Cooking in the Cooking in the OutdoorsOutdoors

Sarah RumbleSarah Rumble

Bobby OliverBobby Oliver

Jordan FinkeJordan Finke

What to consider when ration What to consider when ration planningplanning

Group size Special Dietary ConditionsGroup size Special Dietary Conditions

Location Food packagingLocation Food packaging

Weather Spoiling TimeWeather Spoiling Time

Trip Duration NutritionTrip Duration Nutrition

Purpose Individual Appetite levelsPurpose Individual Appetite levels

Pack WeightPack Weight

Level of ExertionLevel of Exertion

Food PreferenceFood Preference

Food GuideFood Guide

Backcountry Nutrition PinnacleBackcountry Nutrition PinnacleFats & Sweets-Use sparingly

Meat, Poultry, Eggs, Fish (when available),and Dairy –

1-2 servings/day

Beans, Nuts, Seeds, Vegetables, and Fruit-5-8 servings/day

Grains & Starchy Vegetables – 1-3 servingsat meals and snacks, more on active days

Exercise & Water-Minimum of 2 quarts + other fluids

Menu PlanningMenu Planning

Meal by Meal vs. a Meal by Meal vs. a Ration SystemRation System

Rationing ProsRationing Pros: : Group creates own Group creates own

menusmenus Good for longer trips Good for longer trips FlexibilityFlexibility CreativityCreativity

Things to consider… Things to consider… How long?How long?

Less then a week: foods that won’t spoil!Less then a week: foods that won’t spoil! 7-10 days: dehydrated/freeze dried to cut down 7-10 days: dehydrated/freeze dried to cut down

weightweight >10 days: Increase dehydrated/freeze dried foods >10 days: Increase dehydrated/freeze dried foods

or resupply foodor resupply food Ease of PreparationEase of Preparation ~ ~ quick one-pot meals vs. quick one-pot meals vs.

time to elaboratetime to elaborate

The Steps of Ration PlanningThe Steps of Ration Planning

STEP 1: STEP 1: pounds per person per day (ppppd)pounds per person per day (ppppd) Hot days and warm nights: 1.5pppd = around 2,500-3,000 Hot days and warm nights: 1.5pppd = around 2,500-3,000

calories pppdcalories pppd Warm or cool days and nights (or full-pack hiking): 1.75-2 Warm or cool days and nights (or full-pack hiking): 1.75-2

ppppd = 3-3,500 calories pppd.ppppd = 3-3,500 calories pppd. Hiking/skiing with full packs; cool days/cold nights of Hiking/skiing with full packs; cool days/cold nights of

early spring, late fall, or winter: 2-2.25 ppppd = 3,500-early spring, late fall, or winter: 2-2.25 ppppd = 3,500-4,500 calories pppd4,500 calories pppd

Cold days/extremely cold nights; full packs/sleds; mnt Cold days/extremely cold nights; full packs/sleds; mnt environment: 2.5 ppppd = 4-5,000 calories pppd.environment: 2.5 ppppd = 4-5,000 calories pppd.

Step 2Step 2What is the total amount of food needed for the What is the total amount of food needed for the

trip?trip?

What’s the equation? …What’s the equation? …

# of people# of people X X # of days# of days X X ppppdppppd: : EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

4 people X 8 day trip X 1.75 ppppd = Total amount 4 people X 8 day trip X 1.75 ppppd = Total amount of food needed: 56 poundsof food needed: 56 pounds

Step 3:Step 3:Divide the total poundage into food groupsDivide the total poundage into food groups

Food CategoryFood Category 1.5 1.5 ppppdppppd

1.751.75

PpppdPpppd

2 2

PpppdPpppd

2.25 2.25 ppppdppppd

2.5 2.5

PpppdPpppd

BreakfastBreakfast .24.24 .28.28 .33.33 .35.35 .38.38DinnerDinner .27.27 .32.32 .35.35 .37.37 .40.40CheeseCheese .19.19 .22.22 .24.24 .26.26 .28.28Trail foodsTrail foods .32.32 .35.35 .37.37 .45.45 .49.49Flour and bakingFlour and baking .11.11 .13.13 .16.16 .09.09 .10.10Sugar and fruit drinksSugar and fruit drinks .10.10 .12.12 .14.14 .15.15 .18.18Soups, bases, dessertsSoups, bases, desserts .06.06 .09.09 .13.13 .15.15 .19.19Milk, eggs, margarine, Milk, eggs, margarine, cocoacocoa

.21.21 .24.24 .28.28 .31.31 .33.33

Meats and substitutesMeats and substitutes 00 00 00 .12.12 .15.15

How did we know How did we know how to divide that?!?how to divide that?!?

The almighty NOLS said so…The almighty NOLS said so…

NOLS has been successfully doing it for years, so lets NOLS has been successfully doing it for years, so lets listen to them…it has proven affective.listen to them…it has proven affective.

Step 4: Calculate the total pounds of each food Step 4: Calculate the total pounds of each food category needed for the tripcategory needed for the trip

((For example: 4 people / 8 day trip at 1.75ppppd)For example: 4 people / 8 day trip at 1.75ppppd)

Food CategoryFood Category CalculationCalculation RoundedRounded

Trail FoodsTrail Foods .35x4x8=11.2lbs.35x4x8=11.2lbs 11 lbs.11 lbs.

DinnerDinner .32x4x8.32x4x8 10.510.5

BreakfastBreakfast .28x4x8.28x4x8 9 lbs.9 lbs.

Milk, eggs, margarine, Milk, eggs, margarine, cocoacocoa

.24x4x8.24x4x8 7.5lbs.7.5lbs.

CheeseCheese .22 x 4 x 8.22 x 4 x 8 77

Flour and bakingFlour and baking .13x4x8.13x4x8 44

Sugar and fruit drinksSugar and fruit drinks .12x4x8.12x4x8 44

Soups, bases, dessertsSoups, bases, desserts .09x4x8.09x4x8 33

Meats & substitutesMeats & substitutes NOLS only uses inNOLS only uses in 2.25-2.5lb. rations2.25-2.5lb. rations

Total pounds:Total pounds: 56 lbs.56 lbs.

Step 5: Round the numbers up or down Step 5: Round the numbers up or down within categories (last column of the table in within categories (last column of the table in step 4) and make substitutions, depending on step 4) and make substitutions, depending on

individual preferencesindividual preferences

Ummm, this is pretty simple….just substitute. Thank Ummm, this is pretty simple….just substitute. Thank you. That’s it.you. That’s it.

Don’t Forget!Don’t Forget! Weight TipsWeight Tips ~ ~

3-season backpacking = how many pounds per person per 3-season backpacking = how many pounds per person per day? Suggested: 1.5-2 poundsday? Suggested: 1.5-2 pounds

No cans!No cans! Freeze dried/dehydrated: lighter but more expensiveFreeze dried/dehydrated: lighter but more expensive Fresh fruits and veggies: heavier but welcome treat!Fresh fruits and veggies: heavier but welcome treat! Eliminate water carried in foods: carry dry then rehydrate!Eliminate water carried in foods: carry dry then rehydrate! Heavy items first!Heavy items first!

Packaging/RepackagingPackaging/Repackaging ~ ~ Reduce: Buy in bulk (saves money!)Reduce: Buy in bulk (saves money!) RecycleRecycle ReuseReuse

Special Dietary Concerns:Special Dietary Concerns:Everyone’s different!Everyone’s different!

Cook whatever can’t be eaten by all Cook whatever can’t be eaten by all SEPARATELY!SEPARATELY!

DiabeticsDiabetics VegetariansVegetarians

Ovo-Lacto Vegetarians~ Ovo-Lacto Vegetarians~ No red meat,No red meat, poultry, or animal poultry, or animal by-productsby-products

VegansVegans~ Plants~ Plants

P-nut “Poultatarians” ~ P-nut “Poultatarians” ~ No red meat or food that is shaped No red meat or food that is shaped like an animallike an animal

Pearson offers her best advice: Pearson offers her best advice:

““Eat often, eat a variety, and hydrate.”Eat often, eat a variety, and hydrate.” Petzoldt’s: Petzoldt’s:

““Never become hungry or thirsty… eat when Never become hungry or thirsty… eat when you want and what you want.” you want and what you want.”

““Timeless advice from the experts for anyone heading into the Timeless advice from the experts for anyone heading into the

backcountry.”backcountry.”

Ya Gotta Eat!!!!Ya Gotta Eat!!!!