Comments on: Oat-ternatives?

Question: Oat-ternatives?

sonofslim — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:14:55 -0800

I do a lot of hiking and camping, but I HATE HATE HATE oatmeal. What are some alternatives that hit the sweet spot of price/convenience/nutrition/pack weight?

Because seriously, I'd rather eat cold barf than another bowl of the stuff. Can't abide it.

By: Sassyfras

Sassyfras — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:21:10 -0800

Cream of Wheat or how about just dry cereal?

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:21:55 -0800

I have to confess to a bizarre fondness for dehydrated eggs. Ton's of protein.

I too hate oatmeal, but love Cream of Wheat. Is that an option?

By: Abiezer

Abiezer — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:22:18 -0800

Couscous.

By: barchan

barchan — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:33:50 -0800

I get tired of oatmeal too because of its mess. Try: couscous; instant potatoes; grits; polenta or cornmeal based meals; rice-pudding; beans & rice; granola; and cereal with dried milk mixed in (just add water).

Oatmeal is awesome because it comes in so many flavor varieties and just needs hot water. To mimic this, use these foods as a base, add ingredients (like dried fruit) and prepackage it prior to leaving on the trip. I put everything in ziplock bags and Sharpie instructions on the bag (i.e. add 1 cup hot water). You'll probably have to look up some recipes and do a little experimentation.

I also tend to grab up individual serving fast food condiments (like prepackaged margarine) whenever I can and add them to the ziplock bag as well (because I can't take grits without honey and butter). Milk powder, onion powders, cheese powders, cinnamon, dried fruits: these are your friends.

By: gavtaylor

gavtaylor — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:39:53 -0800

COUSCOUS is what you want!!!!! Just came back from 3 days in the carson iceberg wilderness yesterday and we ate couscous for breakfast. Raisins, brown sugar, milk powder, nuts, other dried fruits, whatever you want it will go well with couscous.
Some hardcore backpackers eat couscous for every meal!!!

By: randomstriker

randomstriker — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:42:40 -0800

Ramen or soba (the latter is much healthier).

By: barchan

barchan — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:54:46 -0800

There are also a ton of grain based cereals, both hot and cold, out there, such as quinoa & barley porridge, farina, and millet.

If it's texture in oatmeal you don't like, you can also try frying the oatmeal. It takes less prep time than boiling water and expands your flavor possibilities. I love fried oatmeal when I need a hot meal but it's not really chilly outside, I'm in an environment where I don't want to waste any water, or I'm lazy and don't want a big mess to clean up.

By: MsMolly

MsMolly — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:07:43 -0800

Bacon cookies? They're surprisingly good.

By: ericb

ericb — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:25:08 -0800

"LÄRABAR is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices - energy in its purest form. Made from 100% whole food, each flavor contains no more than six ingredients....Uncooked and Unprocessed."

I get mine at Whole Foods.

By: bottlebrushtree

bottlebrushtree — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:26:37 -0800

hard boiled eggs
flour tortillas for eating and cleanup of bowls (think edable paper towels)

By: ourobouros

ourobouros — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:46:21 -0800

Instant hummus + water is my camping mainstay.

By: yohko

yohko — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:56:08 -0800

If you can abide oatmeal cookies, make some before you go. Cut down on the sugar and add lots of dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, chocolate or carob chips, or whatever else you fancy. Obviously, use your personal judgment as to what combinations of things you would like. You can also make them with triticale or rye flakes instead of oatmeal, if you want to avoid oatmeal entirely.

By: moonlet

moonlet — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 11:32:36 -0800

Seconding Lara Bars. I've lived on them happily for a week of camping. Costco carries them in cases of three flavors.

By: solongxenon

solongxenon — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 11:44:02 -0800

nthing Lara Bars. They're a lifesaver.

How about quinoa? Very high protein content, complete amino acids, cooks up very quickly- and YUMMY.

Bump it up with some hemp protein, dried fruit, cinnamon- you're in business.

By: majick

majick — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:05:57 -0800

I'm not an oatmeal fan but I love me some Wheatena.

By: francesca too

francesca too — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:22:27 -0800

I dislike the texture of cooked oatmeal but I love oats in granola

By: salvia

salvia — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:29:36 -0800

Dehydrated lentil curry soup from the bulk bin.

By: amtho

amtho — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:50:31 -0800

Bread. Nuts. Berries. Water. What else do you need?

By: SixteenTons

SixteenTons — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:22:54 -0800

Quinoa by itself can be really bland and unpalatable, but if you cook it in liquids that are flavorful, and put stuff in it like dried fruits and such, it is a great substitute for oatmeal. You can buy powdered apple juice/cider and cook it in water mixed with that--that's my personal favorite. I've never tried hot cocoa, but I bet it would be tasty!

By: anadem

anadem — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:49:11 -0800

I've always found good quality low/no salt corn chips to be very sustaining for hikes -- munchable along the trail when wanted, or with salsa or beans or many other things at stopping time. If the bags are pricked to let out air, the chips can be squashed a lot without getting inedible. Must be quality chips, though, not the commercialized abominations.

By: anadem

anadem — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:56:07 -0800

"you can also try frying the oatmeal" writes barchan.

Umm, sounds tasty. How does one fry it?

By: kch

kch — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:07:00 -0800

Is Red River cereal just Canadian? Or is it still too oatmealy? Black beans with mexican spices? Gorp/trail mix?

By: anthill

anthill — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:18:29 -0800

Rice for breakfast! Add some condensed/powdered milk, and it's not too bad.

By: andythebean

andythebean — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:29:35 -0800

I can't believe no one's brought up Clif Bars. I take them on just about every outing I go on, and eat them regularly besides. Try a few flavors and then buy in bulk to bring their price down.

By: Chuckles McLaughy du Haha, the depressed clown

Chuckles McLaughy du Haha, the depressed clown — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:33:15 -0800

Half cup instant rice+half cup black bean powder. Cover with boiling water. Add salsa and crushed corn chips. Cover with foil for 5 minutes.

By: anthill

anthill — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:27:28 -0800

God damn that sounds good, Chuckles.