It's always advisable to geocache with certain items. The "Ten Essentials" is a good starting point. This is the first of a series of caches that will cover the ten essentials.
NUTRITION/ FOOD
"The Ten Essentials" were first identified by The Mountaineers in 1930. They were updated in the early 2000s and now include Ten Essential "Systems":
1. Navigation (map and compass)
2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter
They even have a cool limerick to help you remember the essentials, and it has nothing to do with a man from Nantucket…
“The Mountaineers Ten Essentials Limerick”
By Steve McClure
To navigate, head for the sun,
With first aid and knife on the run,
Bring fire and shelter,
Extra food is a helper,
But water and clothes weigh a ton.
Hiking in the great outdoors often leads to a sense of accomplishment. The up and down through the hills and strenuous activity results in working up an appetite. It's always advisable to have some additional food. I usually wind up over packing. Something sweet, like a piece of fruit and its simple sugars is usually what I wind up eating first. The energy is often useful in keeping me moving. My kids love granola bars, and who can argue? Healthy, they are often filling. But to really fill up (besides water) one must consume some protein. Beef Jerky is the staple of hikes for our household. Kids will often just go on the hikes if they know there is beef jerky (and a geocache) to be gained.
I recently introduced them to GROP (Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts) with some mini marshmallows and M&Ms thrown in. It’s quickly becoming a favorite on the longer hikes.
When camping overnight though, food can become a liability, especially in bear country. Bears will seek out food, scaring geocachers across the land. The good news is you don’t have to run faster than the bear, just faster than a fellow geocacher. Raccoons are also problematic. Most of this problem can be avoided though if you set up a good system to keep the food off the ground though.