I am going out for a 2 week backpacking trip later in June and wanted to tap into the collective creativity for ideas of no cook breakfasts. Thank you ahead of time for your suggestions, thoughts and ideas.
GMoney
Ideas for breakfast
system
#2
chewy granola bars (caribou coffee & trail mix bars are good) and Little Debbie’s honey buns are quick and easy breakfast foods. So quick and easy, in fact, that I usually ate them after I had packed up and left camp. Just throw a few different things in your pocket, and You’re good to go until lunch/second breakfast. [some of those jumbo honey buns you see at the gas station have 500-600 calories!]
If eating on the go doesn’t appeal to you, or you have had bad experiences walking while chewing gum, I ask you: “What you know about oats, son?” (one of the dudes I hiked with [what’s up caps!?] would resupply with a big bag of plain instant oats and a box of raisins, which he would mix with water in a peanut butter jar and eat cold. He thrived off the stuff.) Oatmeal packets will hold (cold) water long enough for you to eat right out of them, also.
My general rule of thumb is to stick to foods that are light, yet palatable [i.e. you would actually eat them off trail] because the inevitable dehydration involved in backpacking can make it real hard to choke down something dry and heavy like a cliff bar first thing in the morning.
Dethmarch
system
#3
Eat PopTarts atfer packing up and while walking. Lots of calories and you get a fast start to hike in the cool part of the day.
Marcia
system
#4
On my section hike, my favorite food for breakfast was mini-bagels with honey on them. Those were awesome! If you don’t want an entire bottle of honey, you can get individual packets of it. I know Trader Joe’s sells individual tubes of honey, and different places online sell individual packets. Some stores might as well…haven’t looked.
Another good one is ramen noodles with brown sugar/cinnamon and dried fruit (raisins or cranberry’s). you don’t need to prepare the ramen noodles with hot water. Just soak them in cold water in a ziploc, drain the water when soft, and add sugar and cinnamon. That is another good one! Some people don’t even soften ramen noodles at all…just eat them right out of the bag. nice and crunchy!
jeff
system
#5
I’ve gotten into one or two carnation instant breakfast packets mixed with water and (if you want) some dehydrated milk. They are easy, taste, good and a nice source of calcium and protein.
Mat & Kalyn MacDonald
system
#7
I always prepare a few boiled eggs and eat these in the morning. However, this may not work out so well if the weather is hot.
Odwalla bars are good. So are trail mixes with lots of big raisins, dried cranberries, cracklin oat bran cereal, peanuts, and (of course) chocolate pieces!
Backtrack
system
#8
I found dry cereals - pre portioned in ziplocks with dry milk - easy and filling. My favorite was Grape Nut Trail Mix Crunch- great taste & did not crush -I also preferred NIDO dry whole milk - better taste and more calories (usually found in the Hispanic Food section) Just add a bit of water, mix and done. Other cereals did well & the variety was good on my thru- mini wheats, granolas, etc. Also mixed in dried fruit.
Be Safe
Evil Eye
system
#9
Don’t just eat anything because it has alot of calories. If you eat junk, you will feel like junk.
Forget about Little Debbie’s honey buns, jumbo honey buns you get at gas stations and venting machines that have 500-600 calories, or PopTarts.
Be smart, eat smart. Look at the Nutritional labels, look for carbs, proteins and some fat. Fat is actually a nutrient that we need. Evil Eye had some good suggestions. Try a bag of bagels with peanut butter, bagels usually come 6 to a bag. Very heathly with the peanut butter. There are alot of good dry cereal that is healthy, add some powder milk “Mr. Milkman” a power bar and you are good to go.
Bilko
system
#10
Muesli is my favorite cold breakfast (I’ve always hated cooked cereal). I especially like the Bob’s Red Mill brand. I put a serving in a sandwich bag with about 1/4 c dried milk and a little freeze-dried fruit from the “Just Tomatoes” folks. Or, in season, freshly picked huckleberries! Add water, mix, eat out of bag with spoon. Lick spoon off at end of meal, pop sandwich bag in garbage ziplock, and I’m ready to go.
grannyhiker
system
#11
Try bagels and cream cheese and a hard boiled egg. A man who was a hiker until he wrecked his knee at 75 did an experiment on hard boiled eggs. The upshot is, they do not spoil when exposed to hot weather, and will keep for a week or more. I found instant oatmeal not to be very sustaining. My body felt like it was running out of gas about 10 am.
Anne
system
#12
In 2005, two days after i had hiked out of Hot Springs I awoke and forgot I had packed out 3 16 ounces of beer. I enjoyed the day and only went about 5 miles, early… I set up camp about 10 AM and CRACKED … ! (Ahh) those 3 beers 
Delicious !!!
:cheers
Ktr
system
#13
“Forget about Little Debbie’s honey buns, jumbo honey buns you get at gas stations and venting machines that have 500-600 calories, or PopTarts.”
:nerd :lol
dethmarch
system
#14
The jumbo honey buns have another advantage.they NEVER expire. Walk into a gas station and look at the date…2011. Just like twinkies.
gentjack
system
#15
Don’t eat too many peanut products. Peanuts have many toxins. They will keep you going for awhile but may turn on you later. Try almond butter and other products
Bilko is right. If you eat Junk you will feel bad. One suggestion that I do ( not many other like it ) but Raw spinach is a good source of Iron and minerals this is a good supplement to all the other stuff we eat. Like your mom says “eat your veggies”. A small bag weighs nothing.
The better the food the easier the hike. I found out the hard way.
Cheers to all hiking this year. May your boots hold up and the sky clear!
TR
system
#16
My perennial breakfast is a power bar I make myself. Here’s the recipe. Check the nutritional profile and you’ll see why I love these things as a morning power-up.
Strategic
system
#17
Thank you so much for the great suggestions. I was looking for some ideas that went beyond poptarts you all provided that. Thank you!
g
GMoney
system
#18
Look in your grocery store in the bakery for shelf stable cream cheese by Rondele. They do it in 3 flavors and each pack is single serving. Veyr tasty on tortillas - which also carry well. Add in jam or PB and good to go.
Or do PB, honey and granola on tortillas.
sarbar