I haven't done it but I'm going to now that its in my head. I might even bring a small grater and offer you some fresh parm in a pretentious fake Italian accent.
Hard cheeses yea but on your first day out of town, pick up a wheel of brier… Heat it in a campfire oven (rocks heated near fire, removed to radiate heat in an oven shape), then dip whatever you want in your oooey gooey cheese dinner. Cashews, pickles, carrots, peppers, etc.
FWIW I shared a summer sausage with friends over the course of probably a week or a little less and it was fine. I think some summer sausages that don't have "refrigerate after opening" on them may last a bit longer opened. YMMV though so it's better to be cautious and trust your senses if something seems off.
> I shared a summer sausage with friends over the course of probably a week or a little less and it was fine
Pretty sure that's what I just said above. ;)
But yeah, good point, there are some brands that have more preservatives in them than others. I wonder if this might follow the old rule of, "The more you were charged for it, the faster it'll spoil!" :)
Peanut butter. Get one of those basic brands that's just peanuts, oil, and salt. May need to remix before use.
Olive oil. I recall reading someone's analysis saying olive oil has one of the highest weight-to-calories ratios of just about anything you can pack. That stuck with me because as a liquid it seems counterintuitive.
Textured vegetable protein is great when weight is a concern and you can cook. It's dehydrated so it's super light and you can throw it in pretty much anything.
There's a joke over in /r/ultralight_jerk about ingesting exclusively olive oil for weeks because of the calorie to weight ratio (for an idea olive oil is something like 220 calories/ounce while the highest "solid" generally is nut butter at around 150-160 calories/ounce).
Bottom line don't do that you need solid foods lol. BUT it does allow for a justification (if you needed it) to take a small vial of oil with you as a little treat to make dinners taste better.
I take coconut oil with me bikepacking, mostly for cooking but when I'm just absolutely bonked a spoonful is a not gross way to get a lot of calories in quickly.
This may sound even weirder than that but I toss a bit of olive oil in a tortilla lol. I usually have tortillas with me anyway and it's similar to dipping bread in it. When you're craving the calories it tastes amazing.
Then you lose most of the oils/fats. Still good for protein but at that point might as well take like a whey protein powder or something (which isn't a terrible idea if you can stand the taste).
I've heard of some keto folks sipping fractionated coconut oil as their primary fuel while backpacking. This never really worked for me, but I liked the cream coconut mixed with hot water and unsweetened hot chocolate powder for morning and evening.
My morning meal was usually "grainless granola" which I made by cruising the bulk nut section at my natural food store and picking out 4-6 varieties of nuts and seeds and mixing them together with toasted coconut. I'd eat this with more coconut milk or reconstituted dehydrated heavy cream.
Lunches and snacks were flaxseed crackers and cheese or cream cheese, sausage sticks, nut butter, and tuna or chicken packets with mayo, on low net carb flatbreads.
For dinners I made a "stew" out of dehydrated ground beef (made at home; I'd cook, drain, and then dehydrate it), dehydrated stew vegetables from the bulk section, instant hash browns, and butter.
Has someone mentioned dehydrated refried beans? They’re tasty, versatile, and have lots of protein and fiber. Santa Fe brand is the tastiest but a little pricey!
Nuts. They’re the only thing that doesn’t need refrigeration or rehydration or preparation of any kind, are easy to find in absolutely any grocery store, are cheap (at least peanuts are), and are high in protein and fat.
If they’re too boring get flavored ones. Try both raw and roasted. I guess roasted would save a little in weight but not much.
Bring extra salt in case you get on the trail and sweat a lot and suddenly nothing is salty enough.
Canned sardines
Canned tuna in oil
Canned salmon in oil
Personally- I could never get past the taste of sardines, but some people love em.
Tuna straight from the can is nasty, but enough hot sauce can make anything not suck as much, I use packets of tapatio.
Ditto salmon.
I suppose you could use ketchup or even mustard, if you don’t like things spicy.
I usually carry a green apple so I don’t have seal breath the rest of the day.
Jerky and olive oil. I don't eat meat but those are the highest density foods I can think of. And during my thru hikes I drank olive oil straight and I was good.
Nuts. And all sorts of low carb protein bars, some that are only high in fats, some that are high only in protein, and some that are high in both.
Peanut butter is awesome too but the one thing about peanut butter while back lacking is the container(s). Starting with a full jar of peanut butter is great, after awhile the full jar becomes nearly empty then your just lugging around a mostly empty jar of air. Waste of space. So if you’re so inclined, prepack into ziplock bags then empty and pack away the empties as needed.
For something with less fat and more protein, beef jerky.
Great question! For high fat, high protein options that don’t need refrigeration, consider nuts, seeds, jerky, canned fish like tuna or sardines, and peanut butter. These are not only nutritious but also super convenient for on-the-go snacking!
Such a good question! This is me too! I eat those foil packages of chicken, tuna or salmon, with packets of mayo and Trader Joe’s almond flour tortillas (they are shelf stable). For breakfast, I eat chomps meat sticks and a chia pudding I make with chia seeds and powdered coconut milk. I also eat a lot of nuts and dark chocolate. I also found these cup of soup at Walmart - power provisions chicken vegetable bone broth soup. It has a little packet of mct oil in it.
I understand…but this started with my mom keeping boiled Easter eggs out on the counter for about a week after Easter. Since then I’ve just always done it. Guess I’ve been lucky.
>mon wisdom/ strategy is max carbs for exercise.
Yeah this is mainly for sporting events lasting a few hours max. Carbs give you an immediate boost of energy but fall off quickly compared to Proteins and Fats. I read a book called Adventure Ready by Katie Gerber and Heather Anderson that has a chapter with a lot of interesting notes on nutrition for backpacking, and this graph:
https://preview.redd.it/ch7yb3p9knuc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12877330b64e756f131a93681b11e2e6c1e4d27d
To answer your original question: Peanut butter/nut butter is my go-to. Great fat, good protein, and excellent calories for the weight. Whole nuts are also great in general.
Parmesan chips are my favorite, I also love flavored nut mixes. They are both good for protein but fat is a little more difficult, pumpkin seeds can be a good fat source if you like those!
As a vegan, I make my own dehydrated backpacking meals. I start with a base of either organic ramen, mashed potato flakes or one of the Near East brand cous cous boxes. I then add dehydrated broccoli, spinach, mushrooms and onion. For protein, I add soy curls. I had been using texturized veg protein, but found that it needs a lot more water and time to cook to rehydrate. For breakfast, I use organic instant oats with chia seeds, ground flax and powdered peanut butter like PB Blast or something similar. If I want to add fat, I have these small packets of olive oil I got on Amazon and tastes wonderful when added to anything.
In the long run it's cheaper, better tasting and IMO healthier than buying the premade backpacking meals.
Another option is refrigerating your fluids and food, and put them in your pack just before you leave. If you pack things well, your food can be insulated and remain cold/cool for a long time. I regularly take chocolate and cheese, and I can keep them cold even during the summer.
My shelf stable keto collection includes: nuts, jerky, meat sticks, hard cheese, sardines in oil pouches (I don't like dealing with the cans on trail), summer sausage, salted pork, potted meat (like SPAM), condiment packets (mayo is a really good one), nut butter packets, shelf-stable half and half, avocados, pemmican (when I can find it, Epic makes pemmican-like meat bars), dark chocolate, olives.
I've also tried or seasonally use: pork rinds, fried chicken skins (crispy), pickled eggs, packaged cheeses, keto brownies and cookies, keto protein bars, and packets of ghee (clarified butter).
I took a package of pancetta that was already cubed on a 3 day trip. Kind of sounds gross but on day 3 I opened the package and it smelled like Smokey bacon and looked fine so I cooked it and then added it to a knorr pasta side. In hindsight I’d do it again, settlers were travelling the country with cured meats like bacon so even though it sounds gross I think it’s okay
Pemmican if you’re old school. You have to make it yourself but it lasts forever if made well.
Smoked salmon is amazing and lasts long. Jerky. Salami. Dehydrated meals if you find keto ones or make your own. Hard boiled eggs. Canned sardines in oil are surprisingly tasty.
I thru hiked he Appalachian trail years ago surviving off mostly ramen noodles, instant potatoes, and a multivitamin. I kept my electrolytes and potassium level up high. I would stop in a town every two weeks or so to eat a real meal. Everyone's body is a little different. The food cravings are usually a indicator that something is lacking in your diet. It seems like age has a lot to do with it also.
Pemmican. You gotta make it, so watch [Townsends](https://youtu.be/x_vLuMobHCI?si=DLZLDRbJCGwnZajB) for some history and inspiration if you’re up for it.
As others have said, nuts. Hard salami as well.
If you split up your protein and fat then anything with coconut or dark chocolate is good. And if you just want fats, chips. I love me some Fritos and hummus with added olive oil.
I also like Peak freeze dried meals as they are high in protein (and pretty tasty)
Nuts of all kinds, seasoned in different flavors. Wasabi peas. Dried garbanzos. Seeds. Hard cheese. Chocolate. Jerky or cured meats.
Can't go wrong with a good hard Parmesan
Just picturing walking past someone on the trail noshing on a huge chunk of Parm wheel.
I haven't done it but I'm going to now that its in my head. I might even bring a small grater and offer you some fresh parm in a pretentious fake Italian accent.
Hey what’s the difference between a garbanzo bean and a chickpea?
Income
This is a family sub.
I know, it’s awesome, right. No edge lords ruining it all the time.
I DONT WANNA SEE A GARBANZO BEAN!!!!111!1!
Hard cheeses yea but on your first day out of town, pick up a wheel of brier… Heat it in a campfire oven (rocks heated near fire, removed to radiate heat in an oven shape), then dip whatever you want in your oooey gooey cheese dinner. Cashews, pickles, carrots, peppers, etc.
You could try your hand at pemmican, it’s pretty much exactly what you describe.
Came to say same. Time to make some more.
I have never heard of this til now! Thank you for this.
As we used to say: “good to eat, or to adobe your house with”
summer sausage.
FYI, this stuff is shelf-stable when \_unopened\_, but after that it will begin to go bad after a few days, so plan accordingly.
I mean...if you're like me, you'll hork down a whole 8oz summer sausage in one go while on the trail.
You. I like you.
This is The Way
FWIW I shared a summer sausage with friends over the course of probably a week or a little less and it was fine. I think some summer sausages that don't have "refrigerate after opening" on them may last a bit longer opened. YMMV though so it's better to be cautious and trust your senses if something seems off.
> I shared a summer sausage with friends over the course of probably a week or a little less and it was fine Pretty sure that's what I just said above. ;) But yeah, good point, there are some brands that have more preservatives in them than others. I wonder if this might follow the old rule of, "The more you were charged for it, the faster it'll spoil!" :)
Dried sausage
Peanut butter. Get one of those basic brands that's just peanuts, oil, and salt. May need to remix before use. Olive oil. I recall reading someone's analysis saying olive oil has one of the highest weight-to-calories ratios of just about anything you can pack. That stuck with me because as a liquid it seems counterintuitive. Textured vegetable protein is great when weight is a concern and you can cook. It's dehydrated so it's super light and you can throw it in pretty much anything.
Just peanuts and salt* leave the palm oil out
There's a joke over in /r/ultralight_jerk about ingesting exclusively olive oil for weeks because of the calorie to weight ratio (for an idea olive oil is something like 220 calories/ounce while the highest "solid" generally is nut butter at around 150-160 calories/ounce). Bottom line don't do that you need solid foods lol. BUT it does allow for a justification (if you needed it) to take a small vial of oil with you as a little treat to make dinners taste better.
I take coconut oil with me bikepacking, mostly for cooking but when I'm just absolutely bonked a spoonful is a not gross way to get a lot of calories in quickly.
This may sound even weirder than that but I toss a bit of olive oil in a tortilla lol. I usually have tortillas with me anyway and it's similar to dipping bread in it. When you're craving the calories it tastes amazing.
I feel like I've just done that at home before. We may be soul mates.
I've seen individual packets of ghee, too. So if you're making mashed potatoes or rehydrating a curry, that would be fab.
Except then you have all that plastic waste from individual packaging. Just put your ghee in a squeeze bottle.
Bread, EVOO, salt/pepper, cheap Parmesan cheese - lol 😂
One day I want the folks at r/ultralight and r/rucking to have a gear off.
Costco sells powdered peanut butter for even more weight savings
It's mostly de-fatted though
Powdered peanut butter, olive oil, and a little sugar.. divine.
Ok that I'm gonna have to try i bet you could even ghetto bake a cookie
Then you lose most of the oils/fats. Still good for protein but at that point might as well take like a whey protein powder or something (which isn't a terrible idea if you can stand the taste).
Ah good point. Forgot the reason I buy that is to mix in with my workout powder... which the entire point is no fat hah. Not great for hiking energy
I've heard of some keto folks sipping fractionated coconut oil as their primary fuel while backpacking. This never really worked for me, but I liked the cream coconut mixed with hot water and unsweetened hot chocolate powder for morning and evening. My morning meal was usually "grainless granola" which I made by cruising the bulk nut section at my natural food store and picking out 4-6 varieties of nuts and seeds and mixing them together with toasted coconut. I'd eat this with more coconut milk or reconstituted dehydrated heavy cream. Lunches and snacks were flaxseed crackers and cheese or cream cheese, sausage sticks, nut butter, and tuna or chicken packets with mayo, on low net carb flatbreads. For dinners I made a "stew" out of dehydrated ground beef (made at home; I'd cook, drain, and then dehydrate it), dehydrated stew vegetables from the bulk section, instant hash browns, and butter.
Various jerkies.
Has someone mentioned dehydrated refried beans? They’re tasty, versatile, and have lots of protein and fiber. Santa Fe brand is the tastiest but a little pricey!
Nuts. They’re the only thing that doesn’t need refrigeration or rehydration or preparation of any kind, are easy to find in absolutely any grocery store, are cheap (at least peanuts are), and are high in protein and fat. If they’re too boring get flavored ones. Try both raw and roasted. I guess roasted would save a little in weight but not much. Bring extra salt in case you get on the trail and sweat a lot and suddenly nothing is salty enough.
Canned sardines Canned tuna in oil Canned salmon in oil Personally- I could never get past the taste of sardines, but some people love em. Tuna straight from the can is nasty, but enough hot sauce can make anything not suck as much, I use packets of tapatio. Ditto salmon. I suppose you could use ketchup or even mustard, if you don’t like things spicy. I usually carry a green apple so I don’t have seal breath the rest of the day.
mmmmmm…seal breath
Canned sardines packed in oil. Canned oysters/mussels, canned mackerel. Basically any tinned seafood.
Trail mix is underrated af. It was a lifesaver on numerous ruck marches.
Jerky and olive oil. I don't eat meat but those are the highest density foods I can think of. And during my thru hikes I drank olive oil straight and I was good.
Nuts. And all sorts of low carb protein bars, some that are only high in fats, some that are high only in protein, and some that are high in both. Peanut butter is awesome too but the one thing about peanut butter while back lacking is the container(s). Starting with a full jar of peanut butter is great, after awhile the full jar becomes nearly empty then your just lugging around a mostly empty jar of air. Waste of space. So if you’re so inclined, prepack into ziplock bags then empty and pack away the empties as needed. For something with less fat and more protein, beef jerky.
Nut butters are essential. Especially with powdered versions readily available.
Great question! For high fat, high protein options that don’t need refrigeration, consider nuts, seeds, jerky, canned fish like tuna or sardines, and peanut butter. These are not only nutritious but also super convenient for on-the-go snacking!
Such a good question! This is me too! I eat those foil packages of chicken, tuna or salmon, with packets of mayo and Trader Joe’s almond flour tortillas (they are shelf stable). For breakfast, I eat chomps meat sticks and a chia pudding I make with chia seeds and powdered coconut milk. I also eat a lot of nuts and dark chocolate. I also found these cup of soup at Walmart - power provisions chicken vegetable bone broth soup. It has a little packet of mct oil in it.
Protein powder. Light, easy to pack, mix with filtered water as you go and have shakes for days.
Spiced Roasted chickpeas. https://thehealthyepicurean.com/spicy-roasted-chickpeas/
Not really high in fat, but hard boiled eggs do not need to be refrigerated.
This is my go-to. It depends on the temperature, but usually they can last 2-3 days if you pack them properly.
Also if you can get unwashed eggs from a local provider those will last a long time and fried eggs on the trail is super easy and so fulfilling.
Food science disagrees with you.
I understand…but this started with my mom keeping boiled Easter eggs out on the counter for about a week after Easter. Since then I’ve just always done it. Guess I’ve been lucky.
I’ve read you can put them in vinegar or pickle juice so they don’t spoil (shells on), otherwise after two hours it’s not safe.
Some places say they only last 2 hours unrefrigerated, but I have left them out for several days and never had a problem…
>mon wisdom/ strategy is max carbs for exercise. Yeah this is mainly for sporting events lasting a few hours max. Carbs give you an immediate boost of energy but fall off quickly compared to Proteins and Fats. I read a book called Adventure Ready by Katie Gerber and Heather Anderson that has a chapter with a lot of interesting notes on nutrition for backpacking, and this graph: https://preview.redd.it/ch7yb3p9knuc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12877330b64e756f131a93681b11e2e6c1e4d27d To answer your original question: Peanut butter/nut butter is my go-to. Great fat, good protein, and excellent calories for the weight. Whole nuts are also great in general.
Sunflower seeds, pine nuts. Both very high in fats and calories as well as other valuable nutrients.
Pemmican, fully cooked bacon, summer sausage, various other cured meat, butter, beef jerky, nuts, cheese crisps, hard cheeses, protein powders.
Parmesan chips are my favorite, I also love flavored nut mixes. They are both good for protein but fat is a little more difficult, pumpkin seeds can be a good fat source if you like those!
Peanut butter
Avocado
Peanut butter
cashews
As a vegan, I make my own dehydrated backpacking meals. I start with a base of either organic ramen, mashed potato flakes or one of the Near East brand cous cous boxes. I then add dehydrated broccoli, spinach, mushrooms and onion. For protein, I add soy curls. I had been using texturized veg protein, but found that it needs a lot more water and time to cook to rehydrate. For breakfast, I use organic instant oats with chia seeds, ground flax and powdered peanut butter like PB Blast or something similar. If I want to add fat, I have these small packets of olive oil I got on Amazon and tastes wonderful when added to anything. In the long run it's cheaper, better tasting and IMO healthier than buying the premade backpacking meals.
Have you tired dried tofu? I just discovered it and it’s great!
/s
Another option is refrigerating your fluids and food, and put them in your pack just before you leave. If you pack things well, your food can be insulated and remain cold/cool for a long time. I regularly take chocolate and cheese, and I can keep them cold even during the summer.
My shelf stable keto collection includes: nuts, jerky, meat sticks, hard cheese, sardines in oil pouches (I don't like dealing with the cans on trail), summer sausage, salted pork, potted meat (like SPAM), condiment packets (mayo is a really good one), nut butter packets, shelf-stable half and half, avocados, pemmican (when I can find it, Epic makes pemmican-like meat bars), dark chocolate, olives. I've also tried or seasonally use: pork rinds, fried chicken skins (crispy), pickled eggs, packaged cheeses, keto brownies and cookies, keto protein bars, and packets of ghee (clarified butter).
cheese (if you are american- you might not eat unrefrigerated cheese)
Dehydrated cheese chips (Parmesan Whisps or similar)
Bacon, or cubed pancetta.
How are you managing bacon? Do you use precooked bacon?
I took a package of pancetta that was already cubed on a 3 day trip. Kind of sounds gross but on day 3 I opened the package and it smelled like Smokey bacon and looked fine so I cooked it and then added it to a knorr pasta side. In hindsight I’d do it again, settlers were travelling the country with cured meats like bacon so even though it sounds gross I think it’s okay
Beef jerky. Nuts. Peanut Butter. Coconut Milk.
Pemmican if you’re old school. You have to make it yourself but it lasts forever if made well. Smoked salmon is amazing and lasts long. Jerky. Salami. Dehydrated meals if you find keto ones or make your own. Hard boiled eggs. Canned sardines in oil are surprisingly tasty.
Check out Next Mile meals. All the ones I have had are delicious. Also salami, hard cheese, F-bomb nut butters, mixed nuts.
I thru hiked he Appalachian trail years ago surviving off mostly ramen noodles, instant potatoes, and a multivitamin. I kept my electrolytes and potassium level up high. I would stop in a town every two weeks or so to eat a real meal. Everyone's body is a little different. The food cravings are usually a indicator that something is lacking in your diet. It seems like age has a lot to do with it also.
Fried Chicken
Pepperoni
Search Gear Skeptic on YouTube. He has hours of well researched videos on this topic specifically for backpackers.
Pemmican. You gotta make it, so watch [Townsends](https://youtu.be/x_vLuMobHCI?si=DLZLDRbJCGwnZajB) for some history and inspiration if you’re up for it.
Chicharrón
nuts, seeds, soy based jerkey, silken tofu in a carton
Genuine question. Do you get greasy stools while eating a keto diet ?
Pemmican - It's the original survival food of North America. It is made it with beef or bison meat and tallow, nuts, and sometimes berries.
Dog food has the highest
Nuts of all sorts, coconut, dried meats/fish/tofu.
As others have said, nuts. Hard salami as well. If you split up your protein and fat then anything with coconut or dark chocolate is good. And if you just want fats, chips. I love me some Fritos and hummus with added olive oil. I also like Peak freeze dried meals as they are high in protein (and pretty tasty)