Fueling Your Ski Day on a Budget: Delicious Lunches and Energizing Snacks for Seasonaires

For us seasonaires out there, food is everything, but so is skiing. So when you’ve got the chance to ski all day on your day off, it’s all about making the most of it. Wherever you’re based in the world, we all know that eating out, especially on a mountain-top, can cost a bloody fortune. Certainly not within my budget every week! So being a real foodie, I’m never prepared to compromise. A girl gotta eat right?! So over the seasons, I’ve come up with a few ideas of how to fuel my body right so that I can ski all day, enjoy what I eat and still have enough energy and pocket money left for après of course!

Lunch

A busy morning means your stomach will be rumbling when lunchtime rolls around, but try not to overindulge – you don’t want to be too tired after eating. It is therefore a good idea to go for something higher protein, higher in carbohydrates, and again low in fiber.

3 of the best sandwich fillings

• The French one- cornichons, cheese, ham and mustard

• The Falafel one- tortilla wrap, falafel, humus and cabbage or lettuce, add cous cous or other veggies if you’re really hungry

• The Leftover sandwich - shredded meat, cheese, hot sauce and tomato).

• Toast and Guacamole- When you need something you can easily eat on-the-go, try a slice of toast whole grain bread that's topped with one-fourth cup guacamole, three ounces of organic turkey or chicken, sliced tomatoes, and onions. Fold it in half.

• Peanut butter and Jam. For those of us on a super tight budget, this is perfect.

Lunches for when you’re feeling EXTRA

• Everybody loves crackers and dips - a mess free way to enjoy a gourmet cheap lunch

• Homemade soup in a hot flask

• Cous cous salad.

• Bean salad (bean soups are also great if you have a flask that can fit in your backpack.

• Sushi. Prepare it the night before, and pop it in a Tuppaware for a refreshing, healthy lunch.
  

Snacks

Snacks during skiing or shredding should be portable, durable—so they won't crumble during a rough fall—and high in protein to keep your body full and energized

• Trail Mix- The ever so popular trail mix is definitely one to remember. Having a selection of nuts and dried fruits in your pocket can make all the difference in your energy levels, helping you to last all the way until apres. They are filling and tasty but release energy slowly, unlike a chocolate bar that will cause an energy spike but leave you hungry half an hour later.

• Mars bars- Always have a few mars bars in your pocket

• Jelly fruit pots- perfect when you don't want to have squashed fruit in your pack or pockets

• Clementines- a great fresh snack perfect for a quick one on the gondola. Refreshing flavors aside, there's a real reason why these fruits are great for skiing or snowboarding: they can help keep you warm. Plant-foods have phytonutrients, which go beyond the regular vitamins and minerals that most people already know about. Citrus fruit contains a phytonutrient called hesperidin which has been shown to increase blood flow. Researchers have actually dipped people's hands in cold water and proved that citrus helps bring their temperatures back to baseline quicker than a placebo group. Pretty amazing stuff -- and it's super easy to un-peel and eat on a lift. Just remember to bring a spare sandwich bag for the peel!

• Biltong and other dry cured meats are also excellent snacks packed with protein for those of us who prefer the savoury stuff.

Sweet stuff

• Granola oat bars

• Everybody hates pots of yogurt, squeezes are an awesome sweet treat for both kids and adults and since it's already cold outside, they’ll stay fresh in your pack all day.

It’s not all about the food. Stay hydrated too!

Most people are dehydrated in their everyday lives, so combine altitude, exercise and salty foods (fondue!) with alcohol and you’re looking at a recipe for disaster. Dehydration causes your heart to work harder and will affect your performance on the piste, so drink plenty of water. Down a large glass when you first get up (altitude and central heating is very drying), then after breakfast too.

Take a hydroflask bottle or hydrapack (like the new Osprey bag with insulated hydrapack) up on the slopes with you and if you’re working hard (or have a hangover) add a little powdered sports drink such as Skratch Labs – available from Wiggle – and SIS. When you’re nursing a hangover, rehydration sachets (such as Diaoralyte or your choice of sports drink) and a vitamin C boost / sugar drink like Berocca. Coconut water is an excellent natural hydrator, too.

Bear in mind that caffeine — tea, coffee and even some herbal teas such as green tea — all have a diuretic effect and encourage water loss. Most importantly, don’t not drink to avoid loo stops — drink water until your pee is completely colourless, that’s the only way to tell

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The Ski Nomad