Monday, August 12, 2013

What (not) to Eat

Time to start thinking about the logistics. What am I going to EAT?


Generally, I try to eat high-protein, low-fat and relatively-low-carb. I did the Dukan Diet for a while, and certainly lost weight. However, the almost-no-carb aspect of the Dukan turned out not to work so well for distance running -- I’d flop out, cranky and dizzy, after only about 6 miles. So for the LT I’ll need to just eat. On the C2C, my sis and I ate every 2-4 hours. With intense hiking, that’s probably a refill every ~1,200 calories?

At first, I thought I wouldn’t take a stove – I’m notoriously rubbish at cooking (my pal LJF, correctly, says I’m the only person who can screw up pasta) and I don’t want to carry anything unnecessary. Here are foods I’m thinking of taking that don’t need cooking (or a can opener):

1)      Met-RX bars


2)      Cabot Extra Light Sharp Cheddar (well, any kind of cheese)


3)      Jerky



4)      Peanut Butter



5)      Tortillas (wheat)



6)      Various Nuts


7)      Some kind of flapjacky delight
ideally, freshly baked by an Enid Blytonesque farmer whose property I happen across


8)      For the peaks: special motivational sugar-treats from my dear mum: Kendal mint cake and Fruit&Nut (on the C2C, this got me back on my feet after a 20-odd mile day through deep snow).

Sorry America, when it comes to choc you are no superpower. 


Then a friend mentioned that, with a stove, I could make oatmeal. In a situation where I’m denying myself almost every other creature comfort – electricity, plumbing, marimba, drumkit, the Internet, laundry facilities – the difference between cosy oats and cold slimy PB-on-cheese could make all the difference.


Potential stove-foods:

1)      Instant Oatmeal



2)      Ramen

already feeling pretty bored just looking at this.


3)      Help me out, internet pals. That’s all I got. [comment below, email suggestions using the "contact" form to the right, or direct to portablepercussionist@gmail.com].

6 comments:

  1. No help at all here except to say that as a yank now living in the UK, you're spot on re the chocolate!

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  2. How about some buffalo? I guess the hot dogs are out without a camp stove--unless you like 'em uncooked.

    http://www.tankabar.com/cgi-bin/nanf/public/main.cvw

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  3. I'll consult my vegetarian backpacking dad!

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  4. Someone recommended Ramen+peanut butter+raisins for a kind of hot Thai-like trail dish. Thought I'd pass that on.

    In normal life, I generally buy food based on [maximal protein-and-vitamins /per calorie]/ per dollar. Eggs, veg, skim dairy, poultry, tofu and fish. Worthy snore.

    For the LT, it looks like that equation becomes [maximal calories/per gram]/per dollar. PB, cheese, choc, Kendal Mint Cake... it's weird to think that I will likely need to get 6,000+ porta-calories into my face each day.

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  5. FYI, my father responded in a typically antisocial fashion:

    "Hey Dan,
    Don't think you meant for me to reply to her on-line... but if you want to relay....

    1. Careful with too many clever food products... may (probably will) have unintended results.
    2. Cheese is definitely good.
    3. A quart or two of powdered lemonade each day... keeps you hydrated and 1600 or so calories. Good warmed up at night.
    4. Mountain men love Pop Tarts!
    5. Coffee (packed like tea bags) don't know what its called, but they make them.
    6. Whey Protein Powder... it's not just for body builders.. You can get a 2 lb jug at Walmart for $18. Vanilla or Chocolate flavored. Throw a scoop in with your morning coffee and enjoy those pop tarts.

    Dad
    if I think of anything more I'll let you know."

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  6. ^awesome, thanks a million Adhesive-Dad!

    Protein powder's a great idea -- I've been polishing off a tub of 'Mega Man' vanilla protein powder here at home, hadn't thought to put it in hot bevvies but that works. The flavour vaguely reminds me of giving powdered colostrum to orphan/rejected lambs...

    'Mountain Men love Pop Tarts' hereby pinned as a future album title.

    Cheers NH-ers,

    j

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