Tired of purchasing expensive Mountain House or similar meals? There are some great alternatives out there that you can make yourself. Making your own meals is normally cheaper and since Covid began, more convenient with the price and availability of freeze dried meals harder to find.

Breakfast:
Instant Oatmeal is a classic and a great beginning DIY meal. Cheap, nutritious, and easy to find in store, you can buy this almost anywhere. Additionally, you can eat in right out of the bag by just adding water, making clean up a breeze.
*To spice it up, add some freeze dried fruits like strawberries. Strawberries seem to hold up well to being freeze dried and are a great treat when in the backcountry.

Another option when striving for lightweight is protein shakes. While these don’t provide all of the calories needed to fuel you throughout the day, protein powder is extremely lightweight and easy to carry. It is a great way to hit the trail early, especially when combined with GORP or cliff bars.

Lunch:

GORP or “Good Old Raisins and Peanuts” is the original trail mix. It is a great on the go meal, requires no cooking, and can be changed to provide a varied diet when spending multiple days on the trail.
It is as simple as adding nuts, seeds and chocolate together.
My favorite recipe is peanuts and cashews, raisins, peanut butter M&Ms, and a bit of Honey Nut Cheerios thrown in.

Another easy lunch idea is the smoked sausage or summer sausage, shelf stable cheese like Hillshire farms, and some crackers.

Lastly, Starkist tuna creations is a great option. They come in multiple flavors (Find them here: https://amzn.to/3IU052g). Pick a different flavor for every day. Add them to a tortilla shell and you have a different shelf stable lunch for every day you are on the trail.

Dinner:

Dinner is a key to having a successful backpacking trip. You need to ensure your nutritional intake is high so your body is fueled for the evening and the morning. Having extra fat (AKA Olive Oil) before bed in the meal is also super helpful for staying warm.

My favorite budget sides are a packet of the Knorr Sides (Found here: https://amzn.to/3IU052g) or at your local grocery store. From there you add some olive oil (for fat) and then from there you add a shelf stable Chicken Packet (Found here: https://amzn.to/3IU052g).

Another easy option is boxed mac n cheese line Annie’s and pack in sausage for the first night. You can find shelf stable sausages at your local grocer. Add these together and you have a great meal.

Final Thoughts:
Some basics I always carry Olive oil in a small Nalgene bottle like this: https://amzn.to/3IN5YxY. Additionally, I carry another Nalgene with a bit of Salt and Pepper and another one for Lemon Pepper. These are used to add flavor to diy meals (such as a rice side). Or if I am fishing and catch a trout. With the couple extra ounces, I can add a ton of flavor and get creative in the backcountry.

Whatever you choose, get out and explore!

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