TIPS ON FOOD

Yucky looking water

When refilling water bottles a few years ago, we saw little critters swimming in the water bottle. Several refillings did not solve the problem. Then we tried pouring the water through a bandana and it worked as a fine filter.

Iodine-Flavored water

If you despise iodine-flavored water but prefer the convenience of iodine treatment over boiling or carrying a filter/pump, pour in a sugar-free flavoring of your choice about 30 minutes after treating the water. Crystal Light works well. I switched to the sugar- free last year after realizing I was carrying an extra 2 pounds every time I packed regular flavorings. Also, Potable Aqua now has a bottle of chemical magic which, when later added to iodine-treated water , gets rid of the discoloration and funny taste.

Heather Ross, director of Winged Boot Womens Backpacking, likes to add a slice of lime, lemon, or a vitamin C tablet to iodined water to kill the bad taste. She also suggests carrying a little baggie dried mint, saying "it really gives a lift and encourages constant hydration breaks."

Trail snacks

Zip locks full of jelly beans provide energy without fat content, survive weather extremes well, and provide a variety of flavors. If there is a color you don't like, don't pack it! I also pack separate zip locks of cashew nuts, licorice bites, and raisins.

A quick trail lunch

Healthy, tasty, quick, and easy: take a couple of tortillas, a small can of chunk tuna fish in water, and a couple of small restaurant packs of mayonnaise. Spread some Mayo on a tortilla, top it with a half can of tuna per tortilla, roll it up, and dine fine. The empty can and empty Mayo packet go back into the zip lock and into your trash bag, taking up little room and weighting nearly nothing.

 

PB&J and mac & cheese (no, not together!)

 

Candace Aulick from Walton, KY, always takes peanut butter/jelly sandwiches which she makes prior to the trip. She says they provide a great boost in energy and protein and keep for 3 or 4 days on the trail. Another of her favorites is a box of macaroni and cheese (in a zip-lock bag) to which she adds a can of tuna fish after the macaroni is cooked. Thanks Candace!

 

Trail mix and jerky

 

R. Selman likes jerky, granola bars, and trail mix for lunches, making his own combo of trail mix with peanuts, sunflower kernels, raisins, M&Ms, and dried cherries. He also makes his own jerky so it isn't as dry and hard as store bought stuff. He also carries the backpacker oven so he can make fresh jalapeno cornbread to go with his beans and rice, and also makes muffins and biscuits to go with gravy on cold mornings.

Black beans, rice, and meat

 

Gary of San Ramon suggests you get mahatma black beans and rice with seasoning packet, make the rice according to the directions, and then add your favorite meat (i. e. tuna, chunky chicken, spam, smoked sausage, pepperoni). It is very tasty after a hard day of hiking.