Spending time in the great outdoors is a great way to boost your health and improve your mood. Research even shows that spending time in the wilderness can increase your self-efficacy, improve well-being, and give you a deeper satisfaction with life.
But spending time outdoors can also be dangerous. You’re in a new environment, and there might not be a safety net there to save you if things go wrong. You need to consider factors like the route you’ll take, any obstacles you’ll face, and should account for the local wildlife that you will encounter. Most importantly, you also need to maintain a healthy diet.
A healthy diet can aid in decision making, will ensure you stay energized while adventuring, and can give you a psychological boost if you’re feeling low. So, before you head out into the backcountry, make sure you know how to maintain a healthy diet so you can enjoy your time and stay safe.
Meal Planning
Any outdoor excursion requires planning and preparation. You need plenty of warm, water-resistant athletic clothes, emergency care kits, and enough food to sustain you throughout your adventure.
It can be tempting to follow a spartan John Muir menu, but bread, tea, and a handful of nuts are unlikely to sustain you for even half a day on the trail. Trying to push through a large caloric deficit will likely result in an emergency.
Instead, you should meal plan thoroughly and bring enough food to last at least half a day, or more. You also need to be savvy about the kind of food you bring. It should be weight effective and easy to prepare with the tools you have on hand. To ensure you have a good time outdoors, you should plan your meal strategically. Bring food that meets your needs and the demands of the activities you plan on doing:
