Few things feel better than a long hike in the woods, exhausting yourself as you soak in the fresh air and tranquility. Then, back to camp, where you chip away at those health benefits with packaged hot dogs slapped into a white-bread bun with a slice of plasticky processed cheese food. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
It doesn't have to be that way, said Aaron Owens Mayhew, a dietitian and long-haul trekker in Orcutt, California. "It always made me sad that people who train so hard, they exercise, they eat well at home, and then they go backpacking and pick up honey buns," Owens Mayhew said.
Getting outside generally improves mental and physical health. But too often, campers and hikers resort to the convenience of processed foods high in saturated fat, salt and sugar. Here's how to rethink campsite cooking to eat healthy while acting healthy.
Many people rightly assume that a little processed food is fine, especially when you're exerting outsize energy that can help counter excess calories. The problem lies in the way the body processes it, said Owens Mayhew, who founded Backcountry Foodie, a website dedicated to bringing nutrition to the trail. Simple carbohydrates like sugary baked goods and candy bars can cause rapid blood glucose spikes followed by a sharp drop, leaving hikers more fatigued than before. Meanwhile, heavily processed foods tend to be dense in calories but lacking the vitamins, minerals and protein the body needs to perform well. A healthy diet can provide consistent energy throughout the day and improved recovery.
Owens Mayhew said the best way to eat in the wilderness is to find ways to continue eating the food you normally do at home. Instead of frying bacon and eggs on the fire because that's what you did at camp as a kid, have that bran cereal you eat every morning, this time with powdered milk (find it in the baking aisle). Many of the recipes on Owens Mayhew's website are healthier versions of her family's classic recipes, including tuna casserole, garlic-Parmesan noodles and sweet potato casserole. As a supplement to grilled meat or fish, she suggested packing instant brown rice, quinoa and other healthy grains.