@Babes & Board Games You say that now, but maybe if you were in that situation you’d change your mind. Perspective can shift quickly! Plus, COVID made coffee taste pretty bad to me 😭
I was grain-free for years, it was so nice to finally get to reintroduce foods slowly. My list of problem foods is much smaller now thankfully, but still restrictive. Thank you for the list of foods/brands. I still have a hard time finding trail foods
As you know, I admire many things about you. Some are: Where there is a will, there is a way You are relentless You know to do research and it shows You respond to those who reach out to you with knowledge and experience You take us along on your learning journey and we learn as well Looking forward to the backpacking trip and your assessment.
In 2014 AIP completely changed my life with multiple sclerosis. AIP truly helps with autoimmune issues, I’m so glad you found it! I’m 54 and am going strong backpacking the CDT in segments through Colorado. I usually bring my own dehydrated and fresh food but it’s not simple. I also bring tuna and almond butter. I love your packaged options and will sprinkle these in my menus.
Dixie, since you've reintroduced almonds, you might like Siete's almond flour wraps. They also have quite a few products made out of cassava (a root veggie), such as wraps and chips. They're grain-free. (I was so excited when I could finally eat chips again when I ate AIP!) Siete's a great company. It started because the Co-Founder had autoimmune disorders. They're committed to being free of: gluten, diary, soy, grains, GMOs, etc.
I used a fairly high carb diet on trail and it worked fine, but having tried keto a period for weight loss I think I could have cut back on carbs without deceased energy level. Personally (without any diabetic problems) I wouldn't go as extreme as keto for hiking, but thruhiking (and hiking in general) is more about many hours than extremely high intensity so super high carb levels aren't really necessary. Still I think a reasonable amount of carbs are useful, but interesting to hear that keto also works fine for hiking.
@@frstesiste7670 been keto for many years and prefer the way I feel being fat adapted. You don’t get the highs and lows you do from sugar. It is a significantly more even and longer lasting type of energy. Fats also have more calories per gram than sugar as well, so it’s lighter 😂
@S M the vast majority of the entire planet population has too much sugar in their diet. The AHA recommends that the average person consume no more than 24g of sugar a day. Currently the average American consumes 3 pounds a week. That’s 194g everyday. It’s actually insane how much sugar people consume. But it’s everywhere, it’s cheap, and damn it tastes good. It’s no wonder 71% of America is overweight or obese. Giving up sugar is one of the best decisions I have ever made, but I get why it’s hard for people to do. Always good to see you Turtle. Be well my friend 🙏
@@gratefulhikes Totally agree about overuse of (fast) sugars, but while thruhiking your activity level is way beyond an "average person". I tried to have fairly good diet on my thruhikes, but with more carbs than I'd normally eat. It's not easy though, often having to choose food from stores with fairly limited selection and it also had to be food that would keep in the heat and be fairly light. To me the biggest problem with high carbs on the trail was to switch back to normal after the the trail.
@@frstesiste7670 100% agree, switching back from 50-60 net carbs back to 15-20 is tough for me. My body likes the extra carbs, but if I’m not hiking it loves to store them around my belly and that I can not allow! I do find switching to trail food at the beginning of a hike is harder for me as I cook actual meals everyday and never really eat at restaurants. And while I have not been on a trip for more than 10 days while keto, I did do a test to see if I could keep keto on the AT by living off gas station, dollar general, and Walmart “resupplies” as well as a few town food outings for over a month. I have also watched countless resupply videos and videos of hostels and what they offer and my conclusion was you can 100% hike the AT getting the 4-5k calories you need per day and stay in ketosis. It will not be clean keto by any stretch of the imagination, but you can stay fat adapted and have all the energy you need to reach your goal. My research is based on the AT as that is the trail I’d like to do, but as others have said, where there’s a will there’s a way. And I also agree that my food bag is usually 25% heavier than my hiking partners that eat all backpacking meals, but I am ok with the extra weight. I hope all is well with you and yours, be well 🙏
1) Your vids are incredible, Dixie. Thanks for everything you do. 2) The ultimate low-carb-elimination diet is just meat. You can survive on it long term. The majority of food allergies are to plants. Nothing against plants, but they may have something against you. Start with ruminants (cows, sheep, goats, buffalo) before branching out. If you can tolerate eggs and small fatty fish, then add those as well. Cheese or whey/casein powder (again, if you tolerate it) for calcium source. Eggs are nature's most nutritious food. They are definitely worth eating when you are within a couple of day's of a store. It will take some time to adjust to a low-carb diet on the trail. You have to condition your liver to re-stock glycogen via gluconeogenesis. That's your body's way of making glucose when you don't eat any sugar or plants. Give it a month or so. You can taper off the carbs over time. Also, there is a spectrum of adaptation to burning fat instead of carbs. A month gets you started, but your body will continue to slowly improve for a while. Maybe a year or more. Fat adaptation has some benefits: - No need to eat every hour or two. - No snacks means greater weight budget for meals. - More stamina, less bonk (eventually; may take time). - Longer healthy life and less dementia. Carbs, over decades, cause metabolic dysfunction in at least half of the population. That leads to cardiovascular disease, dementia, and diabetes. The ultimate backpacking meat is pemmican. Canadian trappers lived all Winter on it. An entire buffalo weighs a mere 70 pounds when converted into pemmican. That includes the hide used to carry it. I haven't found a version of pemmican that I love, but you can put it in your pot to make a soup/stew. Maybe add some bouillon for flavor that you enjoy.
Dixie, regarding your diet. The 5 to 1 rule: it was originally used to determine a recommended balance between carbs and fiber in canned and processed foods. However I use it to determine a safe balance on days when I don't watch my carb intake. So, accordingly, the recommendation is a ratio of
I got a positive ana test result in my late twenties. I worried about rheumatoid arthritis because my maternal grandfather apparently had it. I saw a rheumatologist and after all tests I was told to take a wait and see approach since I had no other symptoms. Fast forward and I am turning 45 this summer and so far so good. I'm completely healthy. Hopefully it's the case for you.
“Where there is a will, there’s a way.” If a person has a will to be on-trail, they will find a way. I have such respect for the determination and creativity. Have a great trip!
Excellent topic. Thanks for getting the word out that clean eating is important. This is something I try to do as well but it is challenging with backpacking your video gave me a few more ideas. Please keep talking about this! The more awareness the better. Someone like a functional medicine doctor won't blow off your concerns and can dig down and find out what is bothersome, but reentry is also a good way.
This whole thing has to be at least a little frightening. Wishing you the best of luck and health Dixie. Thanks for sharing the journey, trail or otherwise.
I was so happy to see this video today! I have been trying to eat a lectin free diet, which eliminates inflammatory foods, similar to the AIP. I have rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease. Last summer I backpacked and took the Wild Zora foods you mentioned. They are pricey, but so worth it in quality of ingredients and nutrition. I'm going to buy a freeze dryer so I can freeze dry my own meals and only include the foods I want to eat. Good luck and thanks again for this video. It's so nice to see someone wanting to take food that isn't tortillas and pasta!
Hey Dixie, I've watched all your hikes and notice all the ticks you've had to deal with. I have lyme disease and bartonella from a tick bite. I also work for lyme literate doctors. You might want to get tested through Igenex or MDL labs. The regular tests most doctors run are pretty insufficient. Anyway, just a thought because when docs can't pinpoint a problem lyme disease is usually the culprit. That's why its called "the great imitator".
Interesting thank you. I have an "alternative" diet and need to eat clean as possible for health reasons. I've started making my own meals up but it can be quite a process. Good luck with your journey Dixie.
Thank you so much for this. I have to be very careful with my diet. I have inflamation due to severe injuries from a wreck I was in. It's taken me 3 years to get back to where I can hike. I have hiked and camped across the US and into BC previous to the accident. I am 73 and looking forward to being back out on the trail. I can not eat junk food. Thank you so much for your videos :) they are so good.
Great step forward in getting your health back. I can relate to your drastic change in diet, I did the same back in 2015 when I was having issues that my Internist doctor and another specialist had no idea what was causing my problems. I finally turned to a doctor at my church, a Chiropractor who also specializes in holistic healthcare (and a backpacker) and by following his advice I was able to halt my symptoms and turn my health around. It had everything to do with diet and by making changes it works. Hopefully in the long run your new approach to diet will work out well for you.
Hey Dixie, I have 3 autoimmune conditions (so far!) and have been making my own hiking meals for some time now - I base them around red lentils, edamame noodles and plant-based protein pieces (all very quick cooking with plenty of protein and fibre etc). However, edamame is soy-based so that might be an issue for you, and the plant-based protein is available in both soy and soy-free varieties. I add dried mushrooms, green peas and onions and flavor them with a non-allergenic soup mix (there is a company here in Australia that has a good range). One of my conditions is Mammalian Meat Allergy so I can't eat red meat....this resulted from a tick bite so beware of those ticks! I can't eat oatmeal, so my breakfasts are usually porridge made from quinoa/teff/chia seeds, but you would obviously need to make sure you can tolerate these foods first. I snack mostly on dried fruit, nuts and seeds that I've found I can tolerate. Yes, it is a pain in the neck but I eat healthier now than I ever have and get plenty of energy from these foods on the trail. Hope you can find the diet that works for you. 🙂
One of my favorite backpacking meals is I got a big batch of dried organic mushrooms varieties at Costco and blended them to a powder. I usually bring my own spices like salt, dill etc, freeze dried organic white onions are wonderful, Sometimes i add nutritional yeast. Znatuals has an organic dried cashew milk so I add that to make it creamy and have that with noodles also often made from beans.... but I also had lotus brwn rice/millet noodles left over from covid supplies. I also sometimes add some tvp but this wouldn't work for avoiding soy. Oh and a tip I got on the pct last summer was to be sure the really chew up nuts to a paste to bring out all the nutrients in the nuts. It really seemed to make a difference for me.
I hope you're doing better everyday 🤗 Sending love! I have dealt with MS since 2000, and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 2 years ago, and thankfully have had it in remission within a few months after! It's really individual, and hope you're finding what works for you ❤️🤗
I do a modified keto (under 50 net carbs) for backpacking. It is definitely possible. I was diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome in March 2020 and after trying Plaquenil and hating the side effects (severe phototoxicity and heart palpitations--not really conducive to a hiking life) I decided to try keto. I went strict keto March 2021 and after a couple months, all my AI symptoms were gone. Now, my ANA when I was diagnosed was DFS (densely fine speckled) and all the rest of the autoimmune tests were negative. My rheumatologist ran the Early Sjogrens Panel and that came back screamingly positive. Something to consider if you are in a similar situation. Update: My last ANA test, 10 months post keto, was negative. People underestimate the importance of diet, but it really is everything. I hope you find what works for you.
Very happy for you ! I have always relate to you over backpacking gear but now you are also talking my food language ! I am allergic to soy, not intolerant, I am truly allergic .I can’t eat grains neither cereals so … It looks like I do have something else in common with you now :) Thank you for this video jessica. It is somehow tricky to find specific diet food for backpacking … but there is one thing I know : there’s is no way I will be throw backpacking out the window ! ;) So as you said : when there is a will there is a way !!!! You go girl ! You are amazing Dixie Thanks for all the knowledge you are sharing with us I like to watch someone who has the same passion than me Kee yo the amazing work lady xxxx
As an up-and-coming thru-hiker with dietary issues….this gives me hope! Thank you, Dixie. You’ve got this. Questions for me is how/where to resupply, off trail or via resupply boxes (most of which I’d make at home before a thru-hike and send out to myself….) so it can be a wee bit overwhelming. That said, I’m used to cooking from scratch for myself because it allows me to eliminate problem foods.
A dehydrator and vacuum sealer may be your best friends. Most of those vacuum bags can also have hot water in them (but check the box/website). Or you may be able to buy sealer compatible bags like the off the shelf brands. The biggest thing to watch when dehydrating is the fat/oil content. Too high and it goes rancid too quickly. Cool and dark storage is best for longterm. These thoughts may be too late for the hike you referenced but may apply in the future.
I went keto and that solve all my health issues and I'm so happy I have my weight and health under control. It was horrible before and for me is better something that is strict I just don't miss anymore the old habit food. Happy you like it and works for you.
The Wild Zora dried fruit is my favorite dried fruit. I eat a whole bag for one breakfast when out backpacking. I don't like the Packaroons (I don't like coconut), but my husband loves them. In New England it's becoming more common to see preservative-free and organic food options everywhere, even in gas stations, pharmacies, and convenience stores, so I'm hopeful that future backpacking trip re-supplies will be easier for maintaining healthier diets on trail.
So glad to see this video and see options for people who are eating restricted diets and still be on the trail, as I am one of them. Best to you Dixie on your AIP backpacking journey.
I’m really excited about this. Interested in how you feel after four days of clean eating hiking. I’ve gone carnivore to reduce inflammation and it’s so good to feel better, but I wonder if you’ll have more or less energy.
You couldn’t tell how large the sweet potato was from the angle above, but the guard wouldn’t grip the sweet potato until it was smaller. When it becomes a bigger risk as it gets smaller, I use it.
Thank-you so much for making this! I have had so many autoimmune issues, and the effect of the backpacking diet on my body is one of the things I worry about most! YMMV, but I had weird autoimmune markers for so long (ANA, PR3), and I was recently diagnosed with NTM (group of non-contagious cousins to tuberculosis). Apparently you can get it from breathing in the bacteria in dirt. I had so many weird symptoms that went away once I got on antibiotics for this. Rare I guess, but maybe worth looking into!
Wild Planet sells packets of lower mercury tuna and packets of salmon. Both are wild caught and BPA-free. They even have packets of shredded beef, which makes good sloppy joes or tacos. Excellent company
I'm gluten intolerant and love Wild Zora. I also love Catalina Crunch cereal and cookies. Grain free, dairy free, high protein and so yummy on the trail! Not sure if AIP compliant but worth looking into to. Praying you find answers to your issues. I know that struggle and frustration. You are awesome! Hugs!
Thank you for featuring all of this! I have fibromyalgia and have been working to stick within the FODMAP diet (plus my lactose and soy intolerances). It is so good to know it is possible to still pack for a backpacking trip.
Lord, I am so happy to see this video. I'be been grain and lectin free for the past 3 years and I've been stressing about what to eat on the trail. This has definitely given me some great tips! Thank you!
The backpacking light podcast recently talked about freeze dryers and suggested a group chip in and share the use of an expensive freeze dryer machine. That made sense to me for those with a circle of backpacking friends from the same geographic area, hiking clubs, scout groups, etc.
You are wonderful and so caring of others. As a replacement to the morning coffee (sugar buzz) try hot jello as a drink, it will also add protein to your day. Not sure if it AIP approved. All the best.
Sesame seed hot drink is an excellent choice for your hot drink Time. You have to roast it a little bit on Frank pan and it will develop some oil but don’t worry about that include that in your drink it’s very healthy. Then, you can boil water add this paste and add coconut sugar only and it will be a delicious drink or you can complement it with some cinnamon that will enhance the flavor. You don’t have to roast this at campsite. Just roasted beforehand at home and carry it with you in a Ziploc. Tahini is pretty much the same thing but it kinda comes with nothing but the sesame seed paste. If you really really want to reach your goal of getting healed you must eliminate animal product from your diet. Animal protein is very bad for you, besides, it will stick to your colon and rot and keep on sending toxins to your bloodstream. Some people don’t go this far because they think the research is enough but I had to do it because of my heart condition and my life it’s so much better after I have made these changes. Your best choice would be is to do like I do, are you dehydrate everything and avoid all processed foods out there with some exceptions like almond butter, coconut wraps and a few others pretty much. Thank you so much for sharing this video. I learned some things from it. I did not know about the freeze dryer. And I didn’t know about the coconut wraps. God bless you Dixie.
What we eat is one of the few things we can control. I am proud of you, I grew up sickly but took control of my health at 22. Realizing I will have to cheat a bunch on the AT will be a struggle
When buying food online, buy from the source. Retailers like Amazon often sell expired and counterfeit products. This happened to me (once, never bought from them again) as well as at least one other person I know. If it goes in, or on you, buy it from a reputable source.
For crunchy root veggie crisps I've had success using the Oxo peeler. Spiralizing and dehydrating zucchini or squash or beets or root veggies can easily sub for "spaghetti". Or chop it up and you have "rice". There's also peelers that make long thin strands. And if you use the mandoline often, my kevlar glove has saved me numerous serious ouchies.
It is nice to know there are actually options for those on an elimination diet and are hiking and camping. I had to enter into such a diet 20 years ago - it was a life saver in that it identified what foods were causing my body to attack itself. The next most important step is identifying why the situation is taking place - what is causing or has caused certain foods to trigger such bodily chaos. If you don't identify and address the ultimate cause you can end up in the food allergy merry -go- round as previous non-allergenic foods become presently allergenic and you have to start the whole process over again and again. I hope you attain good health and continued great hiking!
Thanks for this Dixie! Hubby and I both have autoimmune diseases, me with crohn's, he with Celiac. we are trying to eat cleaner and we are already implementing some things. Backpacking foods will definitely pose a problem though and I'm not sure I can do without coffee without killing someone 🤣 Definitely going to do the pumpkin bark!
I feel this re: coffee. I have had to give it up because I have TMJ and caffeine makes it so much worse. I don't know if it is AIP compliant, but I switched to 'emergen-c' in the morning instead. It comes in a powder, many flavors, and is an energy boost without the coffee jitters.
@@alyss8213 Thank you for the tip! I'm trying a few alternatives but probably won't give it up unless I absolutely have to. I will at least be cutting down while on the A.T. just because it's a pain to make it every morning! 🤣
Your idea for your own freeze dried meals is a good one. Until you can afford one of your own you can buy the ingredients through thrive life foods. I buy the meats i want and the fruits and vegetables and put together my own meals...They also have beans and other proteins you can buy. The nice part is if you only want to try it you can buy the smaller cans first. I have used their foods for about 8 years now and they are high quality and so easy to assemble into meals.
This is how I see it….spend money on food that manages and is healing your health issues or spend big bucks at the pharmacy on prescriptions that try to manage symptoms of your issue. Pills don’t fill your belly . Can’t wait to see where this upcoming walk is!
Have been paleo for 5 years now. Am so happy to learn about all of these brands that aren’t in our supermarket. Have been cooking from a scratch and doing my best to avoid grains and preservatives. Thanks for sharing your journeys with us. At 86 my traveling days are over but l can still camp out in my backyard. Where there is a will there is indeed a way.
This is great information. Costs can be brought down with more DIY. And as you point out, 3-7 day trips have different nutritional needs that athletic endurance events like thru-hiking. I have planning some bikepacking trips and will be taking my gas station cuisine avoidance road show with me.
My husband and I had to quit our first AT attempt because I lost energy. Once we got home I learned that I have PCOS. I was advised to cut out gluten and dairy to eliminate inflammation. It has made a huge difference on this AT attempt.
Great video Dixie! I'm glad to hear you are on a healing journey! This is great information for folks as there is a rise in autoimmune conditions post vaxx for many people. Happy healing and happy trails to you!
Hey Dixie! What a great video. I have been living a LCHF lifestyle for many years now and have spent so much time modifying my nutrition to keep inflammation at bay. Once I realized how amazing life without inflammation was, I decided I never want to go back. Your macros were interesting, have you run the numbers for net carbs? Just curious. Thank you for putting this together, I really hope that you can find a nutritional path to get you where you want to go. 🙏 Thanks for bringing us along today. I hope tomorrow’s miles are kind. Keep truckin’ and be well. -Grateful
@@HomemadeWanderlust thanks! I thought it was total carbs like the pie chart. Still more than I can do in a day, but pretty dang low for a hiker! I am so excited for you to nail down a nutritional path that works for you. Food that works and brings us comfort is so important and not having to worry about it, at least for me, is a huge relief. Thanks again for the amazing content. Be well 🙏
@S M well I want to do it in one day, but my group wants to take it easy so 2.5 days. We are adding the extra peaks so 13 4k’ peaks total, so it will be hard but fun. Can’t wait!
Great info! You can also buy empty baby food pouches if you are considering making your own fruit/veg puree. Then you can tailor the flavour to whatever you want and reuse the packages.
Wow, what a fantastic video. I think your macros are great. Also calorie count is low, but what I usually survive on until pigging out in town, hahaha. I understand your change. Please report back the outcome and how you refine it.
Thanks Dixie. Although understanding of your need for a modified diet, I must admit that without coffee in the morning, I might rip the heads off of nearby campers. Thankfully you are more docile. 😁 Best of luck on the journey.
As someone with other health issues that keep me from eating the way a typical person does I cringe at videos of the way through hikers eat. Thanks for exploring some healthier options! I'm hoping healthier pre made backpacking foods become more readily available and I hope to find easier diy solutions available as well.
You can try green tea in the morning, it has caffeine along with other similar substances, I find it less harsh/jittery than coffee but it still wakes me up! Good luck 🥰
For the pick me up like caffeine on the trail but without the jitter, I use the brand mud water. It's just like coffee but is made a mushrooms like lions Maine, chicken of the woods, chaga... and more. Look up mud water.
This is awesome!! I recently started a low carb, high protein diet where I track my macros and gym time. I've been wondering how that will translate for me on trail and this video so SUPER helpful and informative! Thanks as always, Dixie!!
Good luck with your nutritional journey! Protein is amazing! It will give you good calories and aid muscle growth, but I have found that you have to have you healthy fats for if you want to have good sustained energy while hiking. The body just doesn’t convert protein at a rate that is in sync with hiking energy needs. I have a few friends that are carnivore and they will use ghee to adjust their macros on training days, works well and mmmmm ghee! They follow their carnivore nutrition most of the time, it’s just the training and race days the change it up. It is always amazing to read about another person respecting their health and making necessary changes to be able to live their best life. I wish you all the best Bree Bree. Be well 🙏
I am impressed with your new clean diet. Discontinuing the processed junk food you were eating can only help. Have you considered discontinuing the use of your aluminum cook pot? That can’t be good for you.
If you take OTC vitamin supplements, vitamin D3 with K2 is great for inflammation. Also, vitamin B6 is especially good to take if you have high levels of CRP (C-reactive protein) on your lab tests. Best of luck with your diet plan!
Hi Dixie Another great vid. I agree with two other comments about getting checked for Lyme's. I had a high ANA count and the doctor referred me to a rheumatologist cuz my mama had RA but I asked for a Lyme's test instead. It was pretty inconclusive (as they almost always are) but we treated it as Lyme's anyway. I went on the Cowden Support Program for 7 months and have been better ever since. (Tho now they actually have a lot of success treating Lyme's with Stevia of all things!) I still avoid certain inflammatory foods like soy, pasta, grains etc. cuz some foods make my joints achy. And I'm still very outdoorsy and pulling ticks off. Time to re-treat all my clothes with that permethrin spray! Happy tails!
Inspiring. I'm pretty new to backpacking but i have eaten AIP and elimination diets :), I still eat mostly paleo. Couple quick ideas. Sweet potato dried noodles, AIP "latte mix", AIP crackers and chia bomb breakfasts - once out of elimination phase :).... Breakfast: A chia bomb... essentially the same idea as cold soaking oats overnight but you use chia instead - if you can reintroduce it. They are NOT compliant in the elimination phase but some experts say they are actually excellent for fighting inflammation in the body so if you are out of elimination phase and can tolerate them they are good option. They are super light and expand a ton in water. Chia is high in protein, fibre, and several minerals and can be used in a clean sports drink as they hugely support hydration (they absorb 12 times their weight in water), plenty of nutrition and have a long shelf life (like 2 years). So basically you put in a couple tablespoons of chia seeds in a ziplock with whatever dried fruit and nuts you can have - tons of combo options here. You can also add dried coconut milk powder and/or a flavorless clean collagen/ gelatin powder for extra protein. The dried fruits will also really rehydrate a lot over night . You then soak it all overnight with water or if you have a clean juice box (we have 100% organic apple juice pouches here) you can use juice too. I know a couple of athletes who use this sort of meal for performance. You could pre-make a few of these and they'd store easily out on the trail. In a pinch they don't need to go overnight, the chia will expand and soften in about 30 mins with some stirring but it will really thicken and gel up overnight :). For hot drinks could you use a coffee sub like dandelion or chicory? Both are made as instant powders and tea bags. For example you could pre mix dandelion, chicory, dried coconut milk and cinnamon together. Then just add to hot water and make a sort of mock AIP compliant "latte" - it's yum though coffee drinkers (myself included) do say it doesn't taste like coffee but most agree it's a pretty satisfying substitute :). You could also use herbal teas or bone broth which is high nutrition, often used in gut healing protocols and comes in a powder - just add water - this can also be used as the base for many dishes. You can get it as chicken, or beef etc, plenty of peeps like to drink it as a hot drink.. i tend to cook with it :). You can also make a huge variety of crackers using almond flour and tapioca flour (or tiger nut flour etc). You can season them with whatever you want and bake them in the oven. I've blended veggies into the batter, included mushroom powder, protein powder and, used all sorts of herbs and flavor profiles. You can also make a sweet one if you want instead. You can either bake in the oven or dehydrate them (if you aren't trying to eat raw then baking is way easier and quicker). They last just in an airtight container on the counter for well over week easy. If they are really dry and crunchy i've had them last 2-3 weeks without any fridge (the fridge actually makes them go soft). We used them with whatever we wanted to typically put on crackers or bread. When you get to the phase that you can reintroduce flaxseed these can used too - they go really really crunchy. You can just google flaxseed crackers to get a ton of ideas for specific recipes for all these sorts of crackers. There are also tons of AIP trail mix, trail bars and trail bark recipes online you could make to save money. And lastly you can buy packets of sweet potato noodles like Ramen noodles. They are made out of 100% sweet potato starch and cook in hot water - they don't taste like sweet potato in fact like most noodles they don't taste like much at all without some sort of flavoring or sauce. We have used them in place of pasta or asian noodle dishes many times You could have with almond butter if you can have that now, or you can make a ramen type substitute with bone broth powder (or your approved soup mix) and cook the noodles in that as a couple options. At home i've made many sauces to go on them. They are light and don't need refrigeration, you can find them often in a standard grocery store in the asian section or in any asian market. My teen really appreciated them when she did AIP for a while. Looking forwards to checking out more of your vids and learning more about backpacking! - new hobby :).
2016 AT Thru Hiker and frequent backpacker here. I tried a “clean” eating approach on many of my trips this past year. My one personal critique I found was to make sure I kept some form of quick/fast absorbing sugary food on hand. I hiked the Linville Gorge loop in August one year. The heat, the open steep hills, and the lack of wind led to me dealing with a lot of heat exhaustion like issues. But once I felt bad and just needed something like a quick fructose-y sugar (like Gatorade or gummies) I just didn’t have it on hand and my body was not happy about digesting the healthier grains I had in my dinner. Hope your meal kit goes well. And I think a cleaner approach is great. But it is worth noting there may be times the bad food so to speak can come in handy. Thanks for your videos and best of luck!
I’m off and on Paleo. I do it because it helps a lot with my anxiety. On paleo, I can have potatoes. I don’t love the Wild Zoe’s meals but, like you’ve discovered, it’s about the only option. So, I have found clean instant mashed potatoes at Whole Foods. I eat the Wild Zora meals over the mashed potatoes and it’s a game changer. Also, Wild Zora has a few breakfast items in the “meals to go” section. They’re actually pretty good. I did not care for the packs of instant cereal but these are good.
I am so glad I watched your video tonight. I follow AIP, I have for years! I also have beef following your page for quiet some times! 🙂. I have been wanting to do a longer trail but always worried about not having enough food for the trail. I am so glad that I found it and hopefully you will make some more videos like that! Thank you! ☺️
Wonderful coverage of AIP on the trail, Dixie! Thanks for the ideas and good luck as you continue on, with better health making these tweaks to your eating plan. 👏🏼
I’m Primal/Paleo. Very low carb, no legumes. I can drink coffee and do take dairy without issues, manly hard cheese. I avoid sugars and sodas like the plague. I have no problem hiking. It can be done and eventually it just comes natural.
Hi Dixie, My wife was diagnosed with RA and took many many different drugs,(nsaids, steroids, suppressors,... ) and has since passed. But, one of the things she did was go on a Cole foods diet and she faired fairly well with that (your results may vary). It did however make her poop and gas smell like cow patties so there is that. Good luck with your search for what works well for you and if you don't find something that works so good, please remember that it's not your fault. Less that desirable things happen to folks all the time and is in no way a reflection on you whatsoever. It just IS. Take care sweetie. Tootles... Wade
Wow, great job working with your dietary needs and finding alternatives. I can't wait to watch the recap video of how all of it works for you. It absolutely blows my mind how unhealthy most people's backpacking food lists are thinking 1) you can eat anything while exercising a lot and it's "ok", and 2) it's ok to eat candy and sugar for much of your calories. Of course, if it works for you, go for it! Something that make work as a coffee alternative is Mud Water which has different kinds of mushrooms, cinnamon, cocoa, turmeric, etc. It's like a chai tea, but not, and has very little caffeine. I find the mental clarity benefits incredible! Have a great trip!
I found Lundberg rice crackers were my go-to neutral snack that actually tasted good! And, whenever you get around to reintroducing caffeine, and if you want to be healthier than coffee, check out matcha!
As a retired nurse, I wish you the best take care. Also, depending on your ANA number you can have a false positive, test other markers like sed rate and C-reactive protein
Thanks for this video! I think we will all learn a lot about managing nutrition better from your experience :) Consider the glycemic index of your carbs before you say goodbye to them. I just did an elimination diet that focused on low GI carbs, and it really normalized my energy levels and I have really minimized pre-diabetic 'crashes'. Great snack you can make in the oven is roasted chickpeas. Light, and good for the trail.
Dixie this is good information. I have Lupus, I am a biker, hiker, swimmer and yoga teacher. I am 63 years old and these diets are so expensive and not affordable for someone on social security income. I modify my diet but can't follow this particular diet when on trail or camping. I am looking forward to see how this works for you. I just find it boring and limiting. For me clean, whole foods work best. I hope Virginia told you fatigue can be a trigger for auto immune positive people. Watch that on trail and make sure to listen to your body. Good luck to you and love your videos.
Thank you so much for posting this! I have an autoimmune disorder that greatly effects my digestion (crohns). I’ve been planning a two week backpacking trip with my dog and really had no idea what I was going to eat. I’m also a vegetarian so that limits me even more. I’m going to look up these companies you are talking about!!
I'm celiac and also am dairy free and low fodmap. It's always nice to see other hikers/backpackers eating a different diet. I've always thought that if I had the money I would start a backpacking food company. There are so few options!
* I forgot to mention the Packaroons have almond flour, so they are also a "re-intro" food and NOT AIP compliant.
New backpacking trip up next!
Hey y’all Dixie here 😅😅😅 love that phrase. I got the same and got no symptoms just low platelets
The name Packaroons cracks me up.
HEY WANDERLUST , BIRMINGHAM , ALABAMA HERE💖💞💞💞💖💞💖💖💞💞💖💞💞💯💯💯💯💯👍👍👍👍👍
@Babes & Board Games You say that now, but maybe if you were in that situation you’d change your mind. Perspective can shift quickly! Plus, COVID made coffee taste pretty bad to me 😭
I was grain-free for years, it was so nice to finally get to reintroduce foods slowly. My list of problem foods is much smaller now thankfully, but still restrictive. Thank you for the list of foods/brands. I still have a hard time finding trail foods
As you know, I admire many things about you. Some are:
Where there is a will, there is a way
You are relentless
You know to do research and it shows
You respond to those who reach out to you with knowledge and experience
You take us along on your learning journey and we learn as well
Looking forward to the backpacking trip and your assessment.
In 2014 AIP completely changed my life with multiple sclerosis. AIP truly helps with autoimmune issues, I’m so glad you found it! I’m 54 and am going strong backpacking the CDT in segments through Colorado. I usually bring my own dehydrated and fresh food but it’s not simple. I also bring tuna and almond butter. I love your packaged options and will sprinkle these in my menus.
Dixie, since you've reintroduced almonds, you might like Siete's almond flour wraps. They also have quite a few products made out of cassava (a root veggie), such as wraps and chips. They're grain-free. (I was so excited when I could finally eat chips again when I ate AIP!) Siete's a great company. It started because the Co-Founder had autoimmune disorders. They're committed to being free of: gluten, diary, soy, grains, GMOs, etc.
Niiiice! Thanks for the tip!
Siete makes awesome products!
AIP changed my life in 2015! So glad you found it and a way to translate it into trail life!
I eat keto because I’m diabetic and find it pretty easy to do on trail, and I feel SO good while out there.
I used a fairly high carb diet on trail and it worked fine, but having tried keto a period for weight loss I think I could have cut back on carbs without deceased energy level. Personally (without any diabetic problems) I wouldn't go as extreme as keto for hiking, but thruhiking (and hiking in general) is more about many hours than extremely high intensity so super high carb levels aren't really necessary. Still I think a reasonable amount of carbs are useful, but interesting to hear that keto also works fine for hiking.
@@frstesiste7670 been keto for many years and prefer the way I feel being fat adapted. You don’t get the highs and lows you do from sugar. It is a significantly more even and longer lasting type of energy. Fats also have more calories per gram than sugar as well, so it’s lighter 😂
@S M the vast majority of the entire planet population has too much sugar in their diet. The AHA recommends that the average person consume no more than 24g of sugar a day. Currently the average American consumes 3 pounds a week. That’s 194g everyday. It’s actually insane how much sugar people consume. But it’s everywhere, it’s cheap, and damn it tastes good. It’s no wonder 71% of America is overweight or obese. Giving up sugar is one of the best decisions I have ever made, but I get why it’s hard for people to do. Always good to see you Turtle. Be well my friend 🙏
@@gratefulhikes Totally agree about overuse of (fast) sugars, but while thruhiking your activity level is way beyond an "average person".
I tried to have fairly good diet on my thruhikes, but with more carbs than I'd normally eat. It's not easy though, often having to choose food from stores with fairly limited selection and it also had to be food that would keep in the heat and be fairly light.
To me the biggest problem with high carbs on the trail was to switch back to normal after the the trail.
@@frstesiste7670 100% agree, switching back from 50-60 net carbs back to 15-20 is tough for me. My body likes the extra carbs, but if I’m not hiking it loves to store them around my belly and that I can not allow! I do find switching to trail food at the beginning of a hike is harder for me as I cook actual meals everyday and never really eat at restaurants. And while I have not been on a trip for more than 10 days while keto, I did do a test to see if I could keep keto on the AT by living off gas station, dollar general, and Walmart “resupplies” as well as a few town food outings for over a month. I have also watched countless resupply videos and videos of hostels and what they offer and my conclusion was you can 100% hike the AT getting the 4-5k calories you need per day and stay in ketosis. It will not be clean keto by any stretch of the imagination, but you can stay fat adapted and have all the energy you need to reach your goal. My research is based on the AT as that is the trail I’d like to do, but as others have said, where there’s a will there’s a way. And I also agree that my food bag is usually 25% heavier than my hiking partners that eat all backpacking meals, but I am ok with the extra weight. I hope all is well with you and yours, be well 🙏
You are in my prayers, Jessica. Keep the faith, and (continue to) take good care of yourself! Thanks for all you do and all you are! ❤
You’ve been such an inspiration to me along my journey so I am happy to help! I hope your hike goes great and all the food works out well! 💚
1) Your vids are incredible, Dixie. Thanks for everything you do.
2) The ultimate low-carb-elimination diet is just meat. You can survive on it long term.
The majority of food allergies are to plants. Nothing against plants, but they may have something against you.
Start with ruminants (cows, sheep, goats, buffalo) before branching out.
If you can tolerate eggs and small fatty fish, then add those as well.
Cheese or whey/casein powder (again, if you tolerate it) for calcium source.
Eggs are nature's most nutritious food. They are definitely worth eating when you are within a couple of day's of a store.
It will take some time to adjust to a low-carb diet on the trail. You have to condition your liver to re-stock glycogen via gluconeogenesis. That's your body's way of making glucose when you don't eat any sugar or plants. Give it a month or so. You can taper off the carbs over time.
Also, there is a spectrum of adaptation to burning fat instead of carbs. A month gets you started, but your body will continue to slowly improve for a while. Maybe a year or more.
Fat adaptation has some benefits:
- No need to eat every hour or two.
- No snacks means greater weight budget for meals.
- More stamina, less bonk (eventually; may take time).
- Longer healthy life and less dementia. Carbs, over decades, cause metabolic dysfunction in at least half of the population. That leads to cardiovascular disease, dementia, and diabetes.
The ultimate backpacking meat is pemmican.
Canadian trappers lived all Winter on it.
An entire buffalo weighs a mere 70 pounds when converted into pemmican. That includes the hide used to carry it.
I haven't found a version of pemmican that I love, but you can put it in your pot to make a soup/stew. Maybe add some bouillon for flavor that you enjoy.
Dixie, regarding your diet. The 5 to 1 rule: it was originally used to determine a recommended balance between carbs and fiber in canned and processed foods. However I use it to determine a safe balance on days when I don't watch my carb intake. So, accordingly, the recommendation is a ratio of
I got a positive ana test result in my late twenties. I worried about rheumatoid arthritis because my maternal grandfather apparently had it. I saw a rheumatologist and after all tests I was told to take a wait and see approach since I had no other symptoms. Fast forward and I am turning 45 this summer and so far so good. I'm completely healthy. Hopefully it's the case for you.
“Where there is a will, there’s a way.” If a person has a will to be on-trail, they will find a way. I have such respect for the determination and creativity. Have a great trip!
I was just thinking of this the other day.
Perfect timing for your video.
Thank you!
Excellent topic. Thanks for getting the word out that clean eating is important. This is something I try to do as well but it is challenging with backpacking your video gave me a few more ideas. Please keep talking about this! The more awareness the better. Someone like a functional medicine doctor won't blow off your concerns and can dig down and find out what is bothersome, but reentry is also a good way.
This whole thing has to be at least a little frightening. Wishing you the best of luck and health Dixie. Thanks for sharing the journey, trail or otherwise.
Thank you! Not on the AIP diet but I love hiking with my gluten free son and he often feels like his trail foods are limited so we love new ideas!
Thank you Dixie, I have many food allergies and food sensitivities so this is great to see.
I was so happy to see this video today! I have been trying to eat a lectin free diet, which eliminates inflammatory foods, similar to the AIP. I have rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease. Last summer I backpacked and took the Wild Zora foods you mentioned. They are pricey, but so worth it in quality of ingredients and nutrition. I'm going to buy a freeze dryer so I can freeze dry my own meals and only include the foods I want to eat. Good luck and thanks again for this video. It's so nice to see someone wanting to take food that isn't tortillas and pasta!
Hey Dixie, I've watched all your hikes and notice all the ticks you've had to deal with. I have lyme disease and bartonella from a tick bite. I also work for lyme literate doctors. You might want to get tested through Igenex or MDL labs. The regular tests most doctors run are pretty insufficient. Anyway, just a thought because when docs can't pinpoint a problem lyme disease is usually the culprit. That's why its called "the great imitator".
"Pack it Gourmet" has great alternatives to help w the clean food eating.
Pack it gourmet is my go to source. Great meal selections. Large portions. Makes meal time special.
Interesting thank you. I have an "alternative" diet and need to eat clean as possible for health reasons. I've started making my own meals up but it can be quite a process. Good luck with your journey Dixie.
This is great info. One thing I can’t imagine about backpacking is eating all of the processed food with preservatives. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this. I have to be very careful with my diet. I have inflamation due to severe injuries from a wreck I was in. It's taken me 3 years to get back to where I can hike. I have hiked and camped across the US and into BC previous to the accident. I am 73 and looking forward to being back out on the trail. I can not eat junk food. Thank you so much for your videos :) they are so good.
Great step forward in getting your health back. I can relate to your drastic change in diet, I did the same back in 2015 when I was having issues that my Internist doctor and another specialist had no idea what was causing my problems. I finally turned to a doctor at my church, a Chiropractor who also specializes in holistic healthcare (and a backpacker) and by following his advice I was able to halt my symptoms and turn my health around. It had everything to do with diet and by making changes it works. Hopefully in the long run your new approach to diet will work out well for you.
Hey Dixie, I have 3 autoimmune conditions (so far!) and have been making my own hiking meals for some time now - I base them around red lentils, edamame noodles and plant-based protein pieces (all very quick cooking with plenty of protein and fibre etc). However, edamame is soy-based so that might be an issue for you, and the plant-based protein is available in both soy and soy-free varieties. I add dried mushrooms, green peas and onions and flavor them with a non-allergenic soup mix (there is a company here in Australia that has a good range). One of my conditions is Mammalian Meat Allergy so I can't eat red meat....this resulted from a tick bite so beware of those ticks!
I can't eat oatmeal, so my breakfasts are usually porridge made from quinoa/teff/chia seeds, but you would obviously need to make sure you can tolerate these foods first. I snack mostly on dried fruit, nuts and seeds that I've found I can tolerate.
Yes, it is a pain in the neck but I eat healthier now than I ever have and get plenty of energy from these foods on the trail. Hope you can find the diet that works for you. 🙂
One of my favorite backpacking meals is I got a big batch of dried organic mushrooms varieties at Costco and blended them to a powder. I usually bring my own spices like salt, dill etc, freeze dried organic white onions are wonderful, Sometimes i add nutritional yeast. Znatuals has an organic dried cashew milk so I add that to make it creamy and have that with noodles also often made from beans.... but I also had lotus brwn rice/millet noodles left over from covid supplies. I also sometimes add some tvp but this wouldn't work for avoiding soy. Oh and a tip I got on the pct last summer was to be sure the really chew up nuts to a paste to bring out all the nutrients in the nuts. It really seemed to make a difference for me.
This is an awesome video for different clean eating ideas. Thanks for sharing what you’ve learned!
I hope you're doing better everyday 🤗 Sending love! I have dealt with MS since 2000, and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 2 years ago, and thankfully have had it in remission within a few months after! It's really individual, and hope you're finding what works for you ❤️🤗
I do a modified keto (under 50 net carbs) for backpacking. It is definitely possible. I was diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome in March 2020 and after trying Plaquenil and hating the side effects (severe phototoxicity and heart palpitations--not really conducive to a hiking life) I decided to try keto. I went strict keto March 2021 and after a couple months, all my AI symptoms were gone. Now, my ANA when I was diagnosed was DFS (densely fine speckled) and all the rest of the autoimmune tests were negative. My rheumatologist ran the Early Sjogrens Panel and that came back screamingly positive. Something to consider if you are in a similar situation. Update: My last ANA test, 10 months post keto, was negative. People underestimate the importance of diet, but it really is everything. I hope you find what works for you.
Glad you found something that will work for you and make it possible to get back on trail safe and healthy.
Thank you for explaining the AIP diet!
Very happy for you !
I have always relate to you over backpacking gear but now you are also talking my food language !
I am allergic to soy, not intolerant, I am truly allergic .I can’t eat grains neither cereals so … It looks like I do have something else in common with you now :)
Thank you for this video jessica.
It is somehow tricky to find specific diet food for backpacking … but there is one thing I know : there’s is no way I will be throw backpacking out the window ! ;)
So as you said : when there is a will there is a way !!!!
You go girl !
You are amazing Dixie
Thanks for all the knowledge you are sharing with us
I like to watch someone who has the same passion than me
Kee yo the amazing work lady xxxx
Hey Dixie, I just found your site and I love your work...very educational and very entertaining... THANKS
As an up-and-coming thru-hiker with dietary issues….this gives me hope! Thank you, Dixie. You’ve got this. Questions for me is how/where to resupply, off trail or via resupply boxes (most of which I’d make at home before a thru-hike and send out to myself….) so it can be a wee bit overwhelming. That said, I’m used to cooking from scratch for myself because it allows me to eliminate problem foods.
A dehydrator and vacuum sealer may be your best friends. Most of those vacuum bags can also have hot water in them (but check the box/website). Or you may be able to buy sealer compatible bags like the off the shelf brands. The biggest thing to watch when dehydrating is the fat/oil content. Too high and it goes rancid too quickly. Cool and dark storage is best for longterm.
These thoughts may be too late for the hike you referenced but may apply in the future.
I went keto and that solve all my health issues and I'm so happy I have my weight and health under control. It was horrible before and for me is better something that is strict I just don't miss anymore the old habit food. Happy you like it and works for you.
The Wild Zora dried fruit is my favorite dried fruit. I eat a whole bag for one breakfast when out backpacking. I don't like the Packaroons (I don't like coconut), but my husband loves them.
In New England it's becoming more common to see preservative-free and organic food options everywhere, even in gas stations, pharmacies, and convenience stores, so I'm hopeful that future backpacking trip re-supplies will be easier for maintaining healthier diets on trail.
So glad to see this video and see options for people who are eating restricted diets and still be on the trail, as I am one of them. Best to you Dixie on your AIP backpacking journey.
I’m really excited about this. Interested in how you feel after four days of clean eating hiking. I’ve gone carnivore to reduce inflammation and it’s so good to feel better, but I wonder if you’ll have more or less energy.
8:18 please use a guard or holder as you may loose digits. Looking forward to your next trekking trip. Surprised you didn’t do so dried mince
100000% agree! I was so nervous watching that!
You couldn’t tell how large the sweet potato was from the angle above, but the guard wouldn’t grip the sweet potato until it was smaller. When it becomes a bigger risk as it gets smaller, I use it.
@@HomemadeWanderlust just want you to keep your fingers intact. Sorry for the mothering.
Thank-you so much for making this! I have had so many autoimmune issues, and the effect of the backpacking diet on my body is one of the things I worry about most!
YMMV, but I had weird autoimmune markers for so long (ANA, PR3), and I was recently diagnosed with NTM (group of non-contagious cousins to tuberculosis). Apparently you can get it from breathing in the bacteria in dirt. I had so many weird symptoms that went away once I got on antibiotics for this.
Rare I guess, but maybe worth looking into!
Wild Planet sells packets of lower mercury tuna and packets of salmon. Both are wild caught and BPA-free. They even have packets of shredded beef, which makes good sloppy joes or tacos. Excellent company
I'm gluten intolerant and love Wild Zora. I also love Catalina Crunch cereal and cookies. Grain free, dairy free, high protein and so yummy on the trail! Not sure if AIP compliant but worth looking into to. Praying you find answers to your issues. I know that struggle and frustration. You are awesome! Hugs!
Thank you for featuring all of this! I have fibromyalgia and have been working to stick within the FODMAP diet (plus my lactose and soy intolerances). It is so good to know it is possible to still pack for a backpacking trip.
Lord, I am so happy to see this video. I'be been grain and lectin free for the past 3 years and I've been stressing about what to eat on the trail. This has definitely given me some great tips! Thank you!
The backpacking light podcast recently talked about freeze dryers and suggested a group chip in and share the use of an expensive freeze dryer machine. That made sense to me for those with a circle of backpacking friends from the same geographic area, hiking clubs, scout groups, etc.
You are wonderful and so caring of others. As a replacement to the morning coffee (sugar buzz) try hot jello as a drink, it will also add protein to your day. Not sure if it AIP approved.
All the best.
Sesame seed hot drink is an excellent choice for your hot drink Time. You have to roast it a little bit on Frank pan and it will develop some oil but don’t worry about that include that in your drink it’s very healthy. Then, you can boil water add this paste and add coconut sugar only and it will be a delicious drink or you can complement it with some cinnamon that will enhance the flavor. You don’t have to roast this at campsite. Just roasted beforehand at home and carry it with you in a Ziploc. Tahini is pretty much the same thing but it kinda comes with nothing but the sesame seed paste. If you really really want to reach your goal of getting healed you must eliminate animal product from your diet. Animal protein is very bad for you, besides, it will stick to your colon and rot and keep on sending toxins to your bloodstream. Some people don’t go this far because they think the research is enough but I had to do it because of my heart condition and my life it’s so much better after I have made these changes. Your best choice would be is to do like I do, are you dehydrate everything and avoid all processed foods out there with some exceptions like almond butter, coconut wraps and a few others pretty much. Thank you so much for sharing this video. I learned some things from it. I did not know about the freeze dryer. And I didn’t know about the coconut wraps. God bless you Dixie.
What we eat is one of the few things we can control. I am proud of you, I grew up sickly but took control of my health at 22. Realizing I will have to cheat a bunch on the AT will be a struggle
When buying food online, buy from the source. Retailers like Amazon often sell expired and counterfeit products. This happened to me (once, never bought from them again) as well as at least one other person I know. If it goes in, or on you, buy it from a reputable source.
Glad you found some food that fits your needs. Hoping it helps you feel your best!
For crunchy root veggie crisps I've had success using the Oxo peeler.
Spiralizing and dehydrating zucchini or squash or beets or root veggies can easily sub for "spaghetti". Or chop it up and you have "rice". There's also peelers that make long thin strands.
And if you use the mandoline often, my kevlar glove has saved me numerous serious ouchies.
It is nice to know there are actually options for those on an elimination diet and are hiking and camping. I had to enter into such a diet 20 years ago - it was a life saver in that it identified what foods were causing my body to attack itself. The next most important step is identifying why the situation is taking place - what is causing or has caused certain foods to trigger such bodily chaos. If you don't identify and address the ultimate cause you can end up in the food allergy merry -go- round as previous non-allergenic foods become presently allergenic and you have to start the whole process over again and again.
I hope you attain good health and continued great hiking!
Thanks for this Dixie! Hubby and I both have autoimmune diseases, me with crohn's, he with Celiac. we are trying to eat cleaner and we are already implementing some things. Backpacking foods will definitely pose a problem though and I'm not sure I can do without coffee without killing someone 🤣 Definitely going to do the pumpkin bark!
I feel this re: coffee. I have had to give it up because I have TMJ and caffeine makes it so much worse. I don't know if it is AIP compliant, but I switched to 'emergen-c' in the morning instead. It comes in a powder, many flavors, and is an energy boost without the coffee jitters.
@@alyss8213 Thank you for the tip! I'm trying a few alternatives but probably won't give it up unless I absolutely have to. I will at least be cutting down while on the A.T. just because it's a pain to make it every morning! 🤣
If you headed out on a longer trip, and decide to make some of your own meals, Packit Gourmet has freeze dried veg and some meats that are clean.
Your idea for your own freeze dried meals is a good one. Until you can afford one of your own you can buy the ingredients through thrive life foods. I buy the meats i want and the fruits and vegetables and put together my own meals...They also have beans and other proteins you can buy. The nice part is if you only want to try it you can buy the smaller cans first. I have used their foods for about 8 years now and they are high quality and so easy to assemble into meals.
This is how I see it….spend money on food that manages and is healing your health issues or spend big bucks at the pharmacy on prescriptions that try to manage symptoms of your issue. Pills don’t fill your belly . Can’t wait to see where this upcoming walk is!
Have been paleo for 5 years now. Am so happy to learn about all of these brands that aren’t in our supermarket. Have been cooking from a scratch and doing my best to avoid grains and preservatives. Thanks for sharing your journeys with us. At 86 my traveling days are over but l can still camp out in my backyard. Where there is a will there is indeed a way.
EVOO is Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Not a brand (that's StarKist) but the type of oil the tuna is in.
Evoo is actually a brand... just not food products
Semantics, anyone watching can figure out pretty clearly what she means. And it's clearly not the electronics brand evoo...
@@thedirtbagstash I was just trying to help out. Not trying to slight her or take issue with anything.
Dixie, one of your qualities is your ability to adapt and be resilient. I wish you excellent health. :)
Thank you so much! You are informative, thoughtful, and genuine!
I LOVE this list! Thank you!
Good luck, Dixie - I hope you enjoy your upcoming trip! 👏👏👏
This is great information. Costs can be brought down with more DIY. And as you point out, 3-7 day trips have different nutritional needs that athletic endurance events like thru-hiking. I have planning some bikepacking trips and will be taking my gas station cuisine avoidance road show with me.
I am so excited about your new videos/journey bringing clean eating into the mix!! Yes yes, keep it up!! Thank you!!
My husband and I had to quit our first AT attempt because I lost energy. Once we got home I learned that I have PCOS. I was advised to cut out gluten and dairy to eliminate inflammation. It has made a huge difference on this AT attempt.
Dixie, your skin looks great! Keep up the good work with the new food program.
Great video Dixie! I'm glad to hear you are on a healing journey! This is great information for folks as there is a rise in autoimmune conditions post vaxx for many people. Happy healing and happy trails to you!
Hey Dixie! What a great video. I have been living a LCHF lifestyle for many years now and have spent so much time modifying my nutrition to keep inflammation at bay. Once I realized how amazing life without inflammation was, I decided I never want to go back. Your macros were interesting, have you run the numbers for net carbs? Just curious. Thank you for putting this together, I really hope that you can find a nutritional path to get you where you want to go. 🙏 Thanks for bringing us along today. I hope tomorrow’s miles are kind. Keep truckin’ and be well.
-Grateful
The first table showed net carbs but I didn’t make a pie chart with that number
@@HomemadeWanderlust thanks! I thought it was total carbs like the pie chart. Still more than I can do in a day, but pretty dang low for a hiker! I am so excited for you to nail down a nutritional path that works for you. Food that works and brings us comfort is so important and not having to worry about it, at least for me, is a huge relief. Thanks again for the amazing content. Be well 🙏
Lays out detailed spreadsheet of food items, then says "I didn't want to stress over it much" = Bless her heart;)
@S M my food spreadsheet for my Pemi loop trip is beginning to scare me 😂 so much metadata so little time!
@S M well I want to do it in one day, but my group wants to take it easy so 2.5 days. We are adding the extra peaks so 13 4k’ peaks total, so it will be hard but fun. Can’t wait!
@S M might actually post a video of it. We will see!
You can tell she's a nerd. :)
Great info! You can also buy empty baby food pouches if you are considering making your own fruit/veg puree. Then you can tailor the flavour to whatever you want and reuse the packages.
Wow, what a fantastic video. I think your macros are great. Also calorie count is low, but what I usually survive on until pigging out in town, hahaha. I understand your change. Please report back the outcome and how you refine it.
Thanks for sharing this information! I have an autoimmune condition and would like to try this diet.
Thanks Dixie. Although understanding of your need for a modified diet, I must admit that without coffee in the morning, I might rip the heads off of nearby campers. Thankfully you are more docile. 😁 Best of luck on the journey.
As someone with other health issues that keep me from eating the way a typical person does I cringe at videos of the way through hikers eat. Thanks for exploring some healthier options! I'm hoping healthier pre made backpacking foods become more readily available and I hope to find easier diy solutions available as well.
You can try green tea in the morning, it has caffeine along with other similar substances, I find it less harsh/jittery than coffee but it still wakes me up! Good luck 🥰
For the pick me up like caffeine on the trail but without the jitter, I use the brand mud water. It's just like coffee but is made a mushrooms like lions Maine, chicken of the woods, chaga... and more. Look up mud water.
I wish you the best with your health issues!! Sounds like what you are doing is working great for you, and I am glad.
This is awesome!! I recently started a low carb, high protein diet where I track my macros and gym time. I've been wondering how that will translate for me on trail and this video so SUPER helpful and informative! Thanks as always, Dixie!!
Good luck with your nutritional journey! Protein is amazing! It will give you good calories and aid muscle growth, but I have found that you have to have you healthy fats for if you want to have good sustained energy while hiking. The body just doesn’t convert protein at a rate that is in sync with hiking energy needs. I have a few friends that are carnivore and they will use ghee to adjust their macros on training days, works well and mmmmm ghee! They follow their carnivore nutrition most of the time, it’s just the training and race days the change it up. It is always amazing to read about another person respecting their health and making necessary changes to be able to live their best life. I wish you all the best Bree Bree. Be well 🙏
I am impressed with your new clean diet. Discontinuing the processed junk food you were eating can only help. Have you considered discontinuing the use of your aluminum cook pot? That can’t be good for you.
If you take OTC vitamin supplements, vitamin D3 with K2 is great for inflammation. Also, vitamin B6 is especially good to take if you have high levels of CRP (C-reactive protein) on your lab tests. Best of luck with your diet plan!
Hi Dixie
Another great vid. I agree with two other comments about getting checked for Lyme's. I had a high ANA count and the doctor referred me to a rheumatologist cuz my mama had RA but I asked for a Lyme's test instead. It was pretty inconclusive (as they almost always are) but we treated it as Lyme's anyway. I went on the Cowden Support Program for 7 months and have been better ever since. (Tho now they actually have a lot of success treating Lyme's with Stevia of all things!) I still avoid certain inflammatory foods like soy, pasta, grains etc. cuz some foods make my joints achy. And I'm still very outdoorsy and pulling ticks off. Time to re-treat all my clothes with that permethrin spray! Happy tails!
Inspiring. I'm pretty new to backpacking but i have eaten AIP and elimination diets :), I still eat mostly paleo.
Couple quick ideas. Sweet potato dried noodles, AIP "latte mix", AIP crackers and chia bomb breakfasts - once out of elimination phase :)....
Breakfast: A chia bomb... essentially the same idea as cold soaking oats overnight but you use chia instead - if you can reintroduce it. They are NOT compliant in the elimination phase but some experts say they are actually excellent for fighting inflammation in the body so if you are out of elimination phase and can tolerate them they are good option. They are super light and expand a ton in water. Chia is high in protein, fibre, and several minerals and can be used in a clean sports drink as they hugely support hydration (they absorb 12 times their weight in water), plenty of nutrition and have a long shelf life (like 2 years).
So basically you put in a couple tablespoons of chia seeds in a ziplock with whatever dried fruit and nuts you can have - tons of combo options here. You can also add dried coconut milk powder and/or a flavorless clean collagen/ gelatin powder for extra protein. The dried fruits will also really rehydrate a lot over night . You then soak it all overnight with water or if you have a clean juice box (we have 100% organic apple juice pouches here) you can use juice too. I know a couple of athletes who use this sort of meal for performance. You could pre-make a few of these and they'd store easily out on the trail. In a pinch they don't need to go overnight, the chia will expand and soften in about 30 mins with some stirring but it will really thicken and gel up overnight :).
For hot drinks could you use a coffee sub like dandelion or chicory? Both are made as instant powders and tea bags. For example you could pre mix dandelion, chicory, dried coconut milk and cinnamon together. Then just add to hot water and make a sort of mock AIP compliant "latte" - it's yum though coffee drinkers (myself included) do say it doesn't taste like coffee but most agree it's a pretty satisfying substitute :).
You could also use herbal teas or bone broth which is high nutrition, often used in gut healing protocols and comes in a powder - just add water - this can also be used as the base for many dishes. You can get it as chicken, or beef etc, plenty of peeps like to drink it as a hot drink.. i tend to cook with it :).
You can also make a huge variety of crackers using almond flour and tapioca flour (or tiger nut flour etc). You can season them with whatever you want and bake them in the oven. I've blended veggies into the batter, included mushroom powder, protein powder and, used all sorts of herbs and flavor profiles. You can also make a sweet one if you want instead. You can either bake in the oven or dehydrate them (if you aren't trying to eat raw then baking is way easier and quicker). They last just in an airtight container on the counter for well over week easy. If they are really dry and crunchy i've had them last 2-3 weeks without any fridge (the fridge actually makes them go soft).
We used them with whatever we wanted to typically put on crackers or bread. When you get to the phase that you can reintroduce flaxseed these can used too - they go really really crunchy. You can just google flaxseed crackers to get a ton of ideas for specific recipes for all these sorts of crackers.
There are also tons of AIP trail mix, trail bars and trail bark recipes online you could make to save money.
And lastly you can buy packets of sweet potato noodles like Ramen noodles. They are made out of 100% sweet potato starch and cook in hot water - they don't taste like sweet potato in fact like most noodles they don't taste like much at all without some sort of flavoring or sauce. We have used them in place of pasta or asian noodle dishes many times
You could have with almond butter if you can have that now, or you can make a ramen type substitute with bone broth powder (or your approved soup mix) and cook the noodles in that as a couple options. At home i've made many sauces to go on them. They are light and don't need refrigeration, you can find them often in a standard grocery store in the asian section or in any asian market. My teen really appreciated them when she did AIP for a while.
Looking forwards to checking out more of your vids and learning more about backpacking! - new hobby :).
2016 AT Thru Hiker and frequent backpacker here. I tried a “clean” eating approach on many of my trips this past year. My one personal critique I found was to make sure I kept some form of quick/fast absorbing sugary food on hand.
I hiked the Linville Gorge loop in August one year. The heat, the open steep hills, and the lack of wind led to me dealing with a lot of heat exhaustion like issues. But once I felt bad and just needed something like a quick fructose-y sugar (like Gatorade or gummies) I just didn’t have it on hand and my body was not happy about digesting the healthier grains I had in my dinner.
Hope your meal kit goes well. And I think a cleaner approach is great. But it is worth noting there may be times the bad food so to speak can come in handy. Thanks for your videos and best of luck!
I’m off and on Paleo. I do it because it helps a lot with my anxiety. On paleo, I can have potatoes. I don’t love the Wild Zoe’s meals but, like you’ve discovered, it’s about the only option. So, I have found clean instant mashed potatoes at Whole Foods. I eat the Wild Zora meals over the mashed potatoes and it’s a game changer. Also, Wild Zora has a few breakfast items in the “meals to go” section. They’re actually pretty good. I did not care for the packs of instant cereal but these are good.
Thank you for sharing your meal plan, and your health issues. I wish you the best.
I am so glad I watched your video tonight. I follow AIP, I have for years! I also have beef following your page for quiet some times! 🙂. I have been wanting to do a longer trail but always worried about not having enough food for the trail. I am so glad that I found it and hopefully you will make some more videos like that! Thank you! ☺️
Wonderful coverage of AIP on the trail, Dixie! Thanks for the ideas and good luck as you continue on, with better health making these tweaks to your eating plan. 👏🏼
I’m Primal/Paleo. Very low carb, no legumes. I can drink coffee and do take dairy without issues, manly hard cheese. I avoid sugars and sodas like the plague. I have no problem hiking. It can be done and eventually it just comes natural.
Thanks
Hi Dixie, My wife was diagnosed with RA and took many many different drugs,(nsaids, steroids, suppressors,... ) and has since passed. But, one of the things she did was go on a Cole foods diet and she faired fairly well with that (your results may vary). It did however make her poop and gas smell like cow patties so there is that. Good luck with your search for what works well for you and if you don't find something that works so good, please remember that it's not your fault. Less that desirable things happen to folks all the time and is in no way a reflection on you whatsoever. It just IS. Take care sweetie. Tootles... Wade
Great subject......all the best to you.
We have been researching freeze drying, but it uses a lot of electricity. I live off grid so it really makes it harder. Thanks for the video.
Thank You Dixie, This is helpful. I have to be careful what I eat before hikes or I have an awful experience.
I love wild Zora meals. I also love next mile meals. Maybe look into those. I’m not familiar with AIP diets but next mile has a few good ones too.
Wow, great job working with your dietary needs and finding alternatives. I can't wait to watch the recap video of how all of it works for you. It absolutely blows my mind how unhealthy most people's backpacking food lists are thinking 1) you can eat anything while exercising a lot and it's "ok", and 2) it's ok to eat candy and sugar for much of your calories. Of course, if it works for you, go for it! Something that make work as a coffee alternative is Mud Water which has different kinds of mushrooms, cinnamon, cocoa, turmeric, etc. It's like a chai tea, but not, and has very little caffeine. I find the mental clarity benefits incredible! Have a great trip!
I found Lundberg rice crackers were my go-to neutral snack that actually tasted good! And, whenever you get around to reintroducing caffeine, and if you want to be healthier than coffee, check out matcha!
As a retired nurse, I wish you the best take care. Also, depending on your ANA number you can have a false positive, test other markers like sed rate and C-reactive protein
Thanks for this video! I think we will all learn a lot about managing nutrition better from your experience :) Consider the glycemic index of your carbs before you say goodbye to them. I just did an elimination diet that focused on low GI carbs, and it really normalized my energy levels and I have really minimized pre-diabetic 'crashes'. Great snack you can make in the oven is roasted chickpeas. Light, and good for the trail.
Dixie this is good information. I have Lupus, I am a biker, hiker, swimmer and yoga teacher. I am 63 years old and these diets are so expensive and not affordable for someone on social security income. I modify my diet but can't follow this particular diet when on trail or camping. I am looking forward to see how this works for you. I just find it boring and limiting. For me clean, whole foods work best. I hope Virginia told you fatigue can be a trigger for auto immune positive people. Watch that on trail and make sure to listen to your body. Good luck to you and love your videos.
Thank you so much for posting this! I have an autoimmune disorder that greatly effects my digestion (crohns). I’ve been planning a two week backpacking trip with my dog and really had no idea what I was going to eat. I’m also a vegetarian so that limits me even more. I’m going to look up these companies you are talking about!!
I'm celiac and also am dairy free and low fodmap. It's always nice to see other hikers/backpackers eating a different diet. I've always thought that if I had the money I would start a backpacking food company. There are so few options!