Don't make the mistake of hiking without enough food and water. Even if you're plan on hiking to try and lose weight, that's no reason not to enjoy some snacks on your hike! In fact, it's necessary to bring snacks to fuel your body.
Depending on the elevation gain on the trail, hiking can burn more calories than running! Forgetting to bring food results in increased muscle fatigue, headaches, and not even being able to complete your hike.
When you think about hiking snacks, the first thing to come to mind is probably trail mix. Trail mix comes in hundreds of varieties for every taste and is an affordable and delicious snack on hikes. If you've been turned away from trail mix because it's too "calorie dense," remember that you NEED carbs and fats to regain energy while on the trail. Hiking is great for building muscle, and you need those calories to build muscle after the hike is over!
Beef jerky is another popular hiking snack that is high in protein, small, and perfect for packing on hikes. If you don't eat beef, consider trying turkey or salmon jerky. If you're vegan, there's even vegan plant-based jerky you can bring on your next hike!
Fruit snacks (or more natural alternatives like these fruit rolls) are a family favorite hiking snack that provides quick sugar and electrolytes to recharge:
Another alternative option to fruit snacks is dried fruit, one of the simplest snacks that's easy to pack! They also don't melt on hot days. Here are some options for dried fruit hiking snacks:
One of my favorite hiking snacks (preferably in cold weather) is yogurt-covered pretzels. They're the perfect combination of sweet and salty! Don't try these on a hot summer day when they'll melt in the bag.
Next, try Honey Stinger Organic Honey Waffles. These stroopwafels are a favorite among long distance runners and cyclists. Hiking is hard work too! Get a quick energy boost with the natural honey in this snack.
Similar to trail mix, granola bars get a bad rap for being high in calories and sugar. Instead of the usual Clif Bar, try these Thunderbird Hiking Food Bars that are Gluten-Free, non-GMO, and have no added sugars!
If you're like me and love long hikes during cold weather, bringing a backpacking stove to make coffee, hot chocolate, and soup makes hiking so much more fun! I love bringing ramen cups to make in the middle of long hikes for lunch. Try bringing these high-protein pancake cups to make with a camping stove:
On your next hike, bring a camping stove and some hot chocolate for the kids. They'll make amazing core memories on their first hikes.
Lastly, don't forget to get creative with your hiking snacks. It's important to replenish your sugars and electrolytes, so don't be afraid to bring salty and sweet snacks. I love bringing Gushers on hikes, a sweet snack I hadn't had since I was a child.
If you try any of my suggestions, let me know in the comments! Happy hiking :)
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