Whether you’re heading out for a half day hike, something a little longer or an overnighter you’ll want to make sure you’ve packed some yummy hiking snacks to keep you energized. We burn a lot more calories trekking up a mountain so we want to make sure our bodies are getting enough nutrition so we don’t collapse trying to get there. It can be hard to know what to pack that’s not too heavy, that tastes good and that doesn’t leave you feeling hungry or tired.
I’ve put together a list of some ideas of what snacks to take hiking. I’ve also made a handy hiking snack ebook that includes homemade recipes that can be downloaded from the resource library!
Trail mixes
I’m sure you’ve seen and heard many times that trail mixes are a great snack to take hiking. This is because the mixes are packed with protein and healthy sugars to keep you fueled. They’re full of fibre and healthy fats which make them a great calorie-dense snack to keep you going and feeling full. Trail mix is nice and light in your pack as well making it probably one of the most popular hiking snacks.
Dried fruit
Dried fruit is a great way to energize your body during or after a hike. Our body needs sugar to produce energy. There is no water content in dried fruit so the sugar content is concentrated and quite high which is why it’s so good for fueling. Some great dried fruit hiking snack options would be apricots, mangos, banana chips, cranberries and raisins.
fresh fruit
Fresh fruit and vegetables like apples, bananas, oranges, peppers and carrots are a great source of natural carbohydrates to keep you fueled and are hydrating because of the water content in them. Oranges for example are a great source of vitamin C. Fresh fruit and veg can certainly smash that craving of wanting something fresh and juicy but they can let you down. Fruit and veg can bruises so easily in a pack and are quite heavy compared to dried fruit. If you’re going on a multi-day hike, it might be nice to eat your fresh fruit and veg on day one and save dried food for later.
cracker combos
Crackers combos like crackers with peanut butter, tuna or hummus again are great sources of carbohydrates and are high protein keeping your fueled. I find it a little bit more of an exciting snack to take hiking. It can feel a bit more substantial and like a meal (in my opinion). It’s easy to find packets of tuna in the supermarket and you can just dip your crackers right in. Hummus and peanut butter would be better in a small lightweight container as their original packaging would add quite a bit of weight to a pack.
Homemade bliss ball
Bliss balls are a really convenient hiking snack and are loaded with energy to keep you going. The nuts, seeds and dried fruit make it a fiber-filled snack keeping you fueled for longer as it breaks down slowly so you don’t have that ‘crash’. There are so many different ideas out there for homemade bliss balls. They’re super easy and quick to make.
Check out the hiking snack ebook for some yummy ideas. Just sign up to the blog to get the password to the resource library!
Energy bars
There are so many kinds of ‘energy’ bars out there to choose from. Perhaps the highlight of them is that they are really convenient as all you have to do is buy them off the shelf. Store-bought energy bars do tend to have a high sugar content so make sure you check the label. Energy bars are all made different and focus on different things. Bars like Cliff bars are great for your day hikes as the ingredients focus on giving the body energy. Protein snacks like my favourite, Justine’s cookies, are great for keeping you fuller for longer. The cookies have no sugar added, a high protein and fiber content. They are also low carb for anyone focusing on getting energy from fats instead of carbs.
homemade bars
Making your own energy bars are a great alternative to buying them. They often have a lot less sugar and you do get more bang for your buck. If you’re a regular hiker, buying energy bars can get quite expensive. Homemade bars have the same benefits as store-bought bars- energy, fibre and protein to keep you going.
