Everyone is different, so providing an individualised standard food list suitable for everyone is impossible. With that in mind, the following food lists are based on what has worked well for the author. It is hoped that these lists should give an idea to aid the creation of lists suitable for your own requirements.
Standard Food List (per person per day)
This standard food list can be used for any length hike and is predominantly based upon dried foods.
Breakfast
- Porridge/Oatmeal or a lightweight high-energy cereal
- Milk Powder
- Sugar/Sweetener (if required)
- Coffee/Tea
Lunch
- Trail bread or hard crackers
Plus one of the following:
- Salmon/Tuna pockets (in foil not canned)
- Shelf-stable Salami rolls and cheese
- 2-minute Noodles (if a cooked lunch is desired)
Snacks
- 200gm mix of the following:
- Nuts – Peanuts/almonds are cheapest or other nuts
- Dried fruits pieces – raisins, coconut, sultanas or any other dried fruit (usually diced)
- Seeds – Pepitas/pumpkin seeds or similar
- Chocolate – chunks, M&Ms or similar
- Sweets – Gummy bears, snakes or similar. Avoid wrapped or sugar-coated sweets.
- 2 Muesli/Granola Bars
Dinner
- Cup of soup sachet/flavoured juice sachet/tea bag
One of the following:
- Camping meal (2 serves)
- Camping meal (1 serve) + 1 packet 2 minute noodles
- Pasta and sauce packet (requires milk powder and small amount of oil)
- 5-minute flavoured rice
- 2 packets of 2 minute noodles
Alternative Short Hike Food List (per person per day)
Short hikes allow different options, based mainly on fresh foods.
Breakfast
- Porridge/Oatmeal or a light high energy cereal
- Milk Powder
- Sugar/Sweetener
- Coffee/Tea (with or without sugar/sweetener/milk powder)
Lunch
- Premade sandwiches/rolls with a choice of fillings (cheese/ham/salami/dry salad etc)
- Fruit – apples/oranges/mandarins etc
Snacks
- 200gm mix of the following:
- Nuts – Peanuts/almonds are cheapest or other nuts
- Dried fruits pieces – raisins, coconut, sultanas or any other dried fruit (usually diced)
- Seeds – Pepitas/pumpkin seeds or similar
- Chocolate – chunks, M&Ms or similar
- Sweets – Gummy bears, snakes or similar. Avoid wrapped or sugar coated sweets.
- 2 Muesli/Granola Bars
Dinner
- Pre-cooked vegetable stew (brought from home, simply reheat. Add salami chunks if meat required)
or
- Boil fresh vegetables and strain. Cook rice separately, adding cooked vegetables and salami chunks when ready followed by an Italian tomato sauce.
Lightweight Food List
For those struggling to get pack weights down on longer hikes, or for more experienced hikers.
Breakfast
- Coffee/Tea
- A Cup of Soup
- 2 Muesli/Granola Bars
Lunch
- None
Snacks
- 400gm mix of the following:
- Nuts – Peanuts/almonds are cheapest or other nuts
- Dried fruits pieces – raisins, coconut, sultanas or any other dried fruit (usually diced)
- Seeds – Pepitas/pumpkin seeds or similar
- Chocolate – chunks, M&Ms or similar
- Sweets – Gummy bears, snakes or similar. Avoid wrapped or sugar coated sweets.
Dinner
- Camping meal (2 serves)
The basis of the light option is snacking. Having the bag of snacks at hand, eating while walking, during a 5 minute snack break or when stopped at a viewpoint of similar. Lunch becomes simply a ten minute snack break. While psychologically challenging, after two or three days a routine is instilled.
The Philosophy of Hiking 