Backpacker Magazine – May 2008

Eat Better

Want to hike farther, explore tougher terrain, and carry big loads without bonking? To achieve your biggest backcountry goals, you have to change how you eat.

by: Dorothy Foltz-Gray and Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Photos by Justin Bailie

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Photo by Justin Bailie

Sport-Specific Nutrition | Snack For All-Day Energy | Balance Your Backcountry Diet | Food Expert Q & A | The 10 Best Backpacking Foods | The Perfect Menu | A Day of Eating Healthy | The Burning Curve... | ...And a Radical Deviation

Sport-Specific Nutrition
Tailor your body for the trail with our perfect backpacking diet.

Sport-specific nutrition–eating strategies tailored to the demands of your activity–is all the rage these days, and with good reason. Knowing the best foods for your sport lets you turbocharge your engine for peak performance. As a backpacker, you log long days at moderate intensity. You grunt up heart-pounding climbs with 40-pound loads. And you do it at altitude or in marginal weather. These factors create significantly different nutritional dilemmas than running or cycling. Our experts scoured the latest nutrition research and turned it into a comprehensive plan for backpackers. You'll discover the best balance of carbs, protein, and fats for long-distance treks; get clear information about your calorie intake; and find out exactly what to eat for big climbs, high-altitude trails, and cold temps. We'll share their advice for men and women, then boil everything down into the ultimate backpacking menu–complete with delicious recipes.

Sport-Specific Nutrition | Snack For All-Day Energy | Balance Your Backcountry Diet | Food Expert Q & A | The 10 Best Backpacking Foods | The Perfect Menu | A Day of Eating Healthy | The Burning Curve... | ...And a Radical Deviation