How to Eat Well While Backpacking
Maintaining energy while backpacking is very important, but so is the nutrition of the foods you consume during your trip. Being cognizant of the nutrients in certain foods will do more than sustain you on your trip--they will provide the necessary chemical compounds to efficiently use the food and keep you trucking.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Consider all food groups. It may be handy to simply carry candy and macaroni and cheese, but this will not give you the proper nutrients. Fruits and vegetables can all be dried in a food dehydrator before you head out on a trip. Consider drying a large portion of different fruits and making a nutritious trail mix.
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Remember to eat proteins. Protein is found in many foods, but a large percentage is found in meats. Beef jerky has a large percentage of your daily value of protein. Other foods that will give you protein are whole grain breads, peanut butter and energy bars specifically designed for exercise. Make sure to get at least 15 to 10 g of protein per day.
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Eat complex sugars, not simple sugars. Foods like grains and oats take longer to break down to glucose--what the body absorbs and uses for energy--and therefore will give you sustained energy. Conversely, the sugars in candies will be absorbed immediately, giving you an energy burst followed quickly by an energy crash.
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Eat foods with fiber. Fruits are an excellent source of fiber, and dried fruits will retain this nutrient. Fiber helps with digestion and metabolism, and will keep your body processes functioning consistently.
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Maintain an antioxidant-rich diet. Blueberries are one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits found in nature. Antioxidants will help with overall health by fighting off "free radicals"--particles in your body that attack your cells and sap your energy. Maintain a fruit-heavy diet to keep these at bay.
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