Self supported tour food

[OakLeaf]

I don't know how far along you are in your mapping, or what the geography of Missouri is really like, but in Ohio at least, state parks are usually at least 15 miles from the nearest grocery store and often farther. There is usually a convenient store closer in, with typical convenient store junk food, but nowhere you could find produce or fresh meats.

Having fresh food on a self-supported tour (other than what you may be able to forage from your campsite) adds a great deal to what you must plan in terms of luggage space, routing, and daily mileage. It can be done, but you either have to have room in your luggage for food and plans to stop in town on your way (which usually means negotiating state routes and busy four-lanes), or room in your schedule to go back into town for groceries (and add maybe 30 miles to your day). Either way, if you want fresh meat, be sure you have a means to keep it cool until you cook it (one of those foil bags should do, and you can beg the butcher for a bit of ice, but be aware that those things do leak).

Dehydrated foods aren't the best tasting stuff, but there's a reason campers have been using them for decades: they're light and packable. You should be able to replenish supplies at natural food stores (who often have dehydrated food in bulk) and outdoor outfitters once a week or so along your way. Some whole wheat couscous, some dehydrated vegetables, sounds like dinner to me.

If you really want to learn about your state and its natural resources, learn to forage your vegetables.

JME...