Foods & Cooking

How much food and calories do we need? This is a common question for hiking or on expeditions. Our bodies requires fuel every minute of the day for hiking, climbing or even sleeping, when we need to maintain a hart beat, tissue maintenance and warmth etc..

Every persons energy and metabolic rates are deferent, and are subject to body size, weight, health, fitness and other factors. Below is a 'common' lists of requirements for the average individual and/or groups in the population.

Average Calories Required in Different Conditions Per day:
1) Outside, Mild Climate, little activity; Men 3200 kJ, Woman 2300 kJ
2) Mild Climate, 8 hours of hiking with a backpack; Men 4800 kJ, Woman 3900 kJ
3) Cold Climate with Maximum effort; Men 5500 kJ, Woman 4600 kJ

Typical Nutritional Value of Popular Available Foods per 100g

Food Type
Dried Meat
Corn Kernel
Peanuts
Milk Powder
Cheddar Cheese
Soya
Units
Calories
520
363
585
520
398
460
kJ
Hydrocarbons
0
47
19
39
2
33
g
Fats
23
11
49
24
32
22
g
Protein
46
27
27
24
24
39
g
Biological Value
75%
55%
32%
75%
75%
70%
%

Typical List of Foods Hikers Can Choose From:

Breakfast & Lunch
 
Dinner or Main Course
Grain Foods
Bread Supplement
Protein
Spreads
Protein
Hydrocarbons
Vegetables
Muesli
Pro-Vita
Bacon
Honey
Mince Meat
Brown Rice
Beans
Huesli
Beskuit
Egg Mix
Jam
Toppers
Smash
Mushrooms
Honey Crunch
Fortibix
Sardines
Marmite
Soya Mince
Pasta
Onions
ProNutro
 
Nuts
Peanut Butter
Instant Deserts
Vermicelli
Mixed Vedge
   
Dried Meat
Cheese
Bully Beef
Dried Fruit
Peas
   
Milk Powder
 
Sardines
Nuts
Colly Flower

Typical Meals per Day with Estimated Protein, Calories and Mass:

Food Type
Protein (g)
Mass (g)
Calories (kJ)
Grain Food + Milk Powder
25
100
300
Nuts
27
100
585
Dried Fruit
6
100
300
Pro-Vita
4
100
100
Sugar (4 teaspoons)
0
50
400
Dried Meat or Cheese
23 or 12
50
200-250
Bread Supplement
2-10
50
200-250
Margarine
-
45
300
Main Course
23
130
300
Instant Desert
6
50
250
Soup, Isotonic Drinks
varies
75
100-300
Total:
99-124
850
3035-3735

To boost calories and protein, milk powder can be added to breakfasts, soups, instant deserts etc..

Various Recipes for Outdoor Cooking:

Spaghetti & Mince
1 cup Royco-Mince (100g)
0.5 cup Tomato Flakes (50g)
2 table spoons Onion Flakes (10g)
0.5 cup Green Pepper or Green Peas (25g)
1 table spoon sugar (5g)
1 packet Instant Tomato Soup (40g)
0.5 cup Spaghetti (50g)
Vegetable Pot
1 cup Royco flavored beef chunks (100g)
1 cup Mixed Dried Vegetables (100g)
1 cup Instant Smash (100g)
Mushroom Risotto
1 cup Royco Mince (100g)
1 cup Dried Mushrooms (20g)
1 packet Royco Mushroom Soup (55g)
0.5 cup of Brown Rice (70g)
Green Bean Pot
1 cup Royco Mince (100g)
1.5 cup Royco Green Beans (45g)
2 table spoons milk powder (10g)
2 table spoons Tomato Flakes (10g)
1 Block Knor Beef Stock (12g)
1 cup Instant Smash (100g)
Pinch Garlic Flakes

Pepper Mince Pot
1 cup Mince (100g)
1 packet Pepper Soup (60g)
0.5 cup Tomato Flakes (25g)
1 cup Green Beans (45g)
0.5 cup Onions (25g)
1 tablespoon sugar (10g)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ginger
0.5 cup Vermicelli (50g)

Curie Mince Meat
1 cup Mince (100g)
1 packet Tomato Soup (60g)
0.5 cup Tomato Flakes (25g)
0.5 cup Onions (25g)
0.5 cup Chopped Apple& Raisons (40g)
1-2 tablespoons curie (10g)
1 tablespoon sugar (10g)
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
0.5 cup brown rice
Ghoelasj
1 cup Meat Chunks (100g)
0.5 packet Oxtail Soup (60g)
1 packet Ghoelasj Mix (50g)
0.5 cup Tomato Flakes (25g)
1 cup Onions (50g)
1 cup Instant Smash (100g)
Sweet & Sour
1 cup Mince (100g)
0.5 cup Green Beans (25g)
0.5 cup Carrots (25g)
1 block Knor Beef Stock (10g)
1 packet Sweet & Sour Sauce/Soup (60g)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon sherry (70g)
0.5 cup Brown Rice (70g)
Sardine Pot
1 packet Vegetable Soup (30g)
1 packet Tomato Sou (30g)
1 cup Brown Rice (140g)
1 Tin Sardines (200g)
'Bully Beef' Pot
1 Tin 'Bully Beef' (300g)
4 tablespoons Milk Powder (20g)
1-2 cups Instant Smash (100-200g)
Vermicelli Desert
3 Honey packets (60g)
3 tablespoons sugar (15g)
6 tablespoons margarine (90g)
1.5 cup Vermicelli, broken fine (90g)
0.5 cup almonds (40g)
0.5 teaspoon nutmeg
Cheese Omelet
1 cup Grated Cheese (100g)
6 tablespoons EggMix (30g)
4 tablespoons milk powder (20g)
0.5 teaspoon salt

Packing Your Food:
It is wise to measure and pre-pack all your food, allowing easier access, and making sure you keep a well maintained menu. Food can be packed in small plastic bags per meal, thrown into a pot, and just add water. Mark your breakfast, lunch or dinner by sealing the packets with different colored elastics, or you can seal plastic bags using the back of a hot knife along a ruler over the plastic at home.

Updated Mon, 24 September, 2001 http://www.rocksport.co.za