Eating out on the trail doesn't have to mean that we lose out on the tasty meals and what drives us to trek on that extra mile. We are planning on releasing an entire trail and camping cooking video series, but for now, I figured I would share with you what fuels me and what I choose to eat on the trails.

I don't know about you, but I am definitely food motivated! It can be Monday morning and you invite me out for a steak dinner for Friday night and I will be working hard that week because I am fueled by food!
Eating out on the trail doesn't have to mean that we lose out on the tasty meals and what drives us to trek on that extra mile. We are planning on releasing an entire trail and camping cooking video series, but for now, I figured I would share with you what fuels me and what I choose to eat on the trails.

Breakfast: Simplicity is key here. Tearing down camp already takes long enough, why add a 30 minute meal when you're trying to beat the heat on the trails? I suggest meals like cup of noodle (yes it still tastes great for breakfast!), Mountain House biscuits and gravy, instant oatmeal packets, or instant hash browns. A cup of coffee is always on the menu...I have tried several different kinds of instant single serve coffee packets and while they are pricey, the Starbucks ones are the only decent ones.

Lunch: By now I have probably trekked for a few hours. I am sweaty, slightly beat from the sun, and have been thinking about food for miles! Similar to breakfast, I like to keep lunch simple. I really don't want to empty my pack to get out my stove and such. So for me, lunch is simple and packed with a main course, snack, and electrolytes.

My recent go-to for lunch has been two Kind Bars with strawberry jelly and Nutella. I have found that this meal is easy to prepare, tastes amazing and is packed with about 500 calories. Other great options would be tuna with mustard/relish (small packets) on a tortilla, peanut butter and honey on a tortilla, For my side snack I usually eat fruit snacks. I am a kid at heart so it's not uncommon to find me with some shark gummies, Gushers, or Fruit Roll-ups! There have been times that I have found that for day one on the trail while I haven't been away from my car too long, baby carrots, grapes, or even an apple makes for a great snack. I always add some electrolyte powder, tablets, or syrup to my water for lunch to help replenish what I have lost and to get me to my next goal. Keep lunch simple so you don't linger too long.

Dinner: Ah yeeeeauh! The meal I have been dreaming about all day long. Here is the meal that I put the most amount of thought and time into. I earned it and so did you! I am a big fan of most of the Mountain House meals and the pad thai made by Backpackers Pantry. I don't mind getting my stove out and cooking my meal for 20 minutes here. If you don't want to go the dehydrated meals route (they can be expensive), here are some other great trail dinners I recommend. Ramen noodles and add beef jerky for an amazing steak ramen, summer sausage (you can keep this un-refrigerated) with pasta and red sauce, instant rice, instant noodles (Knoor sidekicks are amazing), instant stuffing and instant mashed potatoes. I usually add a tortilla to all my dinners for some extra carbs and calories.

I have found that if I don't eat enough to dinner to put a dent into what I burned that day, the next morning is more rough than it should be. It's totally cool and a-ok to go to sleep feeling like you could have done without that last s'more. You earned it.

Want to be the hero of the trail? Bring hot sauce. After having spent many weeks out on the trail, I found that hot sauce was that commodity that everyone wanted! Be a hero. Be a trail legend. Bring the hot sauce.

Can I have Salmon, steak, burgers, chicken fajita burritos, ravioli, and fresh vegetables?! Is it possible?! You bet. Giving a major shout-out to our camp chef, Josh, who has made some of the most epic meals happen in the backcountry. If you sign up with an adventure with us, and are lucky enough to have him along, you're in for a real treat!

Have fun out there my fellow food motivated friends,
- Chris Duarte