5 Resupply Tips to Spice up your Meals
One of the biggest town chores is resupplying, and you’ll be doing this every 2-5 days. Resupplying can feel just as monotonous as the same foods you’ve bought for the past ten resupplies. We have a couple tips on small things to spice up your resupply.
#1 Keep a stash of spices and condiments
Ketchup, mustard, mayo, soy sauce, olive oil, parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, honey, jelly!
Do not underestimate the powers of a pepper packet or cholula sauce to totally redefine your meal! These can be easily found at fast food joints, coffee shops, or deli counters. Whenever you are in town take advantage of restocking your supply. This is one area of resupply where it is okay to overcarry, only a little.
One of Speedgoat’s favorite meals was Peanut butter Thai Noodles that uses red pepper flakes and soy sauce. Read the recipe here XXX.
#2 Pack out fresh fruits or vegetables whenever possible.
You do not realize how much you miss fresh produce until it’s taken from your diet entirely! Produce is not usually on a resupply list because it is heavy, however that does not always mean you have to forgo it. It is common that hikers will pack out a piece of fruit for the first day out of town - apple, orange, or mango. Fruits or veggies that are low in water will be your lightest options if you are planning to carry for multiple days.
One of Riveter’s favorite meals was stuffed bell peppers. Read the recipe here XXX.
#3 Pack out town food or a fun treat when leaving town.
As much as I love returning to the trail, it was alway nice to bring back a little piece of town for the first night out.
Our favorites are hot dogs, deli subs, or ready-to-eat meatball packets with pasta noodles.
These items tend to be a little heavier- a package of hot dogs weighs in at 12 ounces alone! We eat our heaviest meals first- getting any extra weight off your back can make the rest of the days more comfortable.
#4 Change up your protein options.
With limited options to take with you and limited options available to purchase in most places, it is easy to dread eating the same meal you have eaten for the past 2 months. Variety is the spice of life. An easy way to change your meals with a limited selection is to simply change the protein you are using. Sometimes that is as simple as different flavors or tuna or chicken, but sometimes you can which sources completely.
Hot dogs, pre-cooked bacon, salami, pepperoni, chicken packets, beef packets, tuna, etc. are examples of the variety of meat protein options that work well for backpacking.
#5 Utilize chips as meal appetizers
I know this sounds hypocritical to our mantra of “pack less” but we really enjoy having a small snacky item while cooking our meals (that is also the hiker hunger talking.) A bag of chips is normally under 12 oz and can last across a 3-4 day resupply. Normally I switch out my chip of choice between resupplies - sour cream & onion, then Bugles, then Chex Mix, then salt & vinegar. The variety helps give the illusion that you are eating a different meal other than potatoes for the 30th time.
A Note About Food Safety
Being a Dietitian and Food Safe Certified, I was appalled by hiking food safety. In the sense that it seemed like there was none. It only took a week on the AT until I let that go. Perishable foods, such as cheese, cream cheese, and hummus are a delight to have in the backcountry.
If you are a little more conscious about food safety, stick to cheeses that are ‘hard’ like: parmesan, asiago, sharp cheddar, or Gouda. You may also try buying cheeses in a wax covering, for example baby-bell cheese. We have even seen other hikers store their cheese in reusable beeswax cloth which helps the cheese from sweating on a hot day.
With all that being said, I typically do not push my perishable items past 4 days in the backcountry. I also try to pack my pack so that my perishable items are more insulated- keeping them towards the center of my pack vs the top.
