Tyson & Perdue make yummy BBQ & Honey Mustard chicken tenders that are
pre-cooked. Keep frozen til you need them. We take a little portable
Hibachi grill to cook with along the way. You can make your own with
bite-size white meat marinaded in any one of the sauces available, or
make your own.
Dill pickles & sweet pickle slices are a big hit--just the salt you want
when you need it.
Oranges, bananas & apples with a side of applesauce (double duty for
horse & rider). Celery w/ cream cheese or peanut butter. Carrots/pears.
An assortment of cheeses cut into bite sizes to be put in plastic baggies
to take along. Variety of crackers--the riders want something different
at every stop & you just can't predict.
Hot soup--chicken broth--if it's cold.
Tuna right out of the can or on crackers is often a big hit--you can buy
small single-size serving so it won't go to waste.
Breads generally not well received, sandwiches don't get eaten. Dough
must sit too heavy in the system. But sometimes peanut butter/jelly hits
the spot. Pasta seems to be a no-no for most folks.
Pretzel logs are great for take-along - the short ones fit in the baggies.
Cookies are iffy--sometimes a fig bar hits the spot. Chocolate sounds
like a good idea but few people actually crave it later on in the ride.
The packaged breakfast bars, lo-fat stuff, sometimes will taste good. We
offer small packages of several kinds.
Carbonated sodas don't fly, OJ is good, some juices, mainly water & Gatorade.
Pit crewing is an art form, especially for the 100's. The nutritional
needs of the riders will vary during the time of day, weather conditions,
etc. You get to know your riders REALLY WELL--just like the riders get
to know their horses!
We go to BJ's Warehouse (Sam's Club, Redners, any wholesale outlet) at
the beginning of the season. You can stock up on large quantities of
vendor-packaged fast foods or single-serving items. My truck may look
like Diane's Catering but it's certainly a welcome sight (I'm told) at 75
miles out! And don't depend on your rider to tell you what he/she might
like to have at x number of miles (during your planning stage)...it's
best to lay out the feast & repack it for the next stop.
It's the big, red Ford dually with the lady in the apron....
Cheers, don't slip on the ice...
Diane @ Safe Haven