Some of the issues I had while hiking on the Appalachian Trail was keeping my energy levels up and taking in enough calories while burning up to six thousand calories a day hiking. A typical diet on the trail is less than adequate when it comes to getting all of the nutrients needed while keeping salt, sugar, and fat below absurd levels. I met a southbounder early in my hike who supplemented his water with a similar recipe and was adamant about the benefits, so I decided to try it out. It uses Carnation Breakfast Essentials which are loaded with many vitamins and minerals. He used this in all of his water, but I only used one mix per day. Buy organic or tapioca maltodextrin to avoid GMO corn based maltodextrin.
Appalachian Trail Drink Mix (weight = 4 oz per serving)
1 packet of Carnation Breakfast Essentials
1/3 cup Maltodextrin Powder (available at www.bulkfoods.com)
1/4 cup Soy Protein Powder (available at Sprouts)
Prepare each serving in advance and store in zip lock bags. Pour a bag into a liter bottle with water and shake vigorously.
TIP – On the trail it was difficult to pour the powder into a bottle without making a mess. So when you’re ready for your drink don’t open the top of the bag, instead cut the bottom corner of the bag off and let it flow into a wide-mouth plastic bottle. I used a Gatorade bottle, but a Nalgene would work (although it is heavier).