camp meals

Instant Breakfast Shake

Instant coffee, instant breakfast, and powdered milk shaken cold. Thru-hiker breakfast in a bottle.

calories
800
weight
4.8 oz
cal / oz
167
protein
30 g
serves
1, scales
prep
1 min
cook
0 min
total time
1 min
water
470 ml cold
cost
$

Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.

  • Breakfast
  • No cook
  • Backpacking
  • Thru-hike
  • Vegetarian
  • Nut free
  • Eat in the bag
  • Grab and go
  • Shelf stable
  • Dump and stir

Ingredients

Instant coffee 2 packets Folgers or store brand
Instant breakfast powder 2 packets Carnation brand, vanilla or chocolate
Powdered milk 1/2 cup Nestle Nido

Method

  1. Pour 470 ml of cold water into your cup, bottle, or a ziplock bag.
  2. Add both coffee packets, both instant breakfast packets, and the powdered milk.
  3. Shake hard for 30 seconds or stir vigorously until all powder dissolves.
  4. Drink immediately while it's mixed.

This is the thru-hiker breakfast: everything shelf-stable, everything lightweight, everything ready in three minutes. The instant breakfast handles flavor and protein without needing fresh milk or a stove. The coffee provides the actual function—waking you up so you can move. The Nido makes it thick enough to feel like a meal instead of powdered water.

Shake it hard and drink it cold. The powder will separate if you wait too long, and you shouldn’t wait anyway. Just drink and move on.

Packing

Pack instant coffee packets, instant breakfast packets, and powdered milk together in a quart bag. Measure the milk at home if you prefer—half a cup is roughly 60 grams. Or pre-divide into individual serving bags for grab-and-go mornings.

Variations

  • Choose chocolate instant breakfast for a mocha-style shake.
  • Add a tablespoon of peanut butter powder for extra protein and fat.
  • Stir in a splash of honey powder for sweetness if the instant breakfast isn't enough.

https://www.trailgroove.com/forums/topic/700-breakfasts-recipes