Teriyaki stir fry with steamed rice and vegetables, chicken burritos with cheese, curried chicken… these are not the typical meals you would find high up on a mountain while snowmobiling right? Wrong! As I quickly learned on a recent trip out West, there is absolutely no reason why you cannot eat hot, delicious and healthy meals while on the mountain. So here I am, motorsports blogger turned food blogger, as I rave about the cooking abilities of my friend, Stephanie Santeford, who in my opinion is a serious contender for the next Michelin star. 
All fun aside though, the importance of keeping yourself hydrated and energized is key to a successful day on the mountain. We need nutrients to keep ourselves mentally alert as we frolic in the snow and maneuver our sleds like pros (or as a beginner like myself, I was just focused on staying on the sled!). I learned that in addition to drinking several bottles of water, it is also important to pack high-protein foods in order to help keep energy levels high throughout the day.
On my trip, Stephanie introduced me to the joys of cooking via hot pot and since then, I’ve never looked back. There is nothing like enjoying a warm meal on a cold day, regardless of where you are or what you are doing. 
Stephanie prepared stir-fries and casseroles with rice, vegetables and meat ahead of time and placed them in Snacker Packers before freezing them. These handy little bags are heat resistant nylon bags that allow food to be heated up using the heat from your snowmobile engine. For someone who isn’t usually that prepared when it comes to making meals, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly and easy it was to prepare hot pot meals. Stephanie gave me a number of ideas, including simple burritos that can be made with chicken, cheese and tortilla wraps. Making meals in bulk and freezing them are also a great way to minimize work, and to ensure you have meals all season long! By Jessica Kline, photos by Stephanie Santeford