How carefully you plan the nutritional composition of foods you take to the backcountry depends mainly on the duration of your trip. In general, hikers on trips lasting fewer than five days do not run the risk of developing unbalanced nutrition, especially if adequate calories are consumed daily. On the average, carbohydrates should make up 55 to 60 percent of the calories in your daily diet. When planning menus for a trip, make sure 15 to 20 percent of daily calories come from proteins. Foods high in fats are vegetable oils, butter, margarine, cheeses, nut butters, salamies, beef sticks and sausage.
Minerals are components of many body parts.
On short backcountry trips, vitamin and mineral deficiencies are not a problem if a variety of foods are eaten. As mentioned earlier, is absolutely essential. An adult's body is about 60 percent water, which is in constant change and circulation. All bodily functions depend upon water, so adequate amounts must be furnished to prevent dehydration. At sea level, under conditions of moderate exercise, an average adult requires about two liters of fluid daily.