This Trail Food post is sponsored by PROBAR but all opinions expressed are my own.
My husband and I love to head out into the woods and go hiking whenever we can. Our children are 11 and 13 and are forced to come with us as often as possible. Of course, being teenagers they would rather be playing video games or gossiping with friends but I think it is important for them to get out into the woods occasionally and appreciate nature. One way to keep cranky teenagers happy in the woods is to feed them frequently. Of course, that also keeps mommy happy, too, so we bring a lot of trail food on our adventures in the wild. The type of trail food you bring matters quite a bit. You want to pack foods that are light weight but that really pack a lot of nutrition into a small package. High protein, lots of complex carbohydrates, some fiber to fill you up, and easily transportable. Over the years, we have discovered some favorite trail foods and every time we hike I like to try one or two new things as well. If you are looking for the perfect trail food, here are a few ideas on what to throw in your backpack next time you head out.
Trail Food Suggestions
1. Beef Jerky: Although most beef jerky can be slightly high in salt, it is also very high in protein. I have noticed a number of organic varieties online or you can buy a dehydrator and make your own.
2. Trail mix: The great thing about trail mix is how many different things you can toss in it. Nuts for protein, dried fruit and chocolate chips for carbohydrates, whole grain cereals, seeds, etc. Get creative and throw it into some small, zip to lock bags for your next hike.
3. Dehydrated meals: Have you ever heard of the abbreviation MRE? That stands for Meals Ready to Eat. While they aren’t the tastiest trail food in the world, they come in a ton of different varieties and all you have to do is add water. These are great if you are backpacking quite a distance and want a filling meal and not just a snack.
4. Dried fruit: The great thing about dried fruit is how light weight it is. While it doesn’t provide a ton of energy or calories, it is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth on the trail. It is also a LOT lighter than bringing actual fruit on the trail. Apples and oranges can get heavy and bananas are way to squish-able to carry in a back pack. However, banana CHIPS make an awesome trail food. Lots of potassium to replace what you lose through sweat!
5. Probars: I recently received a couple boxes of assorted Probars to try out and these make a very tasty trail food! You can choose from a number of different varieties depending on your nutritional needs and taste preferences. Here are the varieties they currently offer:
PROBAR Core™ 20 grams of plant protein and plenty of real, recognizable ingredients into this bar including chia seeds for hydration and recovery too.
PROBAR Bolt™ Organic chews packed to power you up from morning workouts to race days. They’re loaded with electrolytes, B vitamins, antioxidants and complex carbs for fast fuel-ups.
PROBAR Meal™ Weighs in at three ounces of fruits, nuts and seeds with enough nutrition to make a fresh, tasty, satisfying meal replacement.
PROBAR Halo® Delicious between meals treat that’s designed to do your body good and loaded with natural whole food ingredients
PROBAR Fuel™ A gluten-free bar full of superfruits, cashews and oats. It’s soft, chewy, and it’s a full serving of fruit.
I was sent a box of assorted flavors of the PROBAR Core Protein bars and the PROBAR Meal bars. These bars are not only great trail food but also great for post gym workout refueling or even meals on the go when you are busy. They are incredibly delicious and easy to throw in your purse, workout bag, backpack or even diaper bag!
The PROBAR Core bars came in Mint Chocolate, Brownie Crisp, Cookie Dough, and Peanut Butter Chocolate. They have 20 grams of protein, are gluten free, contain 4 to 6 grams of fiber and lots of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. They contain real food ingredients like chia and flax seeds. These taste like a combination candy bar/cookie type thing. Chocolate on the outside with a crispy, crunchy sweet interior. This is a good sized bar that is filling and sweet. My favorite of the flavors was the Mint Chocolate, although they were all pretty tasty. I didn’t think the Cookie Dough one tasted quite like cookie dough but it wasn’t bad. If I could make one change to these bars I would like to see a protein source other than Soy Protein Isolate. I know there is some discussion about whether or not this is the best source of vegetarian protein in a diet.
The PROBAR Meal bars come in a ton of different flavors including Original Blend, Whole Berry Blast, Superfood Slam, Superfruit Slam, Superberry & Greens, Chocolate Mint, Oatmeal Raisin, Koka Moka, Superfruit Slam, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, and Peanut Butter. That is a lot of flavor choices! They are high in fiber, have plenty of protein, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and are Non-GMO project verified. I thought they were very filling, moist and flavorful. I really like that they come in so many different flavor choices. I was also happy to see that you can buy a variety pack on the website. A little variety is nice! The ingredient list is loaded with tons of whole foods, including many organic options.
I think these PROBAR varieties make great trail food, post workout supplements or just meals on the go when you are too busy to stop and make something complicated. They are also incredibly tasty! If you would like to learn more about PROBAR you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
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Disclaimer: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials.”: I received product samples in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
