though these founds aren’t cheap, the offset is well worth it. as you previously mentioned, saving pack space is prized, and appropriately fueling your body even moreso. e-mail direct should you want mo’ beta. peace.

									_leslie_
#5 
									I resupply at regular grocery stores and my uncooked diet consists of rolled oats with tree nuts, coconut and dried fruit, tortillas, cheeses, peanut butter, fig newtons, instant mashed potatoes, wheat crackers, and as much fresh fruit and veg as I can carry.  If you eat meat you can add cured sausages and foil packages.

									_Garlic_
#6 
									Problem is, I just don't have enough space for all this food.

									_Sebastian_
#7 
									The foods highest in caloric density (calories per ounce) are pure fats like nuts, cheeses, oils--these have about 200 calories per ounce.  Carbohydrates--grains, fruit--are about 100 calories per ounce.

You can try nothing but nuts, peanut butter, cheese and olive oil for the short term and see how it goes. But you can’t (or shouldn’t) live on fat alone.

Most hikers pack about 130 to 140 calories per ounce on average. More fat than that can lead to health and digestive problems.

And many hikers just starting out also tend to carry way too much food. Very few people need more than two pounds per day for a three-season hike. 32 ounces at 140 cal/ounce is 4500 calories and that’s a lot to eat. Most end up with several extra meals at the end of the hike. My food bag is closer to 1.5 pounds per day and some carry less than that.

									_Garlic_
#8 
									PopTarts have lots of calories for their size but I didn't eat them until late in my first hike when I would have eaten ANYTHING!

									_GottaWalk_