When it comes to food, most hikers and campers take freeze-dried meals with them as well as dehydrated items. Fresh foods are usually left out of the equation because they may spoil if they’re not kept cool. However, there are some other tastier options available to you when heading into the wilderness. These are foods that will last for several days without spoiling or putting your health at risk.
A block of cheese is always a good option as it won’t spoil even if it isn’t always kept cool. Granted, it won’t be as firm as it would be if kept refrigerated, but it’s just as tasty and edible. Butter can be taken along since it won’t spoil at room temperature. It’s often a bit hard to carry though, which makes artificial butter a better choice. This can also be kept at room temperature and it can be purchased in squeeze tubes, making it pretty convenient for carrying along.
You can take fresh eggs with you even if they’re not refrigerated. Of course, the problem is trying not to break them on your trip. A better idea is to take along boiled eggs if you plan on eating them within 48 hours and if the temperatures where you’re travelling to aren’t too hot.
If you decide to take fresh eggs with you, special containers can be bought and used to keep them intact while backpacking. Just remember if you take fresh eggs in a container, you’ll still have to carry the container after eating the eggs. This isn’t the case with boiled eggs.
Dry cured bacon needs to be kept at a relatively cool temperature, but it doesn’t have to be kept refrigerated. As with eggs, it should be eaten up within 48 hours and kept out of the heat. It’s an ideal food to take out in the woods during the fall, winter, and early spring when the weather is usually cool. When the weather is warmer it’s better to take precooked bacon along if it’s kept in vacuum-sealed packages.
If you’re looking for an energy boost on your hiking trip you can try whole pitted dates, especially if they’ve been rolled in a date sugar. They make ideal snacks and provide quite a bit of food value rather than just sugar. Another type of food that can safely be taken along on short trips is cucumbers. These vegetable are made of about 95 per cent water and offer campers and backpackers a variety of minerals and vitamins. They’re great for keeping you hydrated. However, if they are kept too long in warm temperatures they will turn mushy.
In fact, there are many types of tasty foods that can be taken on a wilderness trip. Be creative if you’re tired of taking along the same old dehydrated and freeze-dried goods. You can spice up your camping meals by being a little experimental. There are numerous types of  vegetables and fruits that don’t have to be refrigerated all of the time.
If you’d like to take along some of your favourite foods while enjoying a hiking and/or camping trip it’s a good idea to just do a little bit of quick research on them. Just check out how the foods should be stored and if there are any health risks involved with them. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
