Backpacking lunches? (Enough salami and cheese on bagels!)

[The hermit]

I dont crave that much sugar when im out. I need something salty for lunch. Electrolytes? Sunflower seeds are a great addition when i have to ration my lunch supplies.

[sparky]

there is nothing more delicious in my backpack than a cooked tortilla, but it requires a modified handheld grill thing. They are so good with just about anything on it

[gary c.]

there is nothing more delicious in my backpack than a cooked tortilla, but it requires a modified handheld grill thing. They are so good with just about anything on it

AKA: a forked stick held over a campfire or even my Pocket Rocket if I have the extra fuel.

[strollinbones]

Brilliant! It's an embarrassment of riches!
I am humbled by the ingenuity and subtlety of some of your solutions. I'm eager to choose!

I wish I could add some secret to this list, but I was the one who asked, so, no such luck. I guess my best indulgence in the backcountry is still the splash (or two) of Bailey's I drop into hot chocolate. Oh yes...

thanks to all!
Strollin Bones

[Wandering Daisy]

How about moving this post to the food forum?

LOL. Crystal Lite after Hershey chocolate and peanut butter! Are you watching your waistline?

Depending on altitude and acclimation, you may want to cut back on fats. When first going to high altitude, fats can do a number on your digestion. My favorite lunch is dried fruit (particularly like dried apricots),jerky and a nutritionally balanced, low sugar trail bar. I particularly avoid sugar and candy as they seem to just raise my blood sugar and then lead to a "crash" in energy later. Drop a tea bag in your water bottle and in a few hours you have tea for a drink. My favorite is "Bengal Spice".

[The hermit]

Loose leaf yerba mate and jasmine green tea. My two faves. I got a plastic filter straw when i bought some tea online it weighs nothing and its really cool. I can even pick wild teas when i find them!

[markskor]

LOL. Crystal Lite after Hershey chocolate and peanut butter! Are you watching your waistline?

Yes, this body is registered, a temple...of doom.

Depending on altitude and acclimation, you may want to cut back on fats. When first going to high altitude, fats can do a number on your digestion.

When first going to altitude, everything messes with digestion – Big Time! Altitude, exertion, changes in water, hip belt tension, sleeping arrangements, food choices, etc...All contribute. Why pick on the yummy fats? Those first days, you usually have to force yourself to drink and snack, you are not that hungry, and usually no matter how well you dine, nothing passes. YMMV. By day four, then things change…I plan for this.

My favorite lunch is dried fruit (particularly like dried apricots), jerky and a nutritionally balanced, low sugar trail bar.

Coincidentally, your lunch sounds a lot like my breakfasts...Dried apricots, cashews, beef jerky...everything except those "nutritionally balanced, low sugar trail bars". My rule of thumb, if it tastes like chitty cardboard down here, probably will not taste any better up there. Eat what tastes good. Besides, I hear that dark chocolate is slimming.

[DoyleWDonehoo]

I will tell of ALL my meals:
Breakfast: 2 single serving bags of Peach Oatmeal, Tea and Hot Chocolate.
Lunch: Custom mixed gorp, MOJO bar.
Snacks: Power gel, Cliff Blocks, power beans, Vita-C.
Dinner: Package of Noodles (the good kind from an Asian grocery store), Tea and Hot Chocolate.

If it is a longer trip (over 5 days) I might put in chicken crackers and meat sticks.

As you can see, I don't make a big production of meals. I am out there to hike and take pictures, not be some kind of gourmand. Its just fuel. Eat and run.

[Wandering Daisy]

From
http://www.bodyresults.com/e2highaltitudenutrition.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

“Fat, while tolerated relatively well in the cold at sea level, may not be as well tolerated in diets at high altitude… Although high-fat foods are energy dense and reduce the weight/calorie aspect of food carried on climbs, fat requires more oxygen for metabolism than carbohydrate and will place a small, but added burden upon the already overtaxed oxygen economy of the climber.”

It is has been a standard in mountaineering for years to reduce fat at high altitudes. That is not to say no fat, and a spoon of peanut butter is fine, but most people have digestion problems if they eat too much fat. I like my fats at dinnertime, not when I am walking and heavily exercising. But each person has his own unique belly. On the average, if you take out a lot of people climbing at higher altitudes, you have less altitude sickness if you eat more quality carbs vs fats. Quality carbs do not have to taste like cardboard. I find the Larabars quite tasty as well as MoJo bars.

[markskor]

...people climbing at higher altitudes, you have less altitude sickness if you eat more quality carbs vs fats.

Well gosh...Having only been to a little over 20,000 feet...maybe just lucky then that the "added burden upon the already overtaxed oxygen economy" has never abated my copious enjoyment of local alpine surroundings.

Quality carbs do not have to taste like cardboard. I find the Larabars quite tasty as well as MoJo bars.

Totally agree about your, "each person has his/her own unique belly" comment...Whatever works for your's. Bought a assorted dozen Larabars (@ REI's 20% discount for buying a dozen sale) a few years back...tasted fine, initially.
BTW, still have 6 left...carried them for a whole summer too. Nobody would eat them.