Freeze Dried serving sizes

imported
#1

I purchased several dozen different packets of freeze dried food items and was wondering if these serving sizes are realistic after a long day of hiking. For instance several packages claim to have 2 servings @ 1 ¼ or 1 ½ cups per serving (between 290-400 calories per serving). That seems a little inadequate after a day of hiking but I also wonder if the entire 3 cups for a meal would be too much. Does anyone have any guidance in this area. I guess I could open some of them up and start eating them now to experiment.

I’ve got the same question with desserts that I ordered (I really shouldn’t have ordered them when I was hungry and I got carried away). Food planning is one area I’m not too enthusiastic about, fortunately I only have to do it for a month.

Jim Quinlan

#2

Jim, an 600-800 calorie meal supplemented with snacks sounds about right in the grand scheme of things as I find myself content with consuming 3000-4000 calories a day. Yeah, at times, I was burning more, but I definately played catch-up in town. I think you may find it hard to finish your bigger (i.e. 800 cal.) meals at first, but once you get the hiker hunger, no problem and you can look to maybe even supplementing calories to them by the use of parkay and other oils and butter. I did not use freeze dried, though am familiar with various makes (what variety are you using: mountain house, Alpine Aire, Richmoor?) I think you should eat a whole package per hiker. 2 servings usually is easily consumed by 1. Go by the calories.

Sweeper

#3

Thanks for good advice Sweeper. I’m using a combination of all brands of freeze dried foods.

Based on what you said, I’ll make up smaller initial servings for my first days from my bulk freeze dried food then use the two serving packets into the hike. I do plan on using either Parkay or Olive oil to supplement calories/fat in the meals.

Jim Quinlan

#4

We ate Mountain House for most of our meals (serving for 2 each). But we still had to supplement calories/fat.

Comer & Jean

#5

My meal planning is based on 2 servings of anything per meal. Sweeper is absolutely correct that once ‘hiker hunger’ hits ANYTHING looks good!
If you think about it, most people eat 1500-2000 cals per day so double that is 3000-4000 cals, so JUST EAT 2 OF EVERYTHING!

Scamp

Scamp

#6

I have been on the AT since January 29 and the hungers have not hit yet but I expect that they will soon. So far I have been happy with 1 person serving size of the Mountain House. I alternate with assorted MREs as well. No doubt when hiker hunger hits me I will wish for the 2 person size, but until then I am a happy camper/hiker…Ramblingjohn

John Everett

#7

If you haven’t got ‘hiker hunger’ by now, then you are an exception to my experience.
A cold air mass is expected next week.
Be prepared.

Scamp

#8

Dear Jim,

With respect to freeze dried meals which purportedly serve two people, I believe that within a very short time, you will easily be eating two full packages, or four servings, at one sitting. Its inevitable. You will fairly wolf them down, and still want for more.

Sincerely–Paul English.

Paul English