Best Hiking Snacks
Family hiking trips can get tricky. If grandma or grandpa are along for the trip you might need any number of medications, canes, or back or knee braces. And if the hubby’s not exactly the best with navigation you’ll probably want to make sure you have a good map or, better, a GPS device. But by far the most important consideration prior to a hike is the best food. Especially when you’ve brought the kids along, an absence of sufficient, yummy food can really bring the mood down in a hurry. The following five foods are great hiking snacks to bring along on a hiking trip:
GORP
GORP is basically a combination of trail mix with your favorite additions. I recommend using your blend of nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, and coconut to create your very own Luna bars. Blend your ingredients in the Cuisinart, refrigerate, cut into bars, and freeze. Long-term energy bars! GORP, however, you eat it, makes for a great lunch. Naturally, your GORP should contain plenty of granola.
Jerky
You can go with the classic beef jerky or, better yet, turkey jerky, tuna, or salmon jerky, which have better fat ratios. Either way, you’re going to get high levels of protein and carbohydrates, which is exactly what your body needs to replenish itself after a long day of hiking. Jerky is a great extreme condition food because of its supply of protein and energy. It’s also extremely portable and virtually impossible to spoil.
Tuna
Tuna packs a whopping punch of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which can increase your energy levels while not bogging you down with fat. It also makes for a wonderful improvised dinner.
Almond butter
Not peanut butter, you ask? Peanut butter, contrary to common belief, is actually not tremendously great for your body. Almond butter has a much better ratio of good fat to bad (saturated) fat and zero trans fat. Almond butter also has high levels of Vitamin E, iron, calcium, and antioxidants. Plus, well, it just tastes better.
Fruit
Fresh fruit is wonderful, but for particularly long hikes you may have to settle with dried fruit. And this is just fine. Dried fruit is more durable and is a great nutritious source of energy. No matter what condition you’re in raisins, cranberries, apricots, and apples will give you a much-needed perk.
All five of the foods listed above are great hiking snacks for any weekend family trip, especially if it involves hiking. Next time you’re going on a backpacking trip or some kind of expedition into nature with the family, put these on your list of staples.