Tom's Blog: Tom's Favorite Foods

August 8, 2017 – Hiking is difficult, rewarding work. I will be putting one foot in front of the other for 30+ days to raise money and awareness for the Kindering kiddos that conquer their own mountains daily – and I’ll need a whole lot of fuel to help me do it.

The average 175 lb. person burns about 500 calories per hour hiking. I plan to hike an average of 19 miles per day, and my average pace will probably be two to three miles per hour. That means each day I’ll be hiking for seven to nine hours. I’m going to need a lot of calories (about 4,000 extra!) each day to help me on my journey.

In an upcoming blog post I’ll share more information on how I plan to carry all of this food and how resupply stations work. For now, I’m trying to get a list together of things I’ll enjoy eating for month on the trail.

Due to weight constraints, it’ll be important for me to carry foods that are “calorie dense” – in other words, foods that pack the greatest number of calories per unit of weight. I’m also carefully considering how to balance the nutritional needs of my body, such as getting the right amounts of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. For example, fats contain more than two times the calories – about nine per gram – that carbs and proteins do, which have about four calories per gram. However, I wouldn’t survive for very long on only high-fat foods. Carbohydrates are the body’s primary fuel (gas in the engine, if you will), which is why long-distance athletes have a calorie-dense carbohydrate balance in their diet, and why I plan to do the same.

I also want to eat foods that taste good and are convenient to prepare with limited fuss. The dehydrated meal kits (my dinners) are quick and easy and offer a balance of fat and some protein, not to mention some interesting flavors… Forever Young Mac & Cheese, anyone?

My plan for a normal day will be to get out onto the trail early after a quick energy bar, dried fruit, and of course, coffee. I’ll stop mid-morning for a hot breakfast of oatmeal, nuts, and probably more coffee. The rest of the day will be snacks along the trail. Nibbling every hour or so will be important to keep my tank fueled, and I’ll look forward to dinner each night at or before the final camp for the day.

Here’s what’s on my packing list for the trip:

BREAKFAST

Instant coffee, hot chocolate, assorted tea
Oatmeal with a variety of flavors, grains, and fruits
Cereal bars, for variety and as alternative to oatmeal

SNACKS & LUNCH

Nuts – salty and oily for more calories (e.g., cashews, almonds, honey-roasted peanuts)
Trail mix with mixed nuts, raisins, and chocolate
Dried fruit (cherries, pineapples, dates, etc.) – the more dehydrated, the lighter in weight
Energy bars
Chocolate bars – dark chocolate doesn’t melt as quickly as milk chocolate (I’m bringing both. of course)
Jerky, beef or turkey, in variety of seasonings