Best Trail Food For Your Next Outdoor Adventure

My husband and I love to head out into the woods and go hiking whenever we can. Our children are teenagers 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. I thought I would share some of the best trail food I have found with you and a few affiliate links so you can shop before you head into the woods!

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 Best Trail Food for Your Next Outdoor Adventure

Best Trail Food Suggestions

The type of trail food you bring on your trip matters quite a bit. You want to pack foods that are light weight but that really pack a lot of nutrition into a small serving. You want high protein levels, lots of complex carbohydrates, some fiber to fill you up, and something that is 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 best trail food, here are a few ideas on what to throw in your backpack next time you head out.

Trail mix

The great thing about trail mix is how many different things you can toss into 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.

Nick's Sticks 100% Grass-Beef Snack Sticks - Gluten Free - No Antibiotics or Hormones (6 Packages of 2 Sticks)Bayou Blend Cajun Style Gourmet Beef Jerky - Includes 1.5 oz of Melange Original, 1.5 oz of Luziana Bonfire (Spicy Hot), 1.5 oz of File Gumbo (Tester Pack Total of 4.5 Oz)KRAVE Jerky Variety Pack, 3.25-Ounce Bags, Pack of 8

 

Dried Meat

Although most dried meat can be slightly high in salt,  it is also very high in protein and travels well. I have noticed a number of varieties of organic beef jerky online or you can buy a dehydrator and make your own. You can also buy dried salami and pack your Swiss Army Knife to slice it up along the trail. Honestly, all 4 of us have our own trail knife. You should never head out into the woods without one.

Best Trail Food For Your Next Outdoor Adventure

Dried fruit:

The great thing about dried fruit is how light weight it is. It is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth on the trail and offers plenty of quick energy and fiber to fill you up. It is also a LOT lighter than bringing actual fruit on the trail. Apples and oranges can get heavy and bananas are way too squish-able to carry in a backpack. However, banana chips and other dried fruits make some of the best trail food I have found.

Mountain House Breakfast SkilletSummit Savory Chicken Gluten Free, Freeze Dried, Paleo Meal for Backpacking and CampingFrontier Soups Hearty Meal Soups Colorado Campfire Chicken Stew Mix, 7 Ounce

 

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. You are going to have to experiment a bit with which ones you like and which are downright disgusting. Read the reviews before you buy!
DIY Oatmeal Packet Collage

Oatmeal Packets 

Oatmeal is a trail food staple if you are going to be overnight camping and want to bring breakfast. You can make DIY oatmeal packets if you want to save money. Just remember to bring a collapsable camping bowl and your backpacking silverware. You can also buy individual oatmeal packets online. Some of them allow the actual packet to be used as a container so you just add the water right to the pouch. Convenient and less mess to clean up!

Vega One All-In-One Plant Based Protein Powder, Natural, 1.9 lb (22 Servings)Garden of Life Organic Meal Replacement - Raw Organic Fit Vegan Nutritional Shake for Weight Loss, Vanilla, 16.1oz (457g) PowderYuve Vegan Protein Powder with Superfoods - Award Winning Taste - Complete Nutritional Shake - Natural Greens, Plant Based, Non-GMO, Gluten, Dairy, Soy and Lactose Free (Vanilla Tub) 14.8oz/420g

 

Nutritional Powder Meals

There are a ton of ‘powder’ options out there. From complete meal replacements to weight lifting supplements. Aim to keep it minimally processed, high in nutrition and tasty.

Best Trail Food For Your Next Outdoor Adventure

 Tortillas  

Bread can be too bulky and fluffy for backpacking. Tortillas are compact and can take a beating. Great for wraps or even just a plain old peanut butter and jelly roll. They are a great alternative to sandwiches when you are on the trail.

Nut Butters

This is seriously one of the best trail food options I have found. It is crammed with calories, fat, sodium and protein. It is ready-to-eat and goes with a ton of different foods. Great for sandwiches or for dipping things in, think beyond peanut butter to sunflower seed butter, cashew butter, almond butter, etc.

Heading out on the trail or for a backwoods camping trip means that you need to be able to feed yourself. The best trail food is high in nutrition, travels well, and requires very little preparation. Just make sure that you pack out all your trash! Leave no trace is one wilderness rule that you should always remember!

What trail food do YOU bring with you?


2 thoughts on “Best Trail Food For Your Next Outdoor Adventure”

  1. There are some great tips there! Tortillas would especially be useful I think, they’re flat, dont really break and you can fill them with anything!

    Reply

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