In cave meals?

[boogercaver71]

I am also a believer in what I think is the perfect cave meal "beenie weinees". Also on a 10 hour+ trip I pack a small thermos of ravioli that I
pre-heated. It is still warm 6 hours later.

[Mike Hood]

I've brought in a small sterno can before to cook a hot meal on (and have even warmed up Vienna sausages by candle). However, I usually found it wasn't worth the hassle as I'm usually not in a cave so long that I need a hot meal. But, I will admit the few times that I did were wonderful!

[Grandpa Caver]

I've brought in a small sterno can before to cook a hot meal on (and have even warmed up Vienna sausages by candle). However, I usually found it wasn't worth the hassle as I'm usually not in a cave so long that I need a hot meal. But, I will admit the few times that I did were wonderful!

I've had many a can of beanie weinies or beaf stew followed by some instant coffee or hot chocolate heated over a (tea lite) candle. There's nothing like something warm in your belly when your really cold and tired. But that was back in the days when 10+ hour trips were more common for me. Aah, the memories that brings to mind.

[lenslover2003]

Hoosiercaver1,

So far,the list of suggestions has been very good. I have tried many of them myself,and liked them.

Depending on the cave,and what we are doing in it,I have really liked the times when I drug along a can of soup,heated it over an Esbit stove,and then dunked regular bagels in it. Hot,salty,and really restores you.There is usually enough for my wife and I to share,and still be satisfied. The slightly bad thing about such a solid meal,is that it takes awhile to digest it. When I do this,I definitely take a couple Pepsids,along with it. Last thing I need,is a nasty reflux in the middle of some god-awful crawl! Plus, it is a fairly heavy and bulky load,but you can smash the can, afterwards. Only you can decide if the meal is worth the weight. The hot cocoa idea is also a great boost,considering how little weight and space it takes.

What I have begun to do lately,is to just eat a hearty breakfast....Then take the Pepsids.....and digest a bit. Digest a bit more,on the way to the cave. Drink enroute,to stay hydrated. Then,make sure ALL of my liquid intake is either Gatorade,or some sports drink. I then take along a few Nature Valley Oat 'n Honey bars. If I really want something different,I bring along a pre-mixed 16 ounce bottle of water,with Muscle Milk additive. The Muscle Milk gives you 300 calories,fast,and it tastes good. Being in liquid form,I figure it must digest a little quicker,and has water in it,to at least help fend off dehydration.

I think of eating as a three stage process . Stuff that gets eaten on the way in,once you are there,and on the way out.

The last thing I carry,depending on the trip,are PowerBar Gel Packs. I get the Tangerine flavor because they are the least nasty tasting of the bunch,and they have 50 MG. of caffeine in them. Being a gooey consistency,they are quickly absorbed,and being mostly simple sugar carbs,amp you up for about 45 minutes to an hour. I consider them to be my last ditch "I can't take it anymore....get me the Hell outta here" food source. I might take 3-4 along with me.

The good thing about using nutritional type supplements is that they seem to work. The bad thing about them,is that they are not things that you have around the house,and can be somewhat expensive. But....I figure if I can afford to drive there,I can afford to take the right food for the job.

[YuccaPatrol]

I've taken a thermos full of ravioli with me on winter trips and really enjoyed it. I haven't done it in a while but just might have to do it again.

I'll also take one or two immodium tablets prior to entering the cave to ensure that I don't have to deal with the inconvenience and mess of hauling out the digested food that I am done with.

[wyandottecaver]

My favorites:

1) Nalgene with mix of peanut MM's, raisins/craisins, cheereos, and if I'm feeling sporty, chocolate covered expresso beans. I have in fact used the same nalgene of this mix for up to several months with no ill effects. This is a standard in my pack along with an extra-tall nalgene of water

2) small wide mouth nalgene with beef jerky shredded up into little pieces so I can just dump it in my mouth with a minimum of jaw fatigue chewing. I do this sometimes as a treat

3) the little cans of beans & weenies are good, but I dump 2 of them into a ziplock then into a Nalgene. The cans of fruit cocktail are good this way too. The ziplocks and nalgene can then be used as waste carriers if needed.

4) Once, I backpacked a large size supreme pizza with heat packs inside insulated carrier along with 2 frozen cans of coke (uninsulated). It was a mostly walking trip with a food break 3 hours in. The others thought I had foolishly brought a bunch of extra gear for an easy tourist trip. The other folks looked like wolves as they watched me eat still warm pizza and ice cold coke while they munched on granola bars.

[SpeleoRover]

I tend to stick with powerbar / Clif bar type foods. I pack what I think I'll need plus 2 extras for emergencies. ProBar makes some really dense meal replacement bars, but they kind of taste like crap (except the berry mix).

I really like Naked juice to sip on as a pick me up on breaks. Cold homemade pizza is outstanding if I've got it.

I really don't do alot of fancy stuff, but it always looks so good when my buddies have it.

[chaz]

Mmmmmm all this talk is making me hungry!
I have tried many of the foods mentioned here, and I will add that a small sterno will cook up Ramen noodles. I have no trouble finding someone to help finish the warm broth. On my first through trip of Sherfield Cave, I brought Shrimp cocktail for the group as a surprise treat and the group leader topped that off with cherry cheesecake! Fortunately this was after the squeeze at the crack of doom or I'd of had to turn back! Chaz

[Jeff Bartlett]

Mmmmmm all this talk is making me hungry!
I have tried many of the foods mentioned here, and I will add that a small sterno will cook up Ramen noodles. I have no trouble finding someone to help finish the warm broth. On my first through trip of Sherfield Cave, I brought Shrimp cocktail for the group as a surprise treat and the group leader topped that off with cherry cheesecake! Fortunately this was after the squeeze at the crack of doom or I'd of had to turn back! Chaz

alright, it's a deal, if you bring cheesecake this weekend i'll bring ramen and sterno

[Mike Hood]

I know a caver who swears by cold hamburger patties. He cooks them, then puts them in his fridge overnight.

[caveflower]

Cup o soup. the ones that are in the little pouches. We use a canteen cup and a sterno stove to boil the water. You can warm enough water for a cup of soup and make hot coco or coffee. I found coffee that comes in a tea bag and it taste great not like that insant stuff. Nothing like a warm meal while on a long trip. So hot soup(I like chicken and noodle), cheese crackers, hot coco, and some M&M's for desert. yum! A hot fresh cup of coffee in the middle of a cave you can't get any better than that. And all this fits in the canteen cup so its small and light.

[hoosiercaver1]

Well I guess the issue of takin the time to warm somethin up really depends on the group you are with. If everyone else is, I guess it wouldnt hurt to warm something up, but I would hate to be the one holding everyone up to make my snack. I have to say, the ramen and the pizza are sounding pretty good, but I dont know if I want to take the time and energy to mess with them.

[SpeleoRover]

Chaz,

That wouldn't have been Joe R., would it? I had my first in-cave cheesecake in Fitton with him.

[chaz]

Nope , it wasn't Joe, but he was there to enjoy a taste! bet thats where he got it from!

[Cody JW]

I used to buy these small (about the size of a large asprin) heat tabs from the surplus store. They burned a blue flame and could heat a small can of beanie weenies very quick.They were cheap.I think they were made for military use with coffee in the field. Also field meals from the surplus are an option.Nobody will confuse them with Outback Steakhouse but in a cave you cannot be picky.