13 grocery store backpacking meals with no dehydrating
+ what I do about ticks
Summer is summering. I go hiking nearly every day. My watch tan is coming in nicely. My thru-hike of the Ice Age Trail is less than 3 months away.
We are currently busy prepping for a 4 night, 5 day backpacking trip in Isle Royale National Park. I thought this would be a good time to go over the 2 things I am asked the most about: ticks & food.
*note: I started writing this about a month ago and got so busy I never circled back to finish it. You might have seen on IG, or heard on our podcast, that we have already returned home from our IRNP backpacking trip… a full guide to that wild trip will be next!*
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How I keep the ticks away while deep in the wilderness
I have read that ticks are at an all time high this year. Ticks are a parasite that feeds on the blood of animals/humans. Their bites can spread diseases. This year our household has found 2 ticks so far (update we found 1 more over the holiday weekend bringing our household total to 3 this season)… and I think for the number of miles I have been hiking that is a pretty remarkable number. Thankfully, we found these ticks before they had attached themselves to us or the pups.
We use 2 main products to keep ticks at bay.
Sawyer Permethrin - $23 - clothes, gear, tents - good for 6 weeks or 6 washes
Wondercide Pet + Home - $27 - dogs & us - good for 24 hours
Before backpacking trips we are sure to spray all of our hiking clothes (socks, pants/shorts/leggings, and sun hoodies) and gear (backpacks, tent, and rainfly) with permethrin.
For the pups & day hikes we have been loving Wondercide. We spray the pups down and rub it in. We also spray ourselves with it before hiking. I highly recommend the cedarwood scent!
In addition to spray downs, the pups also get NaxGuard, a beef flavored chewable tablet, once a month. This is just in case they would get bit by a tick. NexGard works by killing fleas and ticks, and also prevents the transmission of diseases like Lyme disease by killing the ticks that carry it. NexGuard needs to be prescribed by a vet, but NexGuard and a lymes vaccination are a low maintenance way to help keep your dogs safe.
No matter what sprays/products you use, do a check on yourself and your pups post-hike.
Easy & low-cost backpacking meals
The most important thing about your backpacking meals is that you must be able to finish them. If you rehydrate your meal and can’t finish it you are making your backpack heavier. You now have to pack out messy/heavy garbage. From experience, I can say, this really sucks.
I like to eat food that tastes good on the trail, but I will only pull out the stove and cook one meal– dinner. I prefer if all of my other meals/snacks are no-cook, quick, easy, and filling. I do not like pre-made backpacking meals… or should I say they don’t like my tummy. These dehydrated meals are convenient and light, but very expensive– typically they are $12+ per meal. I also don’t like meals that require dishes. Some of these meals need to be boiled in your pot, others you just need to add boiling water to the bag and wait for it to rehydrate.
I am not claiming that the meal ideas listed below are the lightest, healthiest, or best meals you have ever had. They are low cost/effort, can be found at the grocery store, and are foods that I will actually eat after a long day of hiking. Some of these are self explanatory, but I tried to give details to help where I can.
My cook system
Recommend supplies
All the fast food sauce packets… every time you get fast food get as many as you can. Kwik Trip also has lots of great options.
Trial Pizza
This tasty little warp was an absolute hit with our group on Isle Royale. I got this idea from @the_adventureaddicts on Instagram.
Pack out:
tortillas
sauce (I put it in these containers)
block of parm* (we cut it up and vacuum seal it before we leave home)
pepperoni (this one does not need to be refrigerated and is good portion for 2 people)
If you are feeling fancy bring your leftover parmesan and red pepper flake packets from the last time you ordered delivery pizza
Directions:
Fold sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and seasoning into a tortilla and you have a filling lunch. We typically pack 2 per person.
Tacos
My sister and I made these on our Upper Peninsula road trip last year and I thought that they were pretty good. Rollingreens is a plant-based meat substitute that is sold at Walmart. It’s nice because they are already dehydrated. It is a higher priced item around ~$7, but for me it can easily be 3 servings.
This meal is filling and delicious, but needs to be cooked inside your pot. If you are going to make this I would recommend using a pot with a lid and make sure you bring good cleaning supplies for your pot.
Pack out:
Rollinggreens Taco Me’eat (portioned out if needed)
tortillas
Taco Bell sauce packets
Optional: a portion of Ready Rice
Directions:
Cook me’eat according to package instructions
Once meat is cooked add in rice if using
Add me’eat to tortilla, top with Taco Bell sauce
Backpacking Thanksgiving
I saw this idea on Instagram, but modified it to be more my taste. I have already grown sick of this meal, but I can’t say I will never pack it again. It is cozy, filling, and is ready in just 5 minutes. I mix this meal at home in a mylar bag to make for easy cooking on the tail and no dishes.
To a mylar bag add:
½ cup instant mashed potatoes
½ cup Stove Top stuffing
2 tbsp powdered gravy
Packout:
Mylar bag with potato mixture
turkey jerky
crispy fried onions for topping
Directions:
Add boiling water to mylar bag, stir as you add to get potatoes and stuffing to desired thickness.
Top with crispy onions and turkey jerky
Cacio e pepe
This will be a staple in my thru-hike. I love it. However, I need to make my portions smaller, because Hayden had to help me finish mine in IRNP. This is the easiest one. Just put the whole packet in a mylar bag. If you would like more protein in it add in some unflavored protein power. We use Clean Simple Eats.
Packout:
1 packet of Alessi 4 Minute Pasta in a mylar bag.
Directions:
Add enough boiling water to mylar bag to cover pasta and stir.
Seal and let sit for 20 minutes
Tortellini
This is a heavier meal, but one that never gets old to me.
Packout:
Tortellini - the shelf stable kind
Parmesan packet
Red pepper flake packet
Directions:
Cook tortellini according to package instructions
Strain
Mix in olive oil, parm, and red pepper flakes
pulling out tomorrow’s food in IRNP backcountry shelter
Loaded oatmeal
I love a sweet, but filling meal and this hits every time for me. Bonus– it cooks really fast. Get creative and add in all sorts of goodies. I usually put everything into a baggie ahead of time: 2 oatmeal packets, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, almond slivers, and freeze dried berries.
Pack out:
Oatmeal mixture
Peanut butter packet
Directions:
Empty oats into mug
Add in boiling water, mixing as you go to get desired consistency
Cover and let sit for 3 minutes, mix in peanut butter, & enjoy!
Ramen
I just do not love ramen and I find it hard on my tummy, but in a pinch it can be a good cozy trail meal.
Pack out:
Ramen packet (this one is my favorite)
Peanut butter packet
Soy sauce or hot sauce packet
Directions:
Cook noodles according to package
Mix in seasoning, peanut butter, and/or soy sauce
Enjoy!
Backcountry Charcuterie
A snack plate can hit at any time of day, anywhere. I usually do some sort of cured meat (we love Driftless Provisions out of Viroqua, WI), Babybel cheese*, crackers, dried fruit, nuts, and chocolate.
Pack out: all the supplies & dig in. (PS there are no bonus points for laying it out pretty, but it can be kind of fun)
Pancakes
Pancakes are my favorite food. I love them and can eat them any time of day or for every meal. This is a newer addition to my lineup as we just found the perfect mini non-stick frying pan & spatula. Add any “just add water” pancake mix to a baggie (maybe with a few chocolate chips & dehydrated blueberries) to packout. If you want higher calorie/protein I recommend Kodiak Cakes.
Packout:
Pancake mix
Syrup or honey packets
Directions:
Add water to pancake mix for desired consistency
Cook in fry pan over stove, flipping ½ way through
Dip into syrup and enjoy!
Tuna Wraps
I love fish, but I don’t like tuna packets. However, Hayden really enjoyed these in IRNP. Not the lightest meal, but high in protein and requires no cooking.
Pack out:
Tortillas
Tuna packet(s)
Mayo packet
Mustard packet
Directions
Roll the tuna, mayo, and mustard inside of the tortilla & enjoy!
Cereal wraps
I love sweet dinners. Here’s my favorite no-cook meal.
Pack out:
Tortilla
Peanut butter pouch
Cereal of your choice
Directions:
Roll it up & enjoy!
Knorr sides
These are delicious, cheap, and filling. The only downside is that they take longer to cook and burn more fuel.
Pack out:
Knorr side pouch
Toppings (tuna, sauce packets, or pepperoni)
Directions:
Cook according to package and top as desired
Cereal
Best with freshly filtered cold creek water.
Pack out:
Directions
Mix breakfast essentials in a cup until smooth, add in cereal, and enjoy!
*do your own research on eating cheese that has not been refrigerated. To my knowledge a hard cheese like parmesan is just fine left out. If you are going to cut it up beforehand, wear rubber gloves while cutting to keep the natural oils from your hands off the cheese to keep it from going bad. Lastly, vacuum sealing and storing it air tight is best.