Food, glorious food.

29 April 2014 (Day 56) – I’ve posted pictures of some of the glorious meals I’ve eaten along the trail. Those pictures are typically the exception to what I eat every day. Here’s what I eat 95% of the time.

BREAKFAST is typically oat meal with dried fruits, brown sugar, and coconut flakes; handfuls of trail mix; a supersize honey bun; candy and lots of water. I “cook” all my food in zip-lock bags by adding hot water from my camping stove.

LUNCH is tuna, cheese, sausage, peanut butter, Nutella, or chicken pieces wrapped in a tortilla. I add lots of mayonnaise for added fat. Handfuls of trail mix, candy, and chocolate round out the meal. A big “Thank You” to my friends Laura and Brian in Germany for sending me authentic dried German sausage. It added variety to my meals and tasted wonderful!

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DINNER is ramen noodles or instant mashed potatoes mixed with cheese, sausage/pepperoni, pepper flakes, tuna and olive oil. Occasionally I treat myself to a pre made freeze dried meal. Handfuls of trail mix (again), tortillas, candy and a hot chocolate drink round out the meal.

I SNACK throughout the day on 2-3 snickers bars, trail mix (yet again), jelly beans, cheese, and lots of water.

This is what 3 days of food looks like before I pack it in my food bag.

I have lost 22 pounds on this hike so far. Its a losing battle trying to keep weight on my body. I’m burning 6000 Calories per day and I cannot carry enough food to make up for that daily loss. Hence, the gluttonous attempt to replenish calories at every town along the trail. After this hike, I will never eat trail mix again.