Poha: raw rice for hikers
The Indian breakfast of champions! The convenience food that replaces bread! The rice you can eat raw! I stumbled across poha in my local Indian supermarket and I’m feeling inspired. Wikipedia describes it as “an indori rice which is flattened into flat light dry flakes… (which) can be eaten raw by immersing it in plain water or milk, with salt and sugar to taste, or lightly … Continue reading Poha: raw rice for hikers
Ultralight but still green veggies?
The first thing most hikers do when exiting the wilderness is eat the “real food” they’ve been dreaming of on the trail. Indeed, one of the toughest things about a multi-day hike for me is getting fresh, juicy, delicious produce into my meals. Said produce has to be tough enough to go in a backpack, not need refrigeration and have a great calorie-to-weight ratio so I can … Continue reading Ultralight but still green veggies?
Going ultralight with your camping meals? Go Japanese
Setting off on the trail again – can’t wait! The coming weeks will see me do a solo trek with my packraft around New Zealand’s central North Island for 20 days, then two long treks in the South Island. Keeping the food weight down is critical, and I’ve found a treasure trove of ingredients in my local Japanese supermarket today. Clockwise from left… Wasabi peas … Continue reading Going ultralight with your camping meals? Go Japanese
Recipe: Strawberry & basil fruit leather
Looking for a healthy snack for hiking and camping? Look no further. Fruit leather, aka fruit roll ups, are the tasty and nutritious snack you’ve been waiting for. This recipe is lip-smackingly delicious. And with the added flavor of the fresh basil, it’s sure to impress. Why buy hiking snacks when you can combine in-season fruit with herbs from the garden and prepare an … Continue reading Recipe: Strawberry & basil fruit leather
Feeling stressed? Want to live longer? Spend a night in the forest!
Time in nature gives you sharper thinking and more creative problem-solving, as well as boosting your immune system. Don’t leave the kids at home – researchers have shown they gain improved concentration and even better eyesight from time in parks. Still more research shows that connecting with nature is followed by lower levels of hypertension, less of the stress hormone cortisol, and reduced inflammation – … Continue reading Feeling stressed? Want to live longer? Spend a night in the forest!
The 33 items you need to stay safe and comfortable camping in the backcountry
Most camping checklists you’ll see are dauntingly enormous! It would be prohibitively expensive to prepare for your first outings. Not to mention how little fun it is to carry all that weight. What do you truly need to be comfortable and safe? The first step in an ultralight approach isn’t to buy new, technically advanced gear, but rather to take stock of all the duplication … Continue reading The 33 items you need to stay safe and comfortable camping in the backcountry
How to make oatmeal porridge in the backcountry
Think oatmeal is boring? Think again. Not only are oats lightweight, easy to transport and good for you, but you can turn them into a feast that everyone will love with these simple camp stove and campfire recipes. Think rich, delicious date and chia before a day of hiking. Or try tart and tasty cranberries and cherries in creamy oatmeal… Divine! Are kids in the … Continue reading How to make oatmeal porridge in the backcountry
How to make Ziploc bag omelet
Omelet doesn’t sound like a camping meal, but with this neat trick, it can be. Can eggs really be boiled in a Ziploc bag? They sure can. Watch me make a delicious omelet wrap to see how easy it is. Kids will love this. What’s more, I use only things you’d carry on a multi day hike: camping stove, Ziploc bag and spork. Fresh eggs … Continue reading How to make Ziploc bag omelet
Why we should copy NASA’s ideas on food
Space exploration has given us great ideas that we’ve re-used right here on earth, including, famously, the ball point pen. But it’s NASA’s ideas on food innovation that we ought to be copying. NASA scientists are faced with a particular challenge for feeding the astronauts on smaller spacecraft. The food needs to provide: …Enough calories as well as a carefully balanced diet, need no special storage … Continue reading Why we should copy NASA’s ideas on food
Why calorie density is vital for hiking and running
Whether you’re looking for the best food to eat before running, the best backpacking food, or simply food to take camping, you’ll be interested in the most calorie dense foods you can get your hands on. What is a calorie dense food? Food that is calorie dense has a lot of calories for its weight. Consider raisins and grapes. Raisins are dried grapes; you might … Continue reading Why calorie density is vital for hiking and running
Best Camping Meals 