Many of you will already know what I have learned this week about food. But it is important that I learn it for myself. That way I will be better able to manage my food requirements, which is vital for success in my undertaking.
Learning #1 - 1 calorie = 4 kilojoules (approx)
Learning #2 - I found this one fascinating. There are only 4 food types that contain calories. They are carbohydrates, proteins, fat / oils and alcohol.
Learning #3
1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories = 16 kilojoules (approx)
1 gram of protein = 4 calories = 16 kilojoules (approx)
1 gram of alcohol = 7 calories = 28 kilojoules (approx)
1 gram of fat / oil = 9 calories = 36 kilojoules (approx)
Now, when you remember that one of the crucial rules of the event is that each particpant carries 2000 calories of food for each day in their pack, that means 12,000 calories minimum for the 6 days. As 2000 calories converts to 470 grams of carbohydrates, the diabetics reading this know that is an awful lot of food. It converts to 6 packets of dried apricots or 35 of those fruit rollup things. That's way too much of each to eat constantly for 6 days.
Learning #4 - I will have a minimum requirement each day for carbohydrate, which will be around about 300 grams. That leaves another 170 grams, or more accurately 680 calories, to be made up from somewhere. Now I have a better idea of where. Today I visited a specialist sports food shop to find out more. My thinking now, and yet to be tested, is that the calories can be spread across nut paste (protein / oil / some carbs), oil (olive / almond etc) and maybe protein powder.
This will now become part of my training and testing. I have to learn the following -
- which foods are pallitable
- which foods are easiest to pack and easiest to eat
- which foods are high in calories with a minimum of weight
- which foods can best withstand the rigours of the desert |
