Peanut butter pretzels make a great trail snack because they’re crispy, salty, and greasy and keep you full for hours.. But it’s also really easy to make your own trail mix at home.. Here are a few of my favorite recipes to get you started. I love rummaging through the bulk section of the grocery store and picking out my favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit to make my own unique trail mix..
If you don’t have Trader Joe’s nearby, you can try these olive packets instead. The wholesale section of your local grocery store is always a great place to buy a variety of nuts, dried fruit, granola, and grain mixes. When I make my own trail mixes, I prefer to buy my ingredients in the bulk department because I can buy exactly what I need.. SPICES %26 SEASONINGS — Eating too much of the same thing during a 5-day backpacking trip quickly becomes boring.
Small packets of salt, pepper, olive oil, hot sauce, and fast food seasoning packets (mayo, mustard, etc.) can really spice up your upstate food. If you want something really fancy, you can even get yourself a GSI spice rocket that carries up to six spices for less than 2 ounces. Tea bars (Celestial Seasonings — Bengal Spice), bars (Larabar, Clif Bar, ProBar, Ivan Bar, Luna, Kind, Bobo’s) milk powder (Nido or Grace coconut milk powder) breakfast drink mix packets (clove) nuts and seeds (almonds, peanuts, etc.). Applegate) tuna or chicken in foil packaging (StarKist) Dried pork packages (Meat Shredz) supplement with other snacks (more snack information below) Instant mashed potatoes (Idahoan) Instant mac %26 cheese (Annie’s) Dried fruit (mango, apple, etc.).
This isn’t a big problem on short trips, but on long trips, and especially when bear canisters are needed, you should pay close attention to how much space your food selection takes up.. Nuts and seeds provide healthy fats, a high protein concentration, and an excellent ratio of calories per ounce, making them one of the best foods for hiking. When planning foods for long hikes, look for light, filling, and nutritious snacks and meals that will keep you energized even on the most demanding hikes or backpacking trips.. The Stasher bags are lightweight and are great for sandwiches, cheese, and vegetable sticks, but I like to use a leak-proof, hard container for dips and salads on a day hike..
These foods make you crash a few miles before your hike, which isn’t a good option if you’re looking for an exciting day on the trail.. Eat high-protein foods or foods containing complex carbohydrates for breakfast before your hike to fuel up for the day.. You can buy snacks for a hike almost anywhere that sells groceries. However, there are a few stores that offer a wide selection and cheap prices.. In later sections, you’ll find specific recommendations for lunches and dinners, but these are the types of foods you should consider when backpacking. Specific varieties are selected later.
So what should you eat before your day hike? What should you have for dinner the night before or on the day of a hike?. The best foods for hiking are those that provide plenty of energy and help you feel full and satisfied without stressing you out.. Some ideas for what to eat after a hike could include a turkey wrap on a whole grain tortilla, cream cheese with pretzels or crackers, or chicken alfredo. The best foods you can eat while hiking serve as fuel that gets you started, keeps you going, and helps you recover after a tough hike..
Believe it or not, what you eat before, during, and after a hike has a lot to do with how you feel and how much energy you have during and after a hike.. In addition, as with the rest of the equipment, weight is just as important when it comes to nutrition for hiking.. I like to go to the large section of the grocery store and pick out various dried fruits for a hike.. It’s also important to refill your exhausted resources after your hike so you can recover faster (so you can get out earlier to hike again).
Here are a few foods to consider for your next hiking trip that takes you backcountry for a few days.
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