How to eat well on expedition food

Summary: Prioritising nutrition and hydration is not just about satisfying hunger or thirst; it's about ensuring your body and mind functions optimally to tackle the challenges so that you can fully enjoy the experiences of an expedition.

This article is the fifth recipe in 6 weight saving recipes to shave weight off your DofE expedition kit list, a series of articles to help you save weight on your expedition kit without compromising comfort or utility, helping you to make more sustainable choices and invest in kit that will last a lifetime.

What better to round off the day than with a yummy meal. It's a great motivator and keeps team spirits running high, even when the team is running on empty. You need food that's not only good for you and gives you lots of energy, but also doesn't weigh a lot, is easy to cook, and minimises the amount of rubbish you will have to carry out. It's all about finding the right balance between getting the nutrients you need and making sure your food is practical for carrying and cooking outdoors. Create a menu that tastes good, and is super easy and quick to make. This way, you can focus on enjoying your expedition without worrying about meal times.

Ingredients

1. Portable camping stove and fuel
2. Lightweight camping cookware
3. Non-perishable dehydrated or wet exped meals
4. Reusable utensils
5. Waterproof matches or lighter
6. Water purification system
7. Water bottle

Preparation

• Plan meals ahead and portion out ingredients.
• Prepare meals which require minimal cooking to conserve fuel.
• Practice using your stove before the trip; choose a fuel you feel safe with.
• Estimate how much fuel you will need for the duration of the expedition.
• Choose high-energy, lightweight food options.
• Throw in some treats; with all these weight savings, you can afford it!

Method

1. Use your camping stove away from your tent, never inside.
2. Store food securely away from wildlife.
3. As you consume food, your backpack will get lighter. Consider how bulky your waste will be to maximise this reductionist effect.
4. Water is heavy; not much you can do about that other than to plan where you can refill and drink as you go along. Don't get to your refill point and swig the 2 litres you have been carrying for 3 hours.
5. Clean up using biodegradable soap and dispose of waste properly.

Chef's tips

Look into bear-proof strategies if navigating through bear country.

Where you can save the weight

The DofE publish a recommended kit list which is a great place to start if you are kitting yourself out for an expedition for the first time. We do have alternatives, which we have listed below, to help you reduce the weight. Our recommendations are a guide – you should always check with your Leader that the kit you choose is suitable for your particular expedition.

Our final recipe promises to be rather illuminating and covers lighting solutions for around camp.