Climb Mexico's El Pico de Orizaba
Food Recommendations

On the expedition you will need lunch snacks for 3 days. The total weight of your lunch items should be about 2 to 3 lbs. Breakfasts and dinners are provided by RMI while on the mountain.

We will make every attempt to accommodate any special dietary needs for this trip. Please complete the “dietary needs” section on the Participant Form in the Registration Packet, and return it to the RMI Office 60 days prior to the program departure date.

Breakfasts and Dinners

The breakfast menu includes items such as instant oatmeal, cold cereals (granola), bagels and cream cheese, as well as local fresh fruit, breakfast bars (Kashi, Kudos), and hot drinks (coffee, tea, cocoa, cider).

The dinner usually begins with soup, and ends with dessert, followed by a round of hot drinks - coffee, tea, cocoa, and cider. Main courses are healthy one-pot meals, incorporating fresh local food wherever practical. One typical main course dinner might be spaghetti with sausage plus fresh vegetables, and another meal might be chicken fajitas with cheese, tortillas, onions, and peppers. There are limitations, but the menu is planned to offer good variety and ample portions.

Lunch/Snacks

The importance of bringing lunch foods that you genuinely enjoy cannot be overstated. Eating properly is the key to maintaining your strength while in the mountains. And in order to combat the loss of appetite at altitude, it is best to have a variety of foods that stimulate the whole palate, from sweet to sour to salty.

"Lunch" is eaten all day long while in the mountains during short breaks.  Avoid packing any items that require preparation or need hot water.

Take care while shopping for your lunch snacks. We suggest making a list in advance, but add to it when new ideas come to mind. Try shopping at stores that offer a variety of gourmet and specialty foods, as well as your tried and true favorites.

Personal lunch items may include: dry salami, smoked salmon, Jerky (turkey, beef, fish), small cans of tuna fish, individually wrapped cheeses such as Laughing Cow or Baby Bell, crackers, bagels, candy bars, hard candies (Jolly Ranchers, Toffees, Life Savers), Gummy Bears, Sour candies (Sweet Tarts), cookies, dried fruit, nuts, energy bars, GORP mixes, and drink mixes (Gatorade / Kool-Aid).