Dinner

MANY OPTIONS

When it comes to dinner, the market offers a wide variety of dried packages with many different options to suit everyone’s taste. It took us some time to find the brand we personally liked the most. In the beginning, we bought food along the way, but this became too heavy and actually impossible when we started doing trails where we wouldn’t see a normal supermarket for weeks. Below, we will share some of the brands we’ve tried and would recommend. 

Keep in mind that we have above-average appetites. Most freeze-dried packages contain ‘only’ 600 kcal per portion. We aim to reach a minimum of 1000 kcal. The brands we show below offer larger or double portions of 1000 kcal or more. For most people, 600 kcal would probably suffice (or add a energy bar to your dinner for some extra calories!).

EXPEDITIONS FOODS

During our trip to Iceland, there were sections where a good water supply was lacking. The Globetrotter meals required too much water for these parts, so we opted for freeze-dried meals. However, we still wanted something with a similar calorie count. In our search, we came across Expeditions Food, a UK brand that offers double portion packages with around 1000 kcal – perfect for us. We particularly enjoy the vegan risotto (and that says something because we are not vegan!), the beef cottage pie, and the good old pasta bolognese. In our opinion, Expeditions has the best overal taste, nutrition score and price! 

This picture was taken on the Nordkalottleden, a trip on which Expedition Foods sponsored us.

 

GLOBETROTTER

We’ve consumed so many Globetrotter meals that we might be their absolute top ambassador. Globetrotter is a Dutch brand that produces high-calorie outdoor meals. What’s enjoyable about Globetrotter meals is that they offer many recipes, providing you with the feeling of cooking a full-blown meal. Each Globetrotter meal includes small packets of salt and pepper that you can add to your liking. It’s like being a chef on the run. 

When choosing Globetrotter, keep in mind that these meals weigh a bit more than most freeze-dried meals and require more gas and water to prepare. If you’re on a shorter hike, taking it slow with plenty of facilities along the way, Globetrotter remains our top pick.

SUMMIT TO EAT

Summit it to Eat would be our second best option. They offer great 1000kcal packages and have an overall great taste.  

REAL TURMAT

Real Turmat is one of the most well-known brands in the freeze-dried meals market. We’ve tried some of them, and they are propably the best we have tasted. However, we don’t use them often. They don’t contain as many calories and are very expensive.