The Nomad Way – Turkey is interestingly different from other trekking/hiking ways in terms of orientation from south to north and therms altitude climbing from the sea level to the 2000 meters. So the nutrition regime should be also compatible with this altitude and climatization change.
Trekking, South-West Turkey
During the day the trekkers will need to spend energy to climb an altitude difference of 600 – 800 meters within 10-15 kilometers, so in the breakfast energy boosters such as honey, molasses, or jam is advised to be consumed. Not to keep the heavy and liquid food, trekkers can also take some pastes made with sweet fruit juices boiled with starch or flour and dried like papers. This special food’s name is “pestil”. Supple and dried, those sweet filo papers can be easily stored in backpacks.
Pestil, a real enwry booslter made from fresh fruit juice and flour or starch
The salty cheese “skin cheese” specific to the area is also recommended. This cheese dried and matured in animal skins do not rot with the effect of heat. It is dry and powdered so it is easy to keep it in a plastic bag. The consumption of salt is very important during these journeys because the excess of sweat takes away the salt needed for the nervous system of the body and it should be balanced with salty foods such as skin cheese and olives that can be easily found in the area.
Skin cheese, durable to the heat, delicious and a strong protein depot, available in the area
The tea and coffee instantly made in the morning and drunk with breakfast will have an excitatory role that will help on tired mornings because of a “tough day before”.
The mid-day lunches should be light, and short. The preparation should not take too much time because there is a certain way to be crossed until the evening camp place. The digestion of heavy foods such as meat will also steal from the energy required for the rest of the daily route. The best choice will be fruits, or vegetables if possible which will give energy and will ease up the digestion. The carbohydrates such as Pasta, or rice also can be eaten during the mid-day breaks with a certain limit. The excess of carbohydrates will make the trekkers sleepy, and tired but a bit of it will boost their energy in the long run that they will spend until arriving at the evening camp.
Benefit from fresh fruits and vegetables around you during the mid-day break
The water should be drunk continuously and little by little not to fill up the stomach and have difficulty walking with a full and uncomfortable stomach.
In the evening, protein suppliers such as dried meat or legumes can be eaten. The digestion of the protein will require extra water. This water will be consumed from the body not during the heat of the day time but during the chilly night time. Another important accompany to protein digestion are herbal teas. The herbal teas will provide the electrolyte balance of the body and also help digestion. Some herbs such as thyme, oregano, sage, and laurel can be collected during the hike. They have medical properties very suitable for the hikers such as stomach ache blocker, upper respiratory system protector, or immune system protector.
Evening’s camp meal with potatoes and legumes
As the altitude changes the weather can be more chilly. So the trekkers can increase the level of the sugar in their body and make a bit of excess in the calorific input that they provide to themselves. These “heating” foods such as dried fruits, molasses or ginger, will protect them from flu in colder places and times in the Nomad Way – Turkey.
