Power Through Festival Season with Jack Link’s
Top tips from Jack Link’s and Dr Stuart Farrimond
The UK festival season is coming to an end and JackLink’s has the perfect recipe for festival success. Not only will Jack Link’s help festival goers power through the end of their busy festival experience but will also keep them fueled and ready for life ahead. If snacks are permitted at festivals, beef jerky is the perfect choice.
Meet Dr Stuart Farrimond, renowned science and medical writer, presenter, educator and international best-selling author. Dr Farrimond’s expert tips will ensure festival goers can have the most fun while staying healthy and energised.
Dr Stuart Farrimond says “a day spent ambling, dashing between stages, and getting your groove on in the dance tent could mean you burn an extra 1,500 calories over the entire day” which as a result induces hunger.
It is vital to try to eat a hearty, balanced breakfast to sustain you throughout the day and aim for healthy options throughout the day where you can find them, packing your own food if you have the chance. Very greasy or sugary foods come at a cost, often leading to an energy slump.
Dr Farrimond continues, “for both health and wallet, it is probably wise to go equipped with your own stash of energy-replenishing snacks that offer you a full spectrum of nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, as well as vitamins and minerals”.
Dr Farrimond provides scientific backing, suggesting “when physically active, carbohydrates are the main currency of energy that muscles and mind need. Replenish this with healthy, easy-to-digest carbohydrate-based foods alongside some fats and protein.”
Here’s a list of on-the-go-to snacks ideal to have on hand:
- Jerky or Veggie Jerky: These protein-rich snacks are rich in iron, zinc and B12. They are high in salt, which can be useful when sweating a lot. They are portable, non-perishable, and help keep hunger at bay.
- Nuts and Seeds / Trail Mix: A high-energy snack, it’s packed with healthy fats, protein, energy-boosting carbohydrates and a legion of minerals and vitamins. They’re also easy to carry and don’t require refrigeration.
- Fresh or Dried Fruits: These provide natural sugars for a quick energy boost, along with fibre, and essential vitamins. Fresh is best and they’re refreshing and bursting with water (typically over 80%). Bananas are particularly energy dense and sustaining.
- Oat, fruit and nut bars and balls: Convenient and portable, go for the ones with the fewest added ingredients and sugars or make them yourself. They can offer a blend of complex carbohydrates, protein, and fats to sustain you.
- Yogurt or Dairy Alternatives: Rich in protein and probiotics, these can be a satisfying snack, but need to be kept cool.
Prepare for the outdoors
“Westerners spend some 80% of their waking life indoors and most of it sitting down. The daily grind can often be sustained on light lunches and regular sips of tea. Spending our days outdoors in the hustle and bustle of a festival brings with it extra (and often much needed) demands on our body. Increasingly erratic weather means it’s always worth packing clothes and footwear for rain or shine.”
Don’t water down hydration
“For festivalgoers, good hydration should be a priority – especially if it’s hot. If you don’t drink enough, not only will you feel sluggish, dizzy, and faint but your body won’t be able to keep cool, risking heatstroke. You’ll be driven to overeat because dehydration stimulates appetite.”
How much to drink?
“You’ve probably heard that everyone must glug about two and a half litres of water a day (or 8 glasses) to stay healthy. It’s a simple rule to follow but it’s one that has more holes than a leaky bucket. The amount really need will depend on your size, gender, the temperature, how much you are exercising (and sweating) and also what you have been eating.
“Two and a half litres is a good ballpark figure for people who are pretty sedentary and not sweating too much, but nevertheless a sizeable portion of that – perhaps a third or more – will come from the food you eat, assuming you eat plenty of fruit and veg. Rather, it’s crucially important to listen to your thirst because you’ll almost certainly need to drink more than normal – especially if you’re in the mosh pit! It’s a very good idea to carry a water bottle around with you and to top it up regularly – drinking water should always be free at festivals.”
Try to get good sleep
Good sleep is the cornerstone of good health, although it’s not the easiest thing to do at a festival. One of the bonuses of being outdoors is that your body clock can readjust to the natural rise and fall of the sun. Signals from specialized daylight-sensing cells in the eyes send signals to the body’s internal clock in the brain (a tiny area called the ‘suprachiasmatic nucleus’ or SCN) to release hormones that send messages to all body systems. Getting back in sync with your body clock we often find get tired sooner and get sleep better, especially if camping. That said, late night headline acts and noisy neighbours can make restful slumber an impossibility. Try earplugs, avoid stimulants before bedtime and go easy on the alcohol, which always makes sleep less refreshing. If all else fails, sneak off in the afternoon to grab a quick nap.
Make it the best festival ever!
In summary, festivals can be the highlight of the year and a time of freedom, fun, and connecting with music and people. Simple preparations and being mindful of your body’s needs, and making a few preparations, a great festival can be turned into a truly unforgettable one. So grab your water bottle, pack some wholesome snacks, and dance like no one’s watching.
Jack Link’s meat snacks are the ultimate fuel to help you #PowerThrough any festival. So, grab some protein-packed Jack Link’s Beef Jerky and smash festival season Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, made with 100% lean beef and high in protein, is the perfect way to fuel your wild side for any festival. With 39g per 100g of protein, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is available in four flavours, Original, Teriyaki and Sweet & Hot and its newest pack, Ham Snack, provides something for every palate.
