Adventurers must surely burn a lot of calories – but what’s actually in those rations, especially when magical Elvish lembas bread isn’t available?
Image by Bert Bogaerts a.k.a. Bertdrawsstuff, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
I made a neat lil list of 35 different meals, that all answer the question “what am I actually eating when I eat a ration?”
It covers the most common adventuring biomes and climates, and does not contain any fantasy ingredients – feel free to add those on your own!
For ease of file management and hosting, I put it up on Itch.io:
Just a small tasting of the full menu:
Forager’s Feast
This ration consists of preserved nettle and dandelion greens, hard cheese made from sheep’s milk, and a dense oatcake.
Sailor’s Repast
Featuring hardtack, salt-cured fish, and a tangy preserved lemon and herb spread, this ration is inspired by the meals of sailors who have navigated the coastal waters for centuries, offering long-lasting nourishment and a connection to the seafaring heritage of the region.
Tundra Trail Mix
A hearty blend of dried cloudberries, roasted pine nuts, and salted fish chips.
Olive Grove Trail Mix
A nourishing blend of roasted almonds, dried figs, and herbed chickpea crisps.
Desert Oasis Ration
This ration features dried camel meat, sun-ripened dates, and a hearty millet flatbread, providing adventurers with a taste of the desert’s scarce resources and essential nutrients for their journey in this arid landscape.
Jungle Harvest Ration
This ration features smoked monkey meat, dried passion fruit, and a cassava flatbread, providing adventurers with a taste of the rainforest’s abundant resources and essential nutrients for their journey in this lush landscape.