Food is a big deal when you’re paddling all day. There are as many ways to get those much-needed calories as there are ways to do this trip, and everyone’s needs and tastes are a little different.
Some paddlers buy their provisions along the way in shops or stop in pubs whenever they can, some go with dehydrated camping food, others catch mackerel when they have time, and there has been at least one vegan. One guy ate 200 Snickers bars on his trip.
I’m going with mostly dehydrated and freeze-dried camping food, bars, and nut butters supplemented with fresh local fare whenever possible.
The last thing I want to do at the end of a long day is cook or find a place to eat, and this menu agrees with me.
A nutrition system
In putting together a nutrition plan and provisioning for this trip, I’ve had incredible support from Resilient Nutrition.
They’ve worked with ocean rowers and special operations units to develop nutritious, tasty, and calorie dense fuel for extreme environments. Their recipes contain nuts, natural oils, and ingredients you’ve actually heard of.
It’s hard to eat 4,000-5,000+ calories in a day, even when you’re reallly hungry, and stopping for a midday meal won’t always be an option on this trip. Nut butters, bars, and high calorie hot chocolate will help me get my fill.
The Menu
Breakfast
Big breakfasts and early starts don’t always go well together. I’m looking for energy density, washed down with plenty of coffee.
High protein Porridge from Resilient Nutrition. This goes well with a squeeze of their natural cocao & almond butter Emergency Survival Ration for some extra calories.
Lunch
Lunch is continuous: snacks every 30 minutes to an hour for as long as I’m on the water. I plan to have lunch in the boat most days
Nuts, salami, cheese, and fresh fruit.
High calorie hot chocolate, (Emergency Survival ration dissolved in hot water)
Dinner
A warm dinner gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day.
A large portion camping meal, either a REAL Turmat Field Meal or an XL Firepot meal. Adventure.ie was kind enough to give me a discount on my Turmat meals, and Ali from Resilient Nutrition donated some Firepots.
Tea.
Ibuprofin or “vitamin ‘I’” as through-hikers call it.
Fish, chips, and Michelin Stars
Ireland is a seriously under-rated foodie destination, and it would be a shame to take a trip like this and eat out of foil bags the whole time.
I plan to treat myself to pub meals and market day street food along the way, especially on weather days.
If it looks like I’m about to get windbound, I’ll take restaurant reviews into account when choosing a safe harbor.
Thank you, Team Fox donors! 🦊
Thank you to everyone who donated to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research so far.
Thanks for reading,
-Charlie
Thank you to Mike Jones for coaching and guidance.
Kokatat is the official gear sponsor of The Lap.
The lap will be fueled by Resilient Nutrition’s Long Range Fuel and bars.
Expedition coffee by 3fe.
CH Marine will be providing a VHF radio and other safety equipment.
Tent and cooking gas provided by Paddle & Pitch. Trolley by KCS.
REAL Field Meals at a discount from Adventure.ie.