In Praise of Oatmeal

100 % Whole Grain Oats must be one of the best all around foods. A 42 ounce container costs $2.24 cents at Wal-Mart. It has 30 servings, each one 1/2 cup dry oats.

In this serving there are 150 calories, 5 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fiber.

I use oatmeal as a staple in my backpacking food bag. It can be eaten raw or cooked. An easy way to fix it without cooking in a pot is to simply
add one and a fourth cup (1 1/4 cup) of boiling water to a bowl which has half a cup of dry oatmeal in it. Stir just enough to mix.

Cover this bowl with a plate or lid, and let set until the oatmeal has absorbed most of the water. Season with salt, sugar and cinnamon. For an extra caloric and nutritional boost, add one tablespoon canola oil, chopped nuts and/or raisins.

Oatmeal can be carried for a long time without spoilage as long as it is kept dry. When I eat oatmeal raw, as a survival snack, I also drink a lot of water to aid in digestion.

This is an easy food item which can be found in many convenience stores along the trail, easily packed into a bear canister and requires little or no fuel for preparation.