Food Planning for Long Expeditions

Planning 10 min read · Updated May 2026

Calories per day, weight per day, what to eat, what to avoid, and how to actually carry a month of food in a kayak.

Calorie requirements

Expedition kayak paddling burns 4,000-6,000 calories per day for an average paddler in steady conditions. Cold water and rough conditions push that to 7,000+. Most trips run a 500-1,000 calorie daily deficit by design - you accept some weight loss in exchange for less weight to carry.

Weight per day

Plan around 900-1,000 grams of food per paddler per day. A 30-day unsupported trip means 27-30 kg of food alone. This dictates kayak choice - long-haul expedition kayaks have 250-350 litres of total compartment volume specifically because that food needs to fit.

Daily structure that works

Breakfast: substantial cooked - oats with full-fat milk powder, sugar, dried fruit, nuts. Lunch on the water: high-density quick energy - flapjack, nuts, chocolate, dried fruit. Dinner ashore: substantial - dehydrated meals plus extra olive oil for calorie density. Supper: hot drink, biscuit. Caffeine in morning, none after lunch.

Dehydrated vs fresh

Dehydrated meals (Mountain House, Real Turmat, Firepot) dominate expedition food choice for weight efficiency. Build in 2-3 fresh-rest days per fortnight where possible - resupply points, friendly fishing villages. Fresh fish caught on the trip is high morale and lower weight to carry.

Hydration

5-6 litres per day in cold conditions, more in warm. Water is heavier than food per calorie of energy carried. Most expeditions resupply water along the coast - identify fresh water sources before launch. Carry a filter and chemical backup.