What to Eat Before Going Hiking
August 19, 2010 by Hikerama
Filed under hiking techniques
Hiking is one of the most rigorous exercises you can participate in. Proper nutrition is the key to maintaining your energy level throughout a long and difficult hike in the forest. Hydration is the most important part of being nutritionally prepared for a hike. Drinking water during your hike is important, but drinking water before your hike is what will get you truly hydrated. The night before your hike you should drink water even if you are not thirsty. You know you are completely hydrated when your urine is white. This is your body’s way of telling you that it has had enough water.
Having a good meal before your hike is also important for having a high level of energy throughout the entire hike. Many amateur hikers make the mistake of eating a large meal immediately before going out for a hike. Doing so is a big mistake because it does not give your stomach enough time to properly digest the food. Whenever you have a meal blood goes away from your muscles and towards your stomach. This makes it more difficult to participate in physical activity because your muscles have a much lower blood supply.
The best time to have a meal before a hike is approximately three to four hours before you go out. Having any old meal won’t get the job done! You have to have a healthy meal. Some healthy foods that you could incorporate into this meal are:
1) Pasta
2) Fruit
3) Vegetables
4) Lean Meat
5) Water
6) Light Bread
By incorporating these types of foods into your pre-hike meal you will be able to have an extremely high energy level throughout your entire hike. These foods are great because they are made almost entirely of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the best type of molecule for your body in terms of supplying a constant stream of energy. There are also some foods that you should stay away from before and during your hike. Some of these foods include:
1) Candy
2) Ice Cream
3) Cookies
These foods actually help to deplete your energy levels instead of increase your energy levels. The reason for this is that they give you a sugar high, but then you crash later on. If you want to have a good energy level throughout your hike you should avoid these foods at all costs. By eating properly before your hike you will be able to have a great level of energy throughout your entire journey!
