Food Calorie Density
Compares kcal-per-gram for trail foods and ranks them by calorie-per-gram efficiency.
Choose foods (kcal per 100g)
Click to add common trail foods:
Result
A natural placement between the calculator and the explanation.
What this solves — and what it doesn't
Calorie density (kcal per gram) is the lever that decides how much food you carry. A pure-butter plan is light but miserable; a pure-apple plan is heavy but ethical. A balanced diet averages ~120 kcal/g. This tool lets you build a basket of foods and shows how much weight your plan implies.
How to read the result
Click the buttons to add foods to your basket. The result shows the total kg you’d carry if 100% of your calories came from your best food (the lower bound) and your basket average (realistic).
Aim for basket average 100 to 130 kcal/g on most trips.
Limitations
- Densities are averages; brands vary.
- Doesn’t account for satiety. A 100% oil diet is theoretically 530 kcal/g but impossible to sustain.
- Doesn’t model macro balance — protein matters too.
Frequently asked questions
Why is oil so dense?
Pure fat is ~9 kcal/g. Add water or fiber and density drops. Butter, oil, nuts are the densest natural foods.
Is there a downside to high-fat foods?
In the short term, no — your body is fine burning fat for fuel. Long-term reliance on low-fiber diets can cause GI issues.
Should I count water weight?
No — food weight is the dry/packaged weight as you buy it.