How Much Food Should You Take Backpacking?

By Alice Nichols

When it comes to backpacking, there are many important things to consider and one of them is your food supply. Eating the right food while backpacking is essential for a successful and enjoyable trip.

Knowing how much food you should take is important and can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you decide how much food you should take backpacking.

Calculate Your Calories

The first step in determining how much food you should take on your hiking trip is to calculate your calorie needs. Your calorie needs will depend on the length of your trip as well as the intensity of the activity level. Generally, an average adult needs about 2,000 calories per day for moderate activity levels, but this may vary depending on individual activity levels and body type.

Plan Meals Ahead Of Time

Once you know your daily caloric requirements, it’s time to start planning meals ahead of time. This will help you make sure that you have enough food for your entire trip and that you have a variety of healthy options available.

Start by making a list of what types of foods you want to take with you and create a meal plan based on these foods. You can also plan out snacks between meals or have energy bars or trail mix available as an easy snack option.

Choose Wisely

When it comes to selecting what type of food to pack for your trip, opt for lightweight items that are high in calories and nutrients such as dried fruits, nuts, protein bars, jerky, granola bars, etc. It’s also important to bring plenty of water with you as well as electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade. These will help keep your energy up during long days spent hiking.

Pack Smart

It’s important to remember that when packing food for a backpacking trip that it should be lightweight yet still provide enough nutrition for the duration of your trip. Choose foods that are high in protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats so that they will keep you energized throughout the day. Also make sure that all containers are tightly sealed so they won’t leak or spoil during transport.

Conclusion

It’s important to plan ahead when it comes to deciding how much food to take on a backpacking trip. By calculating your caloric needs and planning out meals ahead of time, you can ensure that you have enough nutritious options available throughout the duration of your journey. Choose wisely when selecting foods – opt for lightweight items high in calories and nutrients – and make sure all containers are tightly sealed before packing them away.

How Much Food Should You Take Backpacking?

The amount of food needed for a backpacking trip depends on the length of the journey and individual activity levels; however, generally an average adult needs about 2,000 calories per day plus snacks between meals or energy bars/trail mix available at all times. When selecting what type of foods to bring along opt for lightweight items high in calories and nutrients such as dried fruits, nuts, protein bars/jerky/granola bars etc., plus plenty of water/electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade.