Eating Habits
Think about your trailside eating habits and what you've enjoyed on prior trips.

What are your favorite trail foods (individual items and meals)?
What items (say, coffee) are not negotiable?
Do you prefer three meals a day, or consider lunch/snacks anything between breakfast and dinner?
Do you need something sweet after each meal?

For some, living without morning coffee can be like living without air. When you're on the trail the cardinal rule is always: don't scrimp. If you already have trail favorites, put them on the menu.

Physical Demands
Think about what your body will need to meet the physical demands of your trip.

If you are going on a laid-back float trip down the river with comfortable temperatures, you will expend far less energy than you will on a skiing trip in the dead of winter. The average woman needs about 2,100 calories and the average man, 2,800 calories for sedentary activity. Consider that you may need an extra 1,000 calories—or more—depending on your activity of choice in the backcountry.

Quantity
Determine how much you need to eat. Would you classify yourself as a light, medium, or hearty eater at each of the basic backcountry meals (ie, breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner).

Consider how much food you will want per meal (given the activities listed above):
Breakfast: 1, 1.5, 2, or 2.5 cups
Dinner: 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, or 4 cups

If you have trouble with this question, take a large bowl and fill it with cups of water until you have what you consider to be a trail-size portion. And remember: Trips are no time to diet.

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