626741 Wed Jun 10 12:55:08 -0700 2009 19 31 Home Cooking 0 4760600 soooo...i'm off to my first bike week this weekend - we're camping and i've seen the threads on camping meal ideas but we'll only have a small, limited space to transport food - most of it will be bought up there (mostly meats i'm guessing) but i'm keepin' it as vege as possible. what sort of snack-y things could i bring in a saddle bag that don't require refridgeration? and, to clarify, i'm scared of bike week (i think), not the food part! Wed Jun 10 12:55:08 -0700 2009 207355 jmullen1251 1 4760648 Snack wise.... dried fruit, nuts, seeds..... hard cheeses, some don't require strict refrigeration, some fresh fruit travels very well. I never take a road trip without a bag of oranges. M&Ms, licorice..... If you are really veg and want something to just kind of gnaw on, i used to keep a stick of licorice root with me while i surfed in hawaii....... keeps the juices flowing and has a pleasant taste. Wed Jun 10 13:06:18 -0700 2009 4760600 176650 Lenox637 1 4761110 Some good whole wheat crackers like triscuits, or along those lines. And I know this is pretty non chowhound, but the Easy cheese in a can. No refrigeration needed. Wed Jun 10 15:04:34 -0700 2009 4760600 80937 danhole 1 4761145 dried apricots, almonds are great snacks. Wed Jun 10 15:15:04 -0700 2009 4760600 18353 DGresh 1 4761192 if you are just talking about a day, fruit (apples and oranges) and hard cheese are great. Too much dry salty stuff will make you drink too much water. Have fun and what is a bike week? Wed Jun 10 15:30:18 -0700 2009 4760600 11130 jen kalb 2 4761315 Actually, I think a decent bit of salt (AND water) might be a good idea if the OP is going to be sweating a lot. You do need to replace what you're losing. OP, my newest thing is to pack potatoes, pre-boiled or baked. You can mash it up with cheese and whatever deli meats you buy on the road for a pretty high-energy meal.... or just take bites out of a potato hunk (like a very primitive energy bar :) while you ride if you're really hungry. [Ah, I just read Caralien's post re: mashed potato flakes. That'd work even better if you have some means of boiling water.] Wed Jun 10 16:04:48 -0700 2009 4761192 64215 cimui 3 4761428 The dried potatoes were like the gnocchi--for dinner grub. At camp, there's usually a fire or a kerosene tank to boil things. It's as with taking good coffee grounds in a bag while camping--there's no reason to not have a decent cup in the morning if at all possible, even from an aluminum cup! :) Wed Jun 10 16:40:10 -0700 2009 4761315 224238 Caralien 4 4761787 Oh yes. Coffee is definitely one VERY important reason to have a means of boiling water. One more thing, OP: there are some pretty decent soups you can make from mashed potato flakes, bouillon + a few mix ins. Might make for a nice variation after a few days of eating mashed potatoes. Wed Jun 10 18:58:54 -0700 2009 4761428 64215 cimui 1 4761206 Get a vacuumed bag of gnocchi, sun dried tomatoes, some powdered stock (bouillon cubes if needed); pack a 2oz jar with olive oil...this is not really snack food, but will certainly help come dinner time. The gnocchi can be steamed/boiled in your cooking pot; toss in the bouillon and sun dried tomatoes. If you can, grate some hard cheese and put in a ziplock bag to toss on top of the meal. Apples are great for travelling--they're sturdy and don't require a knife and won't goo on you like citrus fruits (which leaves you with sticky hands). Dried fruits and nuts--as others have said--are great. If you want, you can take the apples and stew them with the dried fruits for dessert. YUM Mission figs are my favourite, as it takes awhile to chew them and they're so good. Grab a few Emergen-C packets (lighter than Gatorade). Instant mashed potatoes (the 100% potato versions, not the ones with a multitude of ingredients). Put into a ziplock bag; the box is too bulky. That with some curry powder--also good. Mozzerella sticks (string cheese) has wasteful packaging, but I haven't really found them going bad even in my desk drawer at work. Non-food related, but carry a small (2oz) spray bottle with 5-10 drops of essential oil of peppermint and filled with water; it keeps the bugs away and will cool you down. A long shirt that can be soaked in water for the ride is also helpful. Have fun! Wed Jun 10 15:31:59 -0700 2009 4760600 224238 Caralien 1 4761230 Grab some of those "energy" bars (about 180 calories per packet) for a quick picker-upper. My wife and I use them when we're traveling because the don't take up a lot of space and contain enough calories to carry us over between meals. Wed Jun 10 15:39:39 -0700 2009 4760600 203621 todao 2 4762018 Second this recommendation. One of my favorites is the Balance brand's Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch flavor. Zone Perfect bars are also good. Wed Jun 10 20:11:51 -0700 2009 4761230 57371 operagirl 1 4762066 High-fat (coconut?) low-sugar brownies, a little salty and with a lot of dark chocolate. Wed Jun 10 20:33:37 -0700 2009 4760600 40486 Cinnamon 1 4762107 GORP! Homemade granolas...dried fruit...crackers...chocolate...peanut butter crackers... Wed Jun 10 20:52:27 -0700 2009 4760600 114194 milkyway4679 1 4762135 i find when i'm being active like camping (portaging, hiking, canoeing) i don't have a large appetite and like to keep fueled with a few snack mixes. last time we went i made a savory, a sweet, and a gourmet mix. that plus mixed dried fruit rocked. as for meals, we ate them and they were good too. :) Wed Jun 10 21:08:54 -0700 2009 4760600 57801 lollya 1 4762700 to all - thanks so much for the great tips! i should have included more detail in the original posting but my blood sugar tends to run low so its important to have more substantial "snacks" or small meals or else i'll pass out on the back of a bike! - and yes, cimui, no matter what, i'm making room in the saddle bag for my french press made for camping! even if i have to leave other necessities at home! thanks again everyone! Thu Jun 11 06:51:58 -0700 2009 4760600 207355 jmullen1251 2 4762955 are you bicycling, or on a motorcycle? Thu Jun 11 08:00:23 -0700 2009 4762700 30273 hotoynoodle 3 4762976 motorcycle... Thu Jun 11 08:08:12 -0700 2009 4762955 207355 jmullen1251 4 4763226 i think most on here were assuming bicycles. if you're stopping for meat and such, you can also pick up other quick-cook stuff for dinner, like dried soup, eggs or what have you. sounds like you need snacks for on the back of the bike? emergen-c is great to stay hydrated. raw nuts, dried fruit, string cheese, (remarkably shelf stable) fruit leather, oatmeal cookies, crystallized ginger, small apples or tangerines. as you travel, restock. Thu Jun 11 09:13:01 -0700 2009 4762976 30273 hotoynoodle 2 4762961 Also, Alton Brown did a whole episode on making granola bars, protein bars and puffed rice bars: http://www.foodnetwork.com/good-eats/power-trip/index.html Thu Jun 11 08:01:23 -0700 2009 4762700 40486 Cinnamon 1 4763051 I do a lot of weekend and day tripping by canoe and kayak, and make my own Gorp (trail mix) from equal weights of berry granola, diced papaya, M&Ms and unsalted peanuts. You get fast energy from the chocolate, slow energy from the frui, and good filling nutrition from the granola. I make a couple pounds when I'm traveling by air too since the airlines are charging for meals or not serving anything these days. For a weekend trip I would extend the gorp with dinner made from flat pack tuna, salmon, beef or ham, hard cheese, real potatoes not powdered or flaked, a no-refrig required hard sausage, some dehydrated veggie soup mixes and a couple packets of Jiffy Mix cornbread or muffins. Thu Jun 11 08:29:13 -0700 2009 4760600 225234 KiltedCook