As a veteran teacher and parent, one thing I have learned all too well is that a hungry kid is a grumpy kid. I have learned that kids with ADHD in particular are prone to low blood sugar induced meltdowns and lethargy, which does not bode well for an adventure. In addition, gluten makes my kids anxious, agitated, and emotional. Some may roll their eyes but IYKYK so it’s all good. Carb-heavy foods are burned away quickly, leaving them (and us) feeling pretty low.
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Feed them – a lot!
Our favorite take along foods that help keep our energy up include beef sticks (we like Chomps best https://amzn.to/3wwGog7)
or beef jerky, avocados, peanut or almond butter (we love these https://amzn.to/4dqtMb9), keto bars from Aldi (the caramel nut flavor in particular) and these S’mores flavored protein granola bars by Kodiak https://amzn.to/4dvciKB and almond flour crackers (these are by far our favorite https://amzn.to/44sZpgf). If we’re taking a lunch box or cooler, full fat Greek yogurt, Babybel cheese, and string cheese are usually in it.
Use sugar…strategically.
On our very first backpacking trip ever (ill fated as it was), there was a point when my legs would not move. It was like they were frozen. I had climbed one too many hills, carrying a heavier pack than I should have been for my fitness level at the time, and for a few scary minutes my legs would truly not take another step. I felt that I had exhausted every last energy store that my body had. At that point in time I hadn’t done much strength training (lesson learned) and the trail was much more challenging than we’d anticipated. I was worried that we would have to stop and set up camp right then and there, which would have been illegal. The camp that we thought was 7 miles from our starting point was nearing 9…lo and behold, a convenient individual packet of honey like you can find here https://amzn.to/4dvIJIO
combined with an almond butter pouch and I mustered the energy to get to camp. Once we finally arrived, Nic revealed that he’d brought frozen steaks in his pack all that way and he cooked them over the fire that night. I have never loved him more.
Kids can experience this too! If their physical abilities are being stretched, they will need so much to eat! Now as a mom of a 10 year old and a 14 year old die-hard runner, I have a hard time keeping enough calories on hand for them. If you’re camping or backpacking, freeze dried meals can simplify things for you. We’re pretty picky, but we’ve found that we really like the Mountain House Breakfast Skillet https://amzn.to/3WvLjZn, and the kids think the freeze dried meals are pretty fun. We’ve also enjoyed the Chicken Teriyaki https://amzn.to/3wwHOHt and Chicken Fried Rice https://amzn.to/44yhU2D on backpacking trips. We also love that all three of these meals are gluten free. If they say they are 2 servings, check the calorie count and make sure that’s realistic for your crew. You can burn a couple hundred calories in an hour of hiking, and kids burn through them even faster than adults. A well timed sugary boost combined with something more substantial like protein or fat can get kids and adults through a challenging time. Avoid the temptation to fill up on nutrient-poor snacks. They don’t give you much bang for your buck.
Give them a mission
Our most recent mission-oriented adventure was a mushroom hunting trip at a nearby national forest. While it was a slow 2.5 miles, we gained around 500 feet of elevation and the kids were so busy looking for mushrooms that I’m not sure they even noticed. We didn’t find any morels, but we did find various other non-edible fungi that we had fun identifying with an app (that I accidentally purchased a week later after the free trial ended for $30.00)…I hope we find more mushrooms in the future. The kids climbed all over trying to get to things that looked like mushrooms and it was a memorable day for all of us.
This may blur the lines a little, but sometimes I hand my iphone over so my younger son can take pictures and videos. On our Great Lakes visits he loves to slo-mo record the water lapping at the shoreline and our dog Samson frenetically running through the waves. He’s taken some interesting shots and we always enjoy seeing what he finds. While we have to set limits on this, it’s much easier to change activities than with other screens.
Help them feel accomplished
Type 2 fun has a way of stretching us. Our kids experienced this in the biggest way they ever had on our trip to Alaska. We logged a lot of hours fishing while we were there, and the forecast every day of our trip looked just about the same: 50ish degrees and rainy. We were cold, wet, and tired, but we sure have some good stories. Like when the pink salmon leaped into my canoe and hit me in the face. Wish we had that one on video. But that trip is full of happy memories and victories even though there were some complaints and tears at the time.
Every backpacking trip we’ve been on has had a similar effect. There’s something empowering about carrying everything you need deep into the woods to exist sans many of our typical conveniences, but it’s definitely not easy. From filtering their own water to starting the fire, there are ways kids can be involved that can give them a sense of accomplishment, not to mention the feat of hiking a number of miles.
Let them make choices
Of course as the adult you are the responsible party, but there’s no reason the kids can’t weigh in on some of the details. Which meal to have that evening, which trail to take first, what clothes to wear. This last one has been a huge point of contention in our house, since no one ever thinks they’ll get cold…but I’ve arrived at the conclusion that they can wear what they want, but they need to bring with them what I know they’ll need later. Because selfishly, I want to keep my coat.
Let them set the pace
As both a parent and teacher I’ve learned that the pace and/or distance I want to go is not necessarily what’s best for my kids. There are times when we’re on a backpacking trip with a schedule that we need to keep, but other times when it’s ok to cut down on the miles and just take our time. If you have younger kids, shortening trips might help them enjoy the experience more fully. Keeping driving times on the shorter side will leave them with more energy and patience for activities. That being said, kids certainly have a way of rising to the occasion when needed. I just wouldn’t count on it every time.
Check your own attitude
Along those same lines, when we don’t get our way as adults it’s easy to become overwhelmed and short tempered. When taking kids on our adventures, the most important thing (after safety) is that they have a good experience and want to try more new things. Whether it’s canoeing, hiking, backpacking, car camping, or any other adventure you decide to tackle, the attitudes of the adults present can make the trip fun, or not. Forget your expectations – anything could happen and going with the flow as an adult helps our kids become resilient, too. It shows them that things can go awry and we can still be ok, and even still have a good time. For us, the thing we love most is being together in nature, and if plans don’t go perfectly that shouldn’t surprise us. At least we’re together.
-Emily