Snacking Between Dives

[ccrprospect]

Dear all,

I am writing to see if anyone has good ideas of "in between dives" nutrition. It has usually been the case for me that when doing two dives a day, I start out fresh and strong on the first dive, but on the second dive (which usually follows the first by a 2 hour surface interval or so), I feel more tired and not as focused. I hydrate relatively well, but tend to avoid food (bar for the occasional chocolate bar) as I have a sensitive stomach. Coffee has also *not* went down very well between dives.

So if anyone has ideas of nutritious, energy boosting foods that are easily and quickly digested, please feel free to chime in

 

[Hank49]

Bananas

 

[Barnaby'sDad]

Cheese and peanut butter crackers, nature valley bar, etc. Something simple to put in your stomach that doesn’t encourage colon blow. Ex. Coffee. That’s pretty much the last thing that I would want to have during a surface interval, lol.

 

[Saniflush]

I enjoy almonds or something along those lines that I can have in a ziplock bag as well as an apple but mileage will vary. I know some who wouldn't do any of those things and like to have other items.

 

[tmassey]

I'm susceptible to sea sickness, so food has been an issue for me on boats. There have been times where I just couldn't resist the grouper sandwich for lunch between trips -- and regretted its unpleasant waste later. I've also had what I thought was a really reasonable light breakfast -- a very nice cinnamon roll -- and then later found that the effect cinnamon has on my stomach that had gone virtually unnoticed on dry land became a real issue on a boat: constant heartburn, assuming I can keep it down.

Over the past 15 or so years, I've learned that the most-dense, least flavorful, easiest-to-eat options work the best for me. And in the last 3 or so years, I've basically completely standardized on the following: Nature Valley "Protein" bars (granola bars with less sugar and more protein than average, but *not* a real protein bar) or relatively simple trail mix (Gorp is fine, though I prefer M&M's added in there, and maybe some other nuts, but with a minimum of other dried fruits: Walmart Mountain Trail Mix works well); and Old Wisconsin meat sticks.

I used to use beef jerkey instead of meat sticks, but the plain jerkey was *too* plain (tastes like sawdust after a bit), and the flavored stuff had a real chance of messing with me, especially anything peppery, which most jerkey brands seem to think is *required*. And my jaw would get tired... For meat sticks I go low-flavor too: so no fancy meat sticks (usually too heavily smoked or peppered) nor completely artificial sticks (like Slim Jim's), but a low-end but decent meat stick. Old Wisconsin are my main go-to for this use.

For me, a meat stick and a granola bar (or 1/4 cup of trail mix) are a good between-dives snack on a boat. For "lunch" between trips I double it.

This is *not* about taste. Simple trail mix is not my favorite if I were snacking at home (or even hiking): I'll take the dried fruit then! And Old Wisconsin are not something I look forward to. Rather, they are both things that I can eat, and eat quickly, and be fine for an hour or two.

And when I get off the boat, *then* I can have a *great* dinner and not worry about it...

I've found that for me the high-protein options are the best, hence the amount of meat and nuts. But don't discount your chocolate bar idea. Make it a Snickers bar and it's practically the same as your average granola bar -- and if it makes you happy, then even better. I'd throw a meat stick or two in there... but it's not the worst option for you.

 

[OTF]

Bananas

I've seen guys get absolutely lambasted for bringing bananas on certain dive boats.

Granola bars are good, but soft ones like cliff bars rather than these

A thermos of warm, overly-sweetened tea is great after a cold winter dive.

 

[Barnaby'sDad]

I've seen guys get absolutely lambasted for bringing bananas on certain dive boats.

Granola bars are good, but soft ones like cliff bars rather than these

A thermos of warm, overly-sweetened tea is great after a cold winter dive.

Yup. Some dive ops actually have bananas on the list of “no go” items.

 

[ccrprospect]

What's wrong with bananas?

Edit: figured it out

 

[OTF]

slipping hazard

 

[Divin'Papaw]

2 hour Si??!!! These must be shore dives I assume?

I’d suggest a lower sugar higher protein bar like KIND or Special K make along with numerous other brands.