What would you eat if?

[handyman]

You had been out on a hiking, gill scrambling, canoeing etc. adventure activity day.

I've just taken up a side line catering for an adventure company that do this sort of thing so thought whilst I'm doing meal plans I would canvas some ideas.

To give you an idea what sort of this I'm thinking of this is the menu for the 2 days I covered at last minute the other week. All but the pud on the last day was pre chosen for me. In the future I will be handling the food plans and ingredients ordering.

Day 1

Leek and Potato soup
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Lasagne
Kids salad
Feta salad
Tomato / onion balsamic salad.
Garlic bread
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Spiced apple crumble with ice cream

Day 2

Carrot and coriander soup
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Cumberland sausage and mash
Peas, Carrots, Broccoli, Mange tout, French beans
Onion Gravy
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Golden Syrup sponge with ice cream

All are cooked 100% from scratch (barring the sausages). All produce is fresh from local suppliers as well so it's a treat to cook with.

So what sort of thing would you want if you had the choice? I've thought of the usual cottage pie and a variety of other starter soups but need to have a plan that will have up to 9 different combinations.

Cheers
HM

[TheDaddy]

Considering the amount of calories you burn hiking I think I'd include some pasta and rice combos, for the deserts I'd have some fruit and nut options, hope that helps, I am not much of a chef I am affraid

[handyman]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Considering the amount of calories you burn hiking I think I'd include some pasta and rice combos, for the deserts I'd have some fruit and nut options, hope that helps, I am not much of a chef I am affraid

My problem of sorts is that I'm a fine dining chef and have to dial back the complexity (& cost) a bit. I do have a solid foundation in the kind of wholesome , hearty food that is required in this situation. Just wonderign what others would like.

The groups sort their own breakie and butties. I just cover a hot tea. This last group were year 5-6.

[Halcyon]

I think the soups are a good idea. If it's been a cold day to warm people up.

As for another dish, how about Moussaka. Plenty of meat and vegetables with a cheese toppping.

A fruit salad might be worth doing as well to provide energy. Lot's of banana's, pineapple.

[Maggy J]

I think that year 5-6 might would like the soup,lasagne and garlic bread and dessert in Day 1 just fine.Not sure about the salads and feta cheese though.

Day 2 would be a much better option for youngsters.

All sounds yummy to me though.

[Uncle Peter]

How about a stir-fry type dish?

Maybe some medium egg noodles and beansprouts with chicken strips and stir-fry worthy veg such as mange tout or perhaps strips of beef seasoned with some 5 spice powder, served with brocolli as the veg part.

Not sure how that would go down with the children in general but mine has always liked noodles from a very early age.

Plenty of carbs, protein and low GI foods would be a good idea. A lighter desert would be nice too.

[Caff]

A vegetarian alternative that's not a salad.

Something like cheese-filled pasta... tortelloni? Carbs, protein and warming.
What's the cheese and tomato one called?

[handyman]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I think that year 5-6 might would like the soup,lasagne and garlic bread and dessert in Day 1 just fine.Not sure about the salads and feta cheese though.

Day 2 would be a much better option for youngsters.

All sounds yummy to me though.

The salads were aimed at the staff and teachers. They ate the lot of them but the kiddie salad was barely touched.

Plenty of the kids wandered into the kitchen to say they enjoyed the food.

thanks for the ideas so far :-)

[altis]

All those soups are a great idea. We never drink enough when out in the hills. For a long day out I'll carry over 2 litres but, IIRC, I'm supposed to drink nearer five!

When we get back in we grab the largest mug we can find and keep filling it with tea. I've a mate who will often use a 1-litre measuring jug instead! Then we usually find we need food quickly. Usually loads (150g each) of pasta (in my case, now gluten-free) with something like pre-cooked ratatouille that's just heated in a microwave. Plenty of carbo, plenty of bulk and plenty of slop so it slides down easily. If we have a pudding it'll just be a piece of fruit. And then lots more to drink.

Concentrate on fluids, bulk and speed and it should go down well. Remember, they've had the highlight of their day so they're just eating because they have to.

[Taf]

Anything but Kendall Mint Cake......

Chunky soups, thick sandwiches, burgers... stodge with carbs and lower fats.

[smeagoly1]

I always take MOD rations )) 15 years military service and many more years fellwalking, I sort of got used to it. The beauty of them are, seven different types of meals, a 24 hour brew kit that would feed the 10,000. Yep and all full of slow release energy and calories to burn off.
Oh and it all folds into a small area, and can be either boil in the bag or eaten cold.

I agree with TAF, NOT KENDALL MINT CAKE!!!! erghhhhhhh I swear they used that stuff for the foundations of Hadrians wall.

[The Hitman]

Try chips baked beans sausage or burgers and for afters some sort of cheesecake

Originally Posted by The Hitman

Try chips baked beans sausage or burgers and for afters some sort of cheesecake

With the high GI I'd be a sleep within 15 minutes after I'd eaten that. Best going for some slow release carbs like porriage, brown rice, wholemeal bread. get plenty of good fats on board from fish and meat.

[Ramrod]

I'd agree with the posters who said more carbs & proteins. Also, have you thought of varying the dishes between hot and cold weather? People like heartier 'comfort food' when they have been exercising in the cold but are less keen on that type of stuff in the summer....