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Submitted by admin on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 14:33
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Producing Heat, or Fuelling the Furnace: We must first come to an understanding of how your body produces heat. The primary source of all heat your body produces is the food you eat. There are many factors which determine how well the food you eat provides the body with the fuel it needs to keep warm.
- The Amount You Eat: First, expect to eat more when you are winter camping. In winter, you need food not only to keep you active, but to produce the heat that is lost in colder temperatures. A reasonable assumption is that your body will required 50% more food energy on a camping trip in the winter than on an equally active trip in the summer. Plan your meals portions accordingly.
- The Types of Food You Eat: Not all food provides the same type or quality of energy to your body. The list below is sorted according to the length of time a particular food provides the body with energy. Simple carbohydrates provide the shortest benefit, while fats provide the longest.
Fast Energy - Simple carbohydrates: Sugars, simple starches Medium-term Energy - Complex carbohydrates: Whole grains, ... Long-term Energy - Proteins: Meats, cheeses, nuts, legumes Slow-burning, Long-term Energy - Fats: Oils, fats, ...
- The Temperature of the Food You Eat: Choose hot over cold wherever possible: Unless you are on the trail, where cooking is a problem, always choose hot meals and drinks. The benefits should be obvious:
If you eat cold food, your body actually has to use up energy to warm up the food to body temperature. Hot food, on the other hand, provides your body with physical warmth in addition to the food energy it contains. Hot food and drinks have a psychological benefit as well. Never underestimate the power of anything which makes you feel warm. Make sure that you can eat enough by making the food you eat appealing. Stick to meals that can be eaten in a bowl, where the food tends to retain its warmth more than food served on a plate. Stay away from pancakes or meats which need to be turned to cook. More often than not, the exposed side of the food will cool off while the other side is cooking. By the time the food reaches your plate, it is has lost much of its heat and its appeal. Plan your meal so that it can be eaten immediately. There is little benefit in cooking a hot meal and then allowing it to cool before you eat it.
- When You Should Eat:
Regularly, if not constantly: You should never be apologetic about eating on a winter camping trip. While you will still tend to eat “meals” when camping, you should dispense with the notion of limiting your food intake to prescribed periods of the day. Your body is trying to stay warm all day long; help it out. On the trail: Make time for rest/re-fuelling stops along the trail. While you are physically active, you are burning up even more food energy, and your body needs to be compensated for that. At Night: Supper is a very critical meal when winter camping, since it will provide your body with the heat it needs to keep you warm through the night. Be sure to eat a good, filling, nutritious meal at supper. You should also budget for a snack before bed. Always plan for a hot drink before bed as well, although you might want to steer clear of things that will force you to answer the call of nature in the middle of the night (coffee, chocolate) In the Morning: Prepare and eat breakfast as soon as you get up. Your body will have used up most of your supper fuel by the time you get up. Therefore, you should re-stoke the fires as soon as possible. Plan for a hot drink with breakfast as well.
- And Wash it Down with Something:
Many people tend to ignore their fluid intake when winter camping, assuming that they do not lose as much fluid to sweating as in the summer. This is complicated by the fact that our mouths do not tend to inform us that we are thirsty as often as they do in the heat of the summer. Nevertheless, drinking sufficient fluids is no less critical in the winter than in the summer, and contrary to what you may think, you do continue to sweat, no matter how cold the weather is. In fact, if you are involved in strenuous activity, you can lose a great deal of body liquid to perspiration. Dehydration is as much a risk in winter as it is in summer. Furthermore, you need adequate fluid intake to help your body digest the food you eat. If you do not drink enough, you will not be making the most of the food energy your body has available.
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