[pct-l] Hikers guide to caloric intake

[Reinhold Metzger]

Steel-Eye,
You are 100% correct, even though I pointed out the benefits of 
saturated vs unsaturated fats and simple vs complex carbs.,
I don't really pay much attention to them for  my backpacking menu, I 
focus primarily on calories per oz. and things I like to
eat  especially on my ''Fast Packs''  were weight is a key concern.
I do, however, pay attention to the ratio of  carbs., vs protein vs fat 
and like to  take Macadamia nuts for their high calorie
and Monounsaturated fat content and potato chips for their high calorie 
and salt content.

However, when my wife comes along all this changes, she is much more 
health food oriented than I am and watches me like a hawk.

Hiking with Scott & Joe the other week, I saw something I have not seen 
since my  USMC  days.....Joe was carrying salt
crystals to replace salt lost due to perspiration.

JMT Reinhold

-------------------------------------


Steel-Eye wrote:
> Good evening, JMT Reinhold,
>
> Thanks for the observations about my Calorie needs rationale.  It's 
> always
> gratifying to know that other experienced hikers appreciate the 
> thought that
> went into it.
>
> You are certainly correct about the desirability of avoiding saturated
> fats - and I do so at home - but in the interest of simplicity I omitted
> making that point in my rationale.  I felt a need to confine my 
> comments to
> the "quantity" aspect of hiking food, and not the "quality" aspect.  
> Years
> ago when I first began tinkering with a trail food calculator it quickly
> evolved into something far too grand to be useable.  That often seems to
> happen when a left-brainer like me, runs amok in the dazzling world of
> Microsoft Excel.  Eventually, my list of food was parsed, not only into
> attributes such as fats, carbs, and protein, but also into types of fats,
> simple vs. complex carbs, fiber, electrolyte constituents, 
> organically-grown
> content, etc. etc.  The result was I ended up with far too much data.  I
> found that I could not write a selection algorithm that would specify 
> what
> food items were adaptable to the trail.
>
> Finally, I had to accept some basic guidelines for TRAIL food Calories:
> 1)      I must consistently like to eat the stuff.
> 2)      It has to be simple to make or readily available to buy.
> 3)      Moisture is to be avoided.
> 4)      Fat is good.
> 5)      Salt is good.
> 6)      Durability is important - even with chemical preservatives.
> 7)      It should be versatile enough to be eaten in different ways.
> 8)      It should be dense to economize space.
> 9)      It should be relatively inexpensive.
> 10)    I prefer that it can be eaten without cooking.
>
> With that in mind I wrote a relatively simple spreadsheet to calculate 
> the
> total calories per day based upon serving selections.  It seems to 
> work for
> me.
>
> Bon Appétit,
>
> Steel-Eye
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Reinhold Metzger" 
> <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>; "Reinhold Metzger" 
> <reinholdmetzger at cox.net>;
> "Karen Metzger" <karenmetzger at cox.net>
> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 4:18 AM
> Subject: [pct-l] Hikers guide to caloric intake
>
>
>> Steel-Eye,
>> Your caloric intake requirement described below is probably the best I
>> have seen.
>> It describes a hikers caloric need and the energy delivered by the 3 
>> basic
>> food
>> sources in a easy to understand way.
>>
>> My only comment would be that a concentration should be placed on the 
>> less
>> harmful
>> Unsaturated fats like Polyunsaturated or Monounsaturated (the most 
>> benign
>> fat) vs
>> Saturated fats and complex carbs. vs simple carbs. for healthier, more
>> sustainable
>> energy.
>> Since carbs. are carbs. & fats are fats selecting the healthier ones 
>> will
>> not change
>> the weight or energy delivered, but rather deliver a healthier more
>> sustainable energy.
>> A good example are Macadamia nuts, rich in Monosaturated fats, they
>> deliver 200 calories
>> per oz. from the most benign of fats....you have to drink straight 
>> oil to
>> beat that.
>>
>> Also protein, at dinner, is important for muscle recovery while the body
>> is at rest and
>> and in the recovery mode.
>>
>> JMT Reinhold
>> Your malnourished trail companion
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> Good evening, Krikor,
>>
>> My approach to Calorie requirements is described here:
>> http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=166338
>>
>> Enjoy,
>>
>> Steel-Eye
>>
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>
>