VAN LIFE: SIMPLE, HEALTHY EATS FOR CLIMBING

When I’m in Rifle, all I want to do is climb. From the moment I wake up, I’m ready to take off and jump on the warm-up routes. I sleep with the guide book next to my pillow. On a sheet of scratch paper sticking out of the book is the list of routes I carefully chose the night before. I’m still a bit impatient, like a kid at Disneyland, but I’m working on it. As the sun creeps over my van, I get out and walk around and pace around my climbing partner’s car, who is usually still fast asleep. I might even bump into his car a few times to get the ball rolling.

Sometimes though, it’s still pretty cold outside, which means the rock is also probably still cold and not quite ready to climb. So how should I best use this time to prepare for the ensuing Rifle training day? I know that once we start climbing and exchanging belays, there won’t be time to eat a whole meal.

Van Life: Simple, Healthy Eats For Climbers

That’s why I decided to spend the morning moments planning ahead, consuming extra calories and preparing a snack bag for my crag pack to fuel my body for a high-performance climbing day. Here are a few of my favorite, quick, nutritious meals you can easily prepare in your van or at the campground.

BREAKFAST: OATMEAL GUMBO

My first step is to heat up water with JetBoil and make coffee! Lots of coffee. Drink coffee now and pour more coffee into travel mugs for sipping throughout the day. While preparing my oatmeal, I usually grab an apple to eat eating during preparation.

Get bowl and fill with oatmeal and hot water. I like to throw all kinds of stuff into a big bowl of hot oatmeal. Here are a few of my favorite combinations.

Ingredients:

oatmeal
hot water

Optional ingredients:

Banana
Cinnamon
Raisins
Dry fruit, especially berries
Handful of trail mix
Handful of favorite granola mix
Honey
Scoop of almond butter
Protein powders
Cacao
Oreos
Fig Newton’s
Pop Tarts

LUNCH: TUNA/SALMON TACO DELIGHT

Van Life: Simple, Healthy Eats For Climbers

Ingredients:

Tuna or salmon packet (there is a larger variety of single serving packaged fish on the market now)
Fresh tortillas
Scoop in a fresh avocado

On top of a fresh tortilla, add the tuna or salmon and avocado. Roll the tortilla and enjoy!

SNACKS: EAT-AND-GO BELAY BAG

My crag snack foods need to check a few requirements: must provide immediate energy, be easy to digest, must stay fresh, needs to be resistant to extreme temperatures and will not get crushed in my backpack. So here’s what you’ll find in my crag snack bag:

GU’s - chocolate with caffeine
Apples
Bobo’s bar
Energy tablets (caffeine and electrolyte mix) to drop into the water bottle.
Bag of trail mix

DINNER: ANCIENT RAMEN BOWL + SECRET INGREDIENT

Ingredients:

Broth packet or sodium free bullion
Water
Garlic
Ginger
Dried shiitake mushrooms
Dried kale
Add other dehydrated veggies of your choice

Optional Toppings:

Crushed Oreos (if you have a sweet tooth)
Crushed chips, like Doritos (if you prefer a savory soup)

Saute garlic and ginger in pot for one minute. Pour in water and mix broth packet or sodium free bullion in water. Combine dried shiitake mushrooms, dried kale and other dehydrated veggies. Boil until veggies are soft. Serve with optional crushed oreos or chips.

Secret Ingredient:

Practice Mindfulness. ; ) Relaaax. Breeeathe. There is nothing to do. There is only this moment. Thank God I’m in Rifle!

Contributed by Kim Tellez, Movement Personal Trainer, Instructor and van life master. Photos courtesy of Ross Landino, Movement Instructor.