Nutrition Q & A
What Foods are Best for Backpacking?
If you are going for a day hike, just about anything will do as long as it can fit in your backpack and you can keep perishables cold–sandwiches, fried chicken, salads, cheeses–or choose non-perishables.
If you will be backpacking for more than a day, you will need to plan more carefully. Perishables can still be packed for your first day, but shelf-stable items will be needed for the rest of your trip. Some relatively lightweight, easily packed items include:
- Dried soups and pasta
- Beef jerky and dried meats
- Dehydrated foods
- Dried fruit and nuts
- Powdered biscuit and pancake mix
- Peanut butter in plastic jars
- Concentrated juice boxes
- Cold and hot cereals
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