Save Money on Backpacking Food

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ILLUSTRATION: SUSAN MYKING WOOD
You won't necessarily eat better on the trail than at home, but backpacking food can be more varied than you might think.

“Nothing helps scenery like ham and eggs.” — Mark Twain

Although some of this author’s suggestions may go “against the grain” of our more nutrition-conscious readers, his article contains information that should help anyone plan and prepare better and less expensive camp meals … even if Mr. Coburn does hint at a fondness for — heaven help us! — fruit-flavored “chocolate” chips.


The main thing I ask of backpacking food is that it taste good. I don’t object to sound nutrition, but flavor comes first after a day of hiking. I’ll admit I’m opinionated, but there’s no room around my campfire for folks who think textured vegetable protein tastes “almost like beef,” or that carob bears any more resemblance to Tobler’s chocolate than I do to Burt Reynolds.

  • Published on May 1, 1985
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