Have Your Best Camping Number Twos Ever

It’s not that I have any digestive issues, but when there’s a rather tasty looking food that promises your “best poos ever,” who wouldn’t give it a try?

After years of adding a variety of nutrient-dense and calorie-rich seeds and nuts to our family breakfast porridge while camping, my discovery of goodMix’s Blend 11 this past spring could not have been better timed. Just as supplies of flax seed and raw almonds were running low, a friendly fellow from the heart of Australia’s cattle country handed me a small sample cup of yogurt topped with some soaked Blend 11 at a market in Burlington, Vermont.

“It’s good to soak the mix overnight, as it aids in digestion,” said Andy McClymont, whose sister, Jeanie, developed the mix of organic seeds, nuts, puffed grains, and dried fruit at their home in Australia. “You can mix enough for a few days, as it keeps well in the fridge.”

The sample hit the spot and I was impressed by the array of flavors and textures in the mix, especially the raw cacao, the coconut, and the light sweetness of goji berries. I was excited by the prospect of yet another nutrient-dense, high-calorie food option for adventures off the grid. And I was happy to take our morning porridge to another level, so I took some home to share with my family.

So what’s in Blend 11? For one thing, there are no added sugars, which is a rarity for a formidable breakfast-type food. All ingredients are certified organic, and McClymont personally mixes Blend 11, as well as a Paleo-friendly, grain-free blend, NeoBlend, at the Mad River Food Hub, a community food-business facility in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains. Having brought goodMix to the U.S. market just this past spring, retail distribution is currently limited to Vermont, but it can be ordered online.

Ingredients, ordered by their relative prominence in the mix, include chia seeds, almonds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), shredded coconut, buckwheat, flaxseed, sesame seeds, goji berries, raw cacao nibs, puffed amaranth, and puffed millet. The puffed grains add a nice little crunch. McClymont highly recommends that you soak the mix in water for at least a few hours (ideally, overnight) before enjoying it, as soaking breaks down the phytic acid that naturally occurs in seeds and inhibits digestion and mineral absorption on the way through your gut. A recommended serving is a half cup of mix soaked in a few tablespoons of water. Vegan, gluten-free, and loaded with fiber, protein, antioxidants and healthy fatty acids, this is a winning combo for the demands put on your body when sleeping outdoors and being active all day in your favorite environments.

Tapping McClymont’s advice, and after experimenting with my family, I suggest the following tasty approaches to enjoying Blend 11 on the go. And while I’ve always been proud of my poos, and won’t divulge any more than that, no doubt a daily dose of Blend 11 for over a month now has my digestive system feeling better than ever.

Car Camping

• Mix with fresh fruit and yogurt.
• Add to hand-blended smoothies of any kind.
• Use as a topping on ice cream.

Backcountry Camping

• Pour into morning porridge/hot cereal.
• Add to backcountry pancake or biscuit mix.
• Mix with your favorite nut butter, perhaps with some honey, and spread on anything.
• Simply enjoy by the spoonful as a snack or with a touch of honey for dessert.

Soaking while camping: Use a simple plastic, metal or glass container with a sealed lid (e.g. small peanut butter jar) for spill-free, critter-safe soaking. Mix a few tablespoons of water per 1/2 cup of mix, and let soak for at least a few hours before enjoying.

Camp Notes is a big high five to the fun of sleeping outdoors and all that comes along with it. You know, camping and stuff. Photo by Brian Mohr.