Eating nutrient dense meals isn’t at the top of our minds when backpacking. And no, eating ramen and street food for all three meals do not count as wholesome nutrition.
Good food should be made a priority as a lack of nutrients will leave your body vulnerable to illnesses. This coupled with the copious amounts of alcohol involved in travel (let’s be honest) and physical exertion with a heavy backpack on your back is basically an invite for sicknesses to come and invade your body.
Eating like your mother always wanted you to, however, isn’t as hard as you think and we are here to show you how.
Worried about ingredients and difficulties in cooking? Worry not as the recipes included here are easily available in most regions of the world and can be cooked in a jiffy in any kitchen offered by hostels.
Do however be cautious about your food hygiene. Wash the ingredients in hot water and cook as many ingredients as you can to ensure the food is bacteria free and therefore less likely to cause any harm. Be wary when using tap water as well, they might not fit the hygiene standards you are used to.
Do you have a go-to meal when on the road? Let us know!
1. Bacon and eggs
Ingredients
Bacon
Eggs
Butter
Chilli powder
Onion
Instructions
Cook bacon as you prefer (we recommend using the microwave in order to reduce fat), let it cool and then crumble it.
Crack open the eggs into a small bowl and mix it well with chilli powder and finely cut onions
Heat some butter in a pan till it boils and then mixes the mixture of eggs, chilli and onion to it with the crumbled bacon. Cook till the eggs are done.
Eat your freshly made bacon and eggs as it is or use it to make sandwiches for the road. Another option is sticking the fresh eggs and bacon in a tortilla or a roti.
2. Oatmeals
Ingredients
Nuts
Oatmeal
Raisins or any other dried fruit
Water or milk
Instructions
Cook the oatmeal in water (lower calories) or milk (higher calories)
Insert crushed nuts and raisins in the warm oats and mix well
Let the oats cool to a temperature of your choice and consume
3. Delicious protein rich trail mix
Ingredients
Trail mix
Honey
Peanut butter
Instructions
Mix honey to peanut butter and stir well
Add trail mix to the honey and peanut butter and continue stirring till its thick.
Enjoy your nutrient dense, hunger stopping trail mix
4. Peanut butter wrap
Ingredients
Tortilla or roti
Peanut butter
Raisins or any other dried fruit
Instructions
Lather Nutella on the tortilla or roti
Place raisin or dried fruit on tortilla or roti
Make a roll and its ready to eat!
5. Croque Monsieur
Ingredients
Toasted bread
Tomatoes
Slices of cheese
Butter
Bacon or a meat of your preference
Instructions
Spread hot butter on the toast
Pile the ingredients on the toast in this order- bacon, cheese, bacon and toast. The tomato slice could be inserted wherever you feel like.
6. Pita wrap
Ingredients
Fresh vegetables
Pita bread
Cheese
Egg or any meat of your choice
Instructions
Scramble the eggs
Line the scrambled eggs and vegetables in the middle of the Pita bread and sprinkle cheese on top.
Roll the pita bread to a wrap
You now have a healthy snack to go!
