I have posted some of the recipes from my Dall Sheep Hunt last year, but I thought a little High-Fat Keto (ish) Backpack Food Round-UP would be helpful. I learned a few things on my hunt, a couple of things I do differently next, found new products and developed new recipes so those notes will be included as well.
UPDATE! Here is the lastest High-Fat Keto (ish) Backpacking Food List.
The Benefits of Fat-Fueled Sheep Hunting
- Less Inflammation (especially if you are eating healthy foods)
- Lighter food (bonus: fatty foods taste really yummy)
- Mental clarity
- More energy
- Hunger feels different, less urgent
- No energy crashes
Here are posts about Why You Should Go Keto for Sheep Hunting and the Nutrional Plan I used to become Fat-adapted.
WARNING before packing high-fat, mostly low-carb foods I spent several months becoming fat adapted. If you are not fat-adapted you should stick to meals with plenty of carbs, or you will feel crappy. If you have questions about becoming fat adapted let me know:)
Keto Breakfast in the Backcountry
What I Packed
Instant Backcountry Bulletproof Coffee*
How Much It Weighed
1.5 oz
How Many Calories
About 500 kcals
Pros
- Really simple to prep at home
- Really simple to make in the backcountry
- Contains fat (with some MCTs), protein (some collagen), and caffeine.
Cons
- I didn’t love the taste of the MCT powder I used.
- Sometimes it’s hard to drink 500 Calories first thing in the morning.
Next Time
Since my hunt, I have come up with 5 new recipes for Protein Keto Coffee that taste better. Next hunt I will probably bring a could of each.
I will also bring black coffee for first thing in the morning and wait until I am hungry in the morning to have my cup of “bulletproof” coffee.
Snacks
What I Packed
Triple Cocoa Coconut Fat Bombs
How Much It Weighed
Just over 1.5 oz/ 3 balls
How Many Calories
Almost 400 kcals/3 balls
Pros
- High-fat
- contains chocolate (yummy)
Cons
- I can’t really think of any, but cocoa butter has a melting point of over 90 degrees F, so if it was hotter than that you might have a mess, but that is not a problem where I live/hunt.
- Some people may not like them unsweetened, but you can add a little coconut sugar if you like (that’s how my husband prefers them).
Next Time
The TCC Fat Bombs will definitely find their way back into my pack.
What I Packed
Conventional Snack Bars (example: Cliff Bars)
How Much It Weighed
Varies greatly
How Many Calories
About 250-400 kcal
Pros
- Cheap
- Some taste pretty good.
- You don’t have to make them.
Cons
- They are full of sugar and other additives.
Next Time
Since going on my last sheep hunt, I have found some other brands that are more to my liking. They have “cleaner” ingredients and higher fat content. Next time I will bring some of them.
Here are some of the bars I’m considering
- BULLETPROOF Collagen Protine Bar
- PRIMAL KITCHEN Dark Chocolate Almond (collagen) Bar
- PaleoValley SuperFood Bar
- Heather’s Choice Coconut Packaroons (not keto)
Here is my Pinterest Board for Keto Backpacking Foods. As I find bars and other keto/healthier food options I add them to this board. Closer to hunting season I will start testing them out on longer hikes, I’ll post my findings on Instagram.
Keto Lunch in the Backcountry
What I Packed
Super Easy Packable Keto Lunch
How Much It Weighed
About 4 oz
How many Calories
About 500 kcals
Pros
- Contain fat and protein
- Taste good
- If you use Paleo Valley Beef Sticks, they contain probiotics, to keep your guts happy in the backcountry
- These were so good, I still make them for lunches on the go, and almost always have some in my fridge
Cons
- I’ll let you know when I find of one
Next Time
I’ll probably back just macadamia nuts. I love them and they have a high-fat content, and I don’t really mind eating the same thing every day.
Keto Dinners in the Backcountry
What I Packed
DIY High-Fat Dehydrated Meals*
Note: To make these meals truly “keto” you will need to leave out the potatoes in the Japanese Curry and the Beans in the Chili. I don’t really care if I am #keto. I wasn’t worried about some carbs because of the high amount of physical activity I was doing. My goal is never to be “KETO”, I just want to feel my best and decrease my pack weight.
How Much It Weighed
About 6.5 oz.
How Many Calories
At least 900 kcal
Pros
- Tasted really good
- Contain, fat, protein, veggies, and collagen
Cons
- They are a bit of a project to make but can be made way ahead of time and stored in the freezer.
Next Time
I’ll probably try different recipes because I love making up new ones.
If you want an even lower carb dinner, check out my new recipe Low-Carb Dehydrated Berbere Chicken Soup!
I will switch to fat packets, such as ghee and coconut oil, instead of putting butter in a Tupperware container, for less mess and easier portioning.
UPDATE: Recently I have been playing around with powdered butter. While it doesn’t taste quite as yummy, it can be added to the bag before it is sealed.
Treats in the Backcountry
What I Packed
Mini-candy bars
How Much It Weighed
Less than 1 oz
How Many Calories
about 40
Pros
- Great little treat
- Good for morale
Cons
- Might kick you out of ketosis for a bit, but honestly, I don’t care. Sheep hunting is such hard work I would bet most of the sugar is used to replenish glycogen. And sometimes the morale-boosting effect of a little candy is just worth it.
Next Time
Mini-candy bars will always have a place in my pack (especially dark chocolate, Snickers, or dark chocolate peanut butter cups), that is my choice, you decide if they are worth it for you:)
Supplements
What I Packed
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Spirulina Tablets
Turmeric
Here is a post on what I brought and why
Next Time
I will bring them again, they made a huge difference.
Next hunt I will also bring Wilderness Athlete Paleo(ish) Hydrate and Recover, and their Mid-night Build. Since my hunt, I have started using them and love them. They really help me recover after a hard workout, which sheep hunting is:)
Totals
What I Packed
- Instant Backcountry Bulletproof Coffee
- Triple Cocoa Coconut Fat Bombs
- Conventional Bars
- Super Easy Packable Keto Lunch
- Mini-Candy Bars
- Supplements
How Much It Weighed
Just over 1 pound per day!! All packed up and ready to go! Not kidding you!
How Many Calories
Over 3000 kcals!
Pros
- I felt great!
- All the food was really enjoyable, let’s face it, everything tastes better in the backcountry.
Cons
- It took some time to make all the food.
Next Time
I will never go back to Mountain House’s and Low-Fat, high-carb backpacking food! I will make a couple of tweaks here and there, but for the most part, it will be the same.
*I did pack a couple Heather’s Choice Dinners for days I felt like more carbs or wanted more variety and a couple of the breakfasts for my husband (I ended up eating one as a celebratory meal). This hunt was before I knew Heather or had done any projects with Heather’s Choice, I just think it is a really solid company and makes great healthy options.
Hope this helps you. It is always important to try out new foods before your hunt. Just because they worked for me doesn’t mean they will work for you. Remember your mind and body are under a lot of stress when you backpack hunt and that will change the way your body reacts to different foods.
Let me know what you pack and if you have any questions. You can always find me on Instagram to see how I am getting ready for my next hunt.
Thank you for your response. ✨
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