One of the most essential skills that a hiker needs to learn is packing food. This is because unless the hiker knows how to prepare and pack food properly, he may end up with not enough food or not having any palatable food at all. However, in many cases, the desire to eat a lot battles with the desire to carry a lighter load while hiking. The key to this dilemma is to strike a balance. An experienced hiker usually knows how much food he can bring and what type of food he should bring for the hike. For a beginner, though, bringing certain foods is particularly recommended:
Canned Food
The main advantage of canned foods is that they are non-perishable. It can be taken almost anywhere without fear of spoilage. However, canned food can be heavy and bulky. It also can cause problems when packing the backpack. Packing only one or two cans of food for every day of traveling is ideal.
Trail Snacks
Every smart hiker brings snacks for the trip. The most popular trail snacks include nuts, dried fruits, and dried meat. Trail snacks aren’t a major part of the diet because they don’t have enough nutrients to sustain a person during the entire hike. But trail snacks are very useful because they can stave off hunger and are very easy to prepare.
Dehydrated Food
Dehydrated foods includes stews and soups. They are lightweight, affordable, and also quite nutritious. Try to bring at least two packets for every day of traveling. Be sure to bring enough water, as well, because it is necessary to prepare the dehydrated food.
In packing your food, remember never to pack anything that’s perishable. That means you can’t bring vegetables, most types of meat, dairy products, and bread during your hike.
Some good advice I don’t like cans myself because if I pack it in I have to pack it out.