Packing in the calories
Elk
Last year I had all of this in a Ziploc…. and one Ziploc just like it for every day on the hill. Still lost 10 or 12 pounds, none of which I really needed to lose. My wife says I looked like I had come in at 2nd place on Alone….
For those of you who are packing in some meaningful distance (under your own power), what do you take with you to prevent your hunt from turning into a starve-a-thon?? Sardines? Summer Sausage? Huge blocks of cheese?
I’m actually trying to kind of watch my cholesterol, but a guy’s got to eat to hunt.
Less simple sugars, more 'complex' carbs. Think granola and gorp.
I like complex carbs and protein. Biltong or homemade jerky, trail mixes and granola are staples.
That looks like a recipe for not being able to shit properly for a month.
Whey protein in a gallon ziplock. Bring a bottle you can shake it up with. 25 grams of whey protein every morning did the trick for my weight loss on sheep hunts (BMI of 21-22 my entire adult life) after I couldn't eat more than I burn.
But a couple things: You have a lot of fiber and simple sugars in that collection and not a ton of fat/protein. Also, your total calorie count is not that high. Switch your breakfast to Mountain House breakfast scramble and biscuits with gravy. Mix 1/2 and 1/2 so that one of each lasts two mornings. It tastes much better and is more balanced. Chase it with 25 grams of whey protein in 6 oz of water.
Your dinner is also low protein. Consider adding another 25 grams of whey protein and you need some beef jerky with lunch (hard to tell what the bags are in the top left - they look like chocolate).
Keep all the energy bars and make sure you eat them throughout the day.
You can add some olive oil to your dinner for calorie-dense food (120 calories per tbsp).
Consider changing your dinner to Next Mile meals which are higher in protein and fat and taste great. They are low calorie per package as the packages are small, so you need to add something to them like bread or corn nuts ( bring both, french baggettes in zip locks and 500 calorie bags of corn nuts or smashed Pringles). I add 500 calories directly into the bag and also chase it with something like a Cliff bar or beef jerky so that I'm eating at least 1500 calories for dinner.
Your body needs protein every day to make new skin/blood cells/immune proteins/muscle and organ repair/etc. These functions cannot halt for 1-2 weeks of a hunt.
If you don't get enough calories, you inefficiently burn your daily dietary protein for energy and your body will cannibalize your skeletal muscle for the protein it needs for the essential body functions listed above. Better to give it all the protein it needs I've found. I put on visible muscle mass to my legs every hunt and don't lose weight since I increased my protein intake to a minimum of 125 grams per day on mountain hunts.
And you need fat too. If not olive oil, bring Pringles and smash them into powder and pour them in your freeze dried meals - they're very calorie dense. Don't bring the original packages: take them out and pulverize them into a powder and bring the crumbs in gallon ziplock bags.
Also, you can get Bavarian Meats meat sticks at Costco. They have a good fat content and make a good substitute for beef jerky for your lunch. And they're good.
Dang, Ike — I’d say you should write a book, but I think you just did!
I think that was jerky, not chocolate; my brother is pretty much on top of blood sugar maintenance, because one of his kids is on a monitor… but I hear you on not enough protein… Breakfast was usually a double portion of Bob’s muesli with a scoop or two of protein shake added, but I was seriously considering taking a canister’s worth, just as you suggested. And maybe a jar of cashew butter. Olive oil seems a good bet, and I’ll look into those meals you mentioned.
Pringles, though… SMH. I hear you on the calorie density, though.
More suggestions on food that’s worth its weight are definitely welcome…
What Ike said, plus add some variety of nuts.
Yes, I agree on the nuts. I do wasabi ginger almonds and the chili roasted shelled pistachios that you can also get at Costco and they're a part of each lunch.
You should be able to take 1st place with all of that!
fruit loops, gummy bears, and a pop tart? wow! we are what we eat. i would be using my tap out button after eating that 'food'. ike made some good suggestions. there are numerous past threads on this topic here on bowsite, as well as elsewhere to include backpacking and mountaineering sites.
here is one of many links
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/any-new-ideas-for-backpacking-food-snacks.318316/
I started dehydrating my own food. Deli ham, lean burger, jerky, veggies, eggs, can cream of mushroom soup, mashed potatoes, are all part of my meal plan. For pasta I use Raman noodles. I bring powdered milk and powdered cheese for things like mac and cheese. My favorite snack is sliced dehydrated bananas. Also bring granola. I only go out for three to four days at a time, but the stuff has worked well for me. Much easier on my gut and exit hole than the store bought.
I tried the sugar diet like in the first post. After a half day I decided I rather starve. It was too much sugar for me, and I like sugar. My body just needed more.
"I think that was jerky, not chocolate"
You're not sure what was in your own feed bag?
Idyll Nailed it. But if you want to bring some calorie bombs for a base camp, fudge and nut butters. You can also buy nut butter in little packets - like your Gu, but nut butter. For what you are doing those options could be considered. Overall, Idyll nailed it.
Looks like a good pile of food for a trail race...but not sustainable for a week or two hunting trip. Listen to Ike, he crushed it.
What Idyl said.....but everyone has their own plan and preferences.
I like coconut. Instead of the other treats. Lots of calories per oz.
As I mentioned, some of the high-glucose options were my brother’s additions — he has a son who is diabetic (the not self-inflicted kind) — and so he is really good at spiking blood sugar when needed. But— worth noting — he’s usually on the hill for a few days at a time, then home eating Real Food ‘til the following weekend.
Pretty funny that a bunch of guys who are probably on Doc’s Orders to lose weight are ragging on me for my trail diet, though…. I think Ike is probably the only guy on the site who could give me a run for the money on being a Scrawny-lookin’ Old Dude… and I’m pretty sure I’ve got about 20 years on him….
Hear you on the nut-butters, Will. Last year I found honeyed nut butter packets at Whole Paycheck which were good…. Probably a Stealth means of catering to people who prefer to obtain their free-range, organic meat elsewhere, without offending the Vegans. I hate the amount of packaging, but it’s really nice to be able to knead the packet until the contents are Nut Butter instead of a serving of nut oil atop a dollop of sludge.
Good link, Jordan!
My buddy's personal trainer once told him the Snickers bar is the best health and energy bar you can get. I love me some snickers!
Adventure well meals are very clean. This code gives you a discount. Flattops 24
Yeah, pre-inflation Snickers were about 425 calories, IIRC, but I have been mostly trying to eliminate refined sugars, so the glucose-spiking nibbles were tapped only when I was bonking…. Caffeinated Gu is pretty nasty, but when you’re helping pack out an Elk and still a mile and a half from the trailhead, that stuff is Magic….
Fruit Loops, Gummy Bears and pedialyte.....................................you can't make this $#&% up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-)
Gummi Bears are almost pure Glucose, Rut. Pretty much instantly available.
Pedialyte, Gatorade, BioSteel, Liquid IV, Nuun… about the only difference is the calories per serving. Pick your favorite flavor….
Yes, sugar. Bump your blood sugar up quick, then suffer when it crashes. *Wrong*. Use *complex* carbs for a slow, steady fuel supply.
You don’t crash if you’re depleted and you stay out of the surplus range. These are NIBBLES throughout the day.
You guys are acting like I have recommended planning to survive on sugar for two weeks at a time. In the OP, I stated that this what I was working with LY and that it was not the best answer, so I asked about high-fat, high protein favorites — meat, cheese, oily fish, etc. I love sardines, but I don’t like having empty sardine tins anywhere near the camp…
Crashing is really dependent on you but mostly how active you are. If you just hiked a few thousand feet up over 3 miles, during that and for a bit after there is no crashing. If you mainlined sugar 15' prior, there is no crashing. If you mainlined the sugar 90' prior... you are going to feel the crash. Likewise if you are sitting there for 3 hours glassing, and you take in a bunch of sugar, you may crash. I'm guessing that's low odds though - as its likely you would glass a while then move to a new viewing point and keep going.
That said, odds are most of a hunting trek is pretty low intensity outside real steep grades or trying to get around some animals fast. And you are fueling for the here and now as well as tomorrow. That's where all the more "foolish" stuff comes in—be it freeze-dried or just super high-calorie options that others have talked about. heck, even bringing several PBJ's can be good - lots of calories, modest weight...
^LOL
And a great source of electrolytes ;)
I’ve got a serious surplus of calories under my skin.
I have made the diy bacon, peanut butter, honey, rolled in a flour tortilla. And vacuum sealed them individually. You can make them with as many calories each as you want to. They pack small but are not light. They keep me going for several days and I don’t have to make a decision on what I want to eat because its all I got with me. You will need some water to rinse before throwing in your diaphragm call though.
OP posts asking for advice then when he gets it he starts arguing with the other forum members and making excuses. Classy.
Instant mashed potatoes are light and can be added in to every mountain house I've ever had.
"These are NIBBLES throughout the day."
That's what gorp - trail mix - is for.
(for you kids - Good Ol' Raisins & Peanuts ;-) )
If you want more sweet, you can add dried fruit like apricots to it. Or go into the baking section of your grocery store and look for baking chocolate morsels. They have a higher melting point, so they won't turn into a mess on ya.
simple sugar has it's place, despite all the crying here, if you are going hard all day you aren't getting down and keeping down gorp or any really complex carb... I'd keep a fair bit of that sugar for rapid energy... I've had good results with powered butter added to everything possible, MCT oil, or MCT powder can also be added to a bunch of stuff, just be careful with the dose, explosive results may occur...
First real experience with a crash. Around mile 22 of a marathon and I was starting to feel it a little. An aid station had some Gu, so I grabbed one and gave it a try. Holy moly I felt good a few moments later. Went from running 6ish pace to 5:30... which lasted for exactly a mile, then the bottom completely fell out. The last 2 miles of that race were the worst I'd ever felt! So ya know what I did? The next race I pinned 6 of those Gu's to my shorts band. Figured I'd take one for each of the last 6 miles. I thought my logic was sound. I don't think I've ever puked and cramped up that much in my entire life. Knowing your own body and nutritional needs are pretty important.
Simple sugars certainly do have their place, but I agree that the highly processed sugary foods are not great and I would ditch the pop tarts and fruit loops. I take diabetic emergency glucose tablets along and if I'm feeling it on an ascent, I pop a couple grams and it's gone. But the problem is that its very temporary and you need to eat something right then (like a cliff bar) or it'll hit you again quick.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Complex carbs every 2-3 hours will generally keep you afloat, but timing has a lot to do with it. I try to do major ascents between 1-3 hours after big meals and I notice a difference. I'm also constantly watching the clock and will not go past 5 hours without eating something, even if I'm on a stalk - I always keep 2 extra Cliff bars in my pack because you can inhale 1-2 (260-520 calories) in under a minute. Two of them buys me 3 hours.
Tracking 100% with you, Ike! Definitely behooves a person to stay out of any major deficit….
I’m liking the recommendation for juicing the numbers on freeze-dried, especially the olive oil, since that’s pure calories… Instant mashed potatoes are good, too.
I eat a lot of trail mix, but tend to stick with savory instead of sweet. I drink constantly during the day, so not too concerned about salt, but that’s what the Lytes are good for. Just balancing things.
Think I’ll grab a canister of protein shake stuff; is there a good option for that at Costco?
Matt, research your protein powders carefully. They are not all created equal.
Also keep in mind that you can only absorb/process about 30 grams of protein at a time max.
Peanut butter, banana and honey on wheat bread got me through a pile of wrestling matches in high school and kick boxing bouts later in life after weigh ins. Not a very packable option though.
“Not a very packable option though.”
Bananas, not so much! What I like about peanut butter and honey sammidges is that they really can’t go bad, and the more smashed up they get, the quicker they are to eat.
Corn or flour tortillas are much easier to pack than bread. PBJ, PBH or even better is PB and bacon wrapped in a burrito sized tortilla are tasty and high in calories.
Tortillas. Can’t go wrong, Ese!
Oh, and the Missus says the nut-butter packets are on sale @ Whole Paycheck RN, but way more costly than a jar of the stuff, as you would expect. Honeyed versions were sold out.
I dunno about elsewhere, but hereabouts, non-factory eggs and organic milk are cheaper at WF than anywhere, but (one example) a $6 bottle of hot sauce at REI is nearly $10 @ WF…
Peanut butter, thick cut bacon, and honey on a bagel!! Vacuum sealed it packs decent…
If you’re concerned about ounces, banana chips are lightweight and calorie dense.
If you’re concerned about ounces, banana chips are lightweight and calorie dense.
Less worried about carrying ounces than losing pounds ;)
And yep, those are a good option.
Bacon keeps coming up… I may have to figure out how I can cook some of that up… Maybe at the trailhead…
The pre-cooked stuff works great… I don’t mind it cold but my buddy heats his on his stove for about a minute in aluminum foil…
Tortilla with peanut butter. Light, compact has good protein to carbs ratio. You could even add chocolate chips to it or jelly.
bghunter that's my snack, but it's peanut butter, honey on the tortilla... you can fit three in those cheap sandwich bags.
scentman
Never thought about the honey. The good part aboit honey from what I read recently too is it doesn't spike your blood sugar like other sugary snacks do
I was just checking labels…. Cashew butter tastes better to me than peanut butter, but Peanut is cheaper, same calories, and about twice the protein…
So there’s that….
All this talk about peanut butter, honey and bacon tortillas reminds me of the story we wrote for Extreme Elk magazine back in 2012.
I would be cautious using natural PB, costco brand tastes amazing, but if it isn't kept cold it gets really runny.
Mike,
If I ever go an elk hunt, I will pack one with bacon for good luck lol
Too bad that the alternative is Trans Fats…..
Got to admire a diet that won't tolerate a trans fat cheat for a couple of days a yr.
hey now!!!! whats wrong with poptarts and fruit loops?
You get to a certain point, and you’d rather stay away from the crap that you’re supposed to stay away from before somebody tells you that you have to…
I’m coming up on 4 years older than my grandfather ever got to be, and genetically, I can’t really expect statins to work for me, so yeah, I’m staying away from that crap. Tastes like crap anyway…
Everything in my daily bag except supper, which is peaks or mountain house. So how bad am I eating?
Looks like a typical American diet.
