Backpacking Smoothie Recipes, anyone?

The recipe for breakfast fruit smoothie in "Feasting in the Wild Country" by Mary M. Holmes (available as an $10 emailed file from brasslite.com) is the one I use.

Edit: She suggests many flavor variations.
I have no affiliation with the author or brasslite.com.

I am thinking of making a new version soon so my youngest can have some. With SunWarrior original protein powder – it is just brown spouted rice and salt. We shall see!

http://www.blenderbottle.com/products.html/

Don't laugh. These bottles rock. If you drink protein blends, they work wonderful.

Although at home I just run everything my Vitamix 5200 :-D

;-)

I make a breakfast shake with 16oz of water or so. 2 packets of carnation instant breakfast, one scoop of protein powder of choice, and 1/2 the amount(for 16oz of water)of nido powdered whole milk. Pretty filling. I don't always have a huge appetite right after waking up and usually eat breakfast a mile or 2 in the day. This shake is a good way to get something in quick while breaking camp.

My buddy makes extra thick smoothies at home and dehydrates in the fruit roll up tray on the dehydrator. They re-hydrate almost instantly and taste good. Super easy unless you are preparing for a through hike. Probably too much trouble then. I use chia seeds with organic freeze dried fruit powders soaked in my water bottle. Not really a smoothie but still good. I also use the vega powders because they are so finely ground they are super smooth and go down easy when mixed with water.

"I also use the vega powders because they are so finely ground they are super smooth and go down easy when mixed with water."

Big fan of the Vega mixes – it's what I bring for my liquid meals on the trail, and what I use when going stoveless for breakfast and dinner.

"If you like Vega you might also like SunWarrior as well….."

I'll check it out, thanks Sarah!

Here is my base. I am a nutritionist and have been a world fitness champion. The important thing on the trail is a complex carb with protein and fiber to start your day.

I start with 2/3 to 1 cup dry oatmeal in a blender. Blend on high until it becomes oat flower. Then mix in either

powdered egg whites-typically about 6-8 eggs worth for a guy. you can buy a bucket of them on amazon and they are pretty tasteless

or

Knox gelatin- 4 envelopes is about 24 grams of protein and is pretty much tasteless. backpackers should be eating knox geletan daily to avoid knee and joint damage, our diet typically does not include connective tissue which is the basis for the gelatin and the amino acid blend helps feed and strengthen your connective tissues i.e. tendons and cartilage

or

whey protein powder- get a really good brand like Beverly or Optimum not some wally world, cosco, or overpriced GNC stuff, the cheap brands are cheap for a reason, i dont have enough space to expand but for a few extra pennies per serving get the good stuff or go cheap and smell the result. The better brands also have better flavor, I typically use Beverly vanilla, Beverly chocolate tastes like ovaltine and is also good mixed dry into peanut butter to form a thick dry paste for high protein high calorie snacks, Optimum has a lot of good flavors I am not affiliated with any of these companies just my opinion

add the protein source to the blender of now powdered oatmeal and blend together

you can add whatever you like here- dry bananas, blueberries, strawberries, anything you like to dehydrate or can find dry at Trader Joes, whole foods etc and blend well
you can also mix banana pudding or whatever flavor dry pudding mix you like the taste of

put into a freezer bag and on the trail you can either add hot water or cold. If you want to carry a shaker cup with lid you can eliminate the metal ball and put 10 almonds into your dry mix to agitate it. With the almonds you gain a lot of omega 3 fat, a real plus.

I typically like to just add chopped pecans and dry raisins or cranberries to the dry mix and then on the trail add hot water and eat out of freezer bag with a spoon. You can add cold water and drink the mix as a smoothie if you prefer

I carry one of these for breakfast each day, usually with a different dry protein source and flavor in each bag. Always with the oatmeal base, even if you dont like oatmeals typical texture try it this way. super fast, super easy, super nutritious breakfast