Bushwalk Australia

There doesn't seem to be much of a discussion anywhere about "breakfast". As someone who likes to simply add boiling water, I find that my breakfasts are a bit boring. Some help is clearly required!

What suggestions are out there for spicing up the start of the bushwalking day?

Agree, breakfast can be boring.

I have dryed baked beans on several occasions for a bit of variety. It works pretty well as long as you don't stir them too much during the drying process or while they are being rehydrated. Stirring too much leads to baked bean mash rather than just "baked beans".

I usually start the rehydration process overnight so they are well ready in the morning. Just gently heat and add a bit of salami or ham and maybe toast some "flat bread" or wrap. Beats porridge, and gives you that bit of extra "jet propulsion" as the day goes on!

Yes I am afraid it is only boring porridge (add hot water) or pancakes with a bit of maple syrup when you have more time in the morning, for me. So will be good to hear some other options. Shorter walks I take Just Right with some drinking yoghurt, but obviously too heavy on longer trips.

Cheers, Slick

I picked up a few ideas from this site, which has been mentioned in several forums before:

http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/breakfast.htm

On a trip a few weeks ago I tried this one:

Uncle Tobys Instant Porridge (cinammon & brown sugar (?) flavour) x 2 satchets
1 table spoon coconut cream powder (available from most supermarkets in the curries etc. section.
1 table spoon instant milk powder
some mixed dried fruits (dates, pear, apple, apricot)

Put in individual zip-loc bags & simply add boiling water (I was skeptical, but they don't melt & can be eaten straight out of, meaning no washing up at brekkie - just use a spoon not a spork or the like as they will puncture the bag) & knead for a minute to mix & let sit for a couple of minutes (wrap in a top or one of these if you want to go all out ( http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/fbcfabriccozies.htm )to keep warm).

At least a bit of a variation on standard boring porridge.
Your imagination is the limit, as always on multi-day trips variety is essential.

Also found one of these make a nice change from instant coffee (Vittoria vs. Nescafe - no contest!) / tea bags
http://www.msrgear.com/cookware/mugmate.asp

Stu.

As one who doesn't eat a lot of breakfast cereal normally - fresh fruit for me... - I have experimented quite a bit over the years, rehydrated dried fruit is no substitute for the real thing I can give you the tip! Used to take mueseli and/or porridge, but have never found them satisfying.

The best thing I have found in recent trips is using zip top bags, as stubowling notes, and making a 50/50 mix of Granola Clusters and Lite'n'tasty with a powdered milk. Add some hot water, mix, well, leave stand for a few minutes, and its quite nice. For a bit of variety, pancakes are simple and taste OK as well.

Tony Robinson

Bacon and Eggs on short walks. Will take english muffins to put them on next time, after watching sthughes toast his muffins at Lady Lake. Egg & Bacon Muffins!

For a quick Brekkie Lowans Cup of Oats just add boiling water it has all the flavours you need ,if you have more time and need more energy 2 Min Noodles with a Cream of Chicken COS will keep you going till lunchtime.
If you are willing to carry the weight you can use a "toaster" over your stove and do muffins /bread/raisin bread and add spread of choice .
I dont do the Eggs and Bacon thing now but it was devine when I did and will welcome sthughs offer when on our next Stroll

Hm, I usually have fresh fruit and cereal on a normal day, with maybe a slice of toast with some honey or whatever, really. Depending on whose turn it is to make breakfast, I will eat whatever my girlfriend sets on the table. On bushwalking days, I’ll eat a little more, so I feel nicely full – some eggs and bacon, maybe, or a sausage, or a few slices toast more than usual.

luke.870 wrote: Depending on whose turn it is to make breakfast, I will eat whatever my girlfriend sets on the table.

With a bit of careful planning you could make sure that you only go walking when it's her turn to make breakfast. You might even get away with it for quite a while .... unless she also reads these forums

stubowling wrote:Also found one of these make a nice change from instant coffee (Vittoria vs. Nescafe - no contest!) / tea bags
http://www.msrgear.com/cookware/mugmate.asp

I have a similar device - great for tea or coffee (be it in the office, or on track) ... picked it up from the local coffee merchant (this one was in Centrepoint, Hobart) for around $5
I'm of the opinion that "Instant" after all is a filthy word in coffee department

Breakfast Christmas morning -- Bacon & eggs with Hollandaise sauce on fried pita bread...very nice

When Mrs Whiskeylover and I did the South Coast Track we had porridge each day .The night before we would bring the oats to the boil in water with dried fruit [( home dried pears ,apple ,peaches ,mango ,apricots ) used different fruit or mix each day ].A lid was then placed on top and the pot was the put under a possum or beastie proof rock or log and left overnight . In the morning it was heated up ,as it has soaked it does not take much cooking, so less chance of burning .The porridge was then sprinkled with milk or sugar or other preferd topping . This changed the flavor of the Porridge and made it a change each day .Also the oats take up little room and keep the hunger bugs at bay for a fair while .Slightly off track the dried mango can be rehydrated with a little dried diced onion and a dash of cracked pepper to make a nice side dish to have with that curry you are having for lunch or dinner after the porridge.

whiskeylover wrote:When Mrs Whiskeylover and I did the South Coast Track we had porridge each day .The night before we would bring the oats to the boil in water with dried fruit [( home dried pears ,apple ,peaches ,mango ,apricots ) used different fruit or mix each day ].A lid was then placed on top and the pot was the put under a possum or beastie proof rock or log and left overnight . In the morning it was heated up ,as it has soaked it does not take much cooking, so less chance of burning .The porridge was then sprinkled with milk or sugar or other preferd topping . This changed the flavor of the Porridge and made it a change each day .Also the oats take up little room and keep the hunger bugs at bay for a fair while .Slightly off track the dried mango can be rehydrated with a little dried diced onion and a dash of cracked pepper to make a nice side dish to have with that curry you are having for lunch or dinner after the porridge.

I do much the same thing with one of my walking partners, only we don't bother heating it the night before, just put it on to soak. This is another good use for a Trangia, by the way. You can put it in the Trangia kit with the strap tied tightly around it to make sure the animals can't get at it.

I have a large bowl of Justrite muesli, as much as I can eat as late as possible, then I only need a small lunch.

Tony

+ 1 for porridge. I'm a big fan of Uncle Tobies Oat Temptations. There are 4 different flavours in the box, and it's dead easy to make (bring some water with a bit of condensed milk in to the boil, bung in the oats, and let it simmer for a minute or so, or until it's not runny anymore). Normally I find porridge to be a bit bland, but the flavoured stuff is quite nice.

Agreed.

Uncle Tobys instant porridge (using powdered milk) - with golden syrup all over it [my husband will also add dried fruit].

We did a two week hike with porridge as our main food. I have always hated the stuff, but I forced myself to eat it for a week, and now I enjoy it. The uncle toby individual packets also makes dividing food nice and easy.

I agree that the instant porridge is quick and easy, and even quite tasty. However, real porridge is soooo much nicer, and if soaked in cold water all night, is just about as quick and easy in the morning. If soaked with some dried fruit, it's extra tasty too!

My walk breafasts usually consist of a handfull of nuts (cashews or macadamias) and a single "fruit" jam type Uncle Toby bars or what ever other breakfast bars look interesting at the supermarket at the time.
Not saying its better than porridge but its a different option and no heating req'd.

Toasted muesli, some powdered mild a little sugar, just add hot water, let stand and presto a sort of milky, sweet, nutty, crunchy porridge. About 100gms per serve and keeps hunger away till lunchtime. Uses little fuel and easy to clean up.

G'Day
As far as longer trips go I’m with the flavoured porridge crew. Two satchels per day. Boil water in my mug, put porridge in my orikaso bowl, tip in water, stir, and then eat. That’s all, too easy.
For up to 2 nighters I usually just take breakfast bars.
Darren

wobbly wrote:My walk breafasts usually consist of a handfull of nuts (cashews or macadamias) and a single "fruit" jam type Uncle Toby bars or what ever other breakfast bars look interesting at the supermarket at the time.
Not saying its better than porridge but its a different option and no heating req'd.

This is almost exactly what I do including the shopping method. Muesli/breakfast bars of some type followed up with coffee and dried friut/nuts or biscuits. Keep it really simple. Last week's trip we used Uncle Tobys Twists fruit/jam bars and a couple of other types.

Came across a freezedried "Cooked Breakfast" by Back Country the other day and bought one for my last trip. Not too bad. Certainly more substantial than the flavoured oats that I normally take.

Can't beat good old muesli. Less sugar the better. I find personally instant porridges are too sweet, and bacon & eggs to heavy and fatty, both leading to sugar-lows an hour or two later.

Cheap, dense, keeps forever. Admittedly it is boring but to me its just a pit-stop between luxurious, mouth watering dinners.

Personaly i like the idea of the freeze dry breakfast and will be trying it on my next walk. well ill try one before the walk to see if its stomachable first.

Just dont get the bacon and eggs one with sausage! GROSS!!

I personally have 2 or 3 weet-bix with powdered milk. They are light and nutritious.
On multi day walks like recently (8days) I took 2 packs of porridge just to break it up slightly.....

I zip lock a mix of fruit muesli (untoasted), milk powder, psyllium husk and a bit of sugar. Add a bit of hot or cold water, knead the sealed bag and leave for a few minutes. Add extras like protein powder, endura or extra milk powder etc to suit the demands. The psyllium husk gives a gel-like consistency, as well as adding a bit more fibre for digestive health and satiety.

Good thing about this is I could eat it for all meals, not just for brekky.

johnw wrote: Muesli/breakfast bars of some type followed up with coffee and dried friut/nuts or biscuits. Keep it really simple. Last week's trip we used Uncle Tobys Twists fruit/jam bars and a couple of other types.

Right on! Minus the coffee, of course.

scavenger wrote:

johnw wrote: Muesli/breakfast bars of some type followed up with coffee and dried friut/nuts or biscuits. Keep it really simple. Last week's trip we used Uncle Tobys Twists fruit/jam bars and a couple of other types.

Right on! Minus the coffee, of course.

No alcohol or coffee Do you have any vices

+1 for muesli

I'm lazy, in the mornings I just want to get going without faffing about. The most I will do is add a cup of tea. Saves fuel too.

Good muesli, untoasted and with plenty of dried fruit and nuts in it. Skim milk or UHT if it's a short trip.

Brett wrote:

scavenger wrote:

johnw wrote: Muesli/breakfast bars of some type followed up with coffee and dried friut/nuts or biscuits. Keep it really simple. Last week's trip we used Uncle Tobys Twists fruit/jam bars and a couple of other types.

Right on! Minus the coffee, of course.

No alcohol or coffee Do you have any vices

I drink caffeine, but I take it cold and fizzy. And as for my weekly chocolate intake . . .