Take a Hike … With These Snacks!

Happy Take a Hike Day!
Hiking is one of my favorite ways to spend a weekend afternoon. Wandering in the forest nearly instantly revitalizes my mental health while providing an excellent cardio workout. Hiking is so fun, it makes it easy to forget you’re exercising. A 160-lb person burns between 430 and 440 calories per hour hiking!
It’s important you supply your body with enough energy. Before you take a hike, make a yummy hiking snack. Here are a few staple snacks that will survive in your backpack!

Trail Mix

Trail mix instantly defines itself as a great backwoods snack. If you’re hitting the trail, bring this hiking staple. Trail mix is a great snack to have on a short, 2-hour hike or an extended 1-week wilderness expedition. Trail mix can be made in countless combinations. Some of our favorite combos are listed below.
Easy and Elevated

• Dried Cherries
• Dark Chocolate Chips
• Almonds
• Cinnamon
• Sea Salt

 Salty and Savory

• Almonds
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Sunflower Seeds
• Garlic Powder
• Cayenne Pepper
• Onion Powder

Peanut Butter Jelly Time

• Dried Strawberries
• Peanut Butter Chips
• Shredded Wheat Cereal
• Peanuts

Chunky Monkey

• Sea Salt
• Banana Chips
• Peanuts
• Almonds
• Raisins
• Coconut Flakes
• Dark Chocolate

Fruit and Nut Butter

Apples and peanut butter is a classic snack. This food pairing is tasty, sweet, and satisfying. Nut butter manufactures have caught on — their product sells well as a single serving. Buy a pack of single serving all-natural nut butter for an instant backwoods snack. Like trail mix, there are a number of tasty fruit and nut butter pairings. You can depend on any of the following combinations for a healthy snack the next time you opt to take a hike.

• Almond Butter and Blueberries
• Hazelnut Butter and Banana
• Apples and Peanut Butter

Tuna and Baguette

If you’re going on an extended day hike, make lunch simple but filling. Sink your teeth into a baguette with tuna. This tasty lunch provides protein and carbs, which will help you finish your hike without feeling bloated. Baguettes are a bit sturdier (and way tastier) than traditional sandwich bread. Baguettes are more likely likely to survive in your backpack than flimsy crackers or processed, starched white bread. Who says camping food can’t be delicious?

Energy Bars

Swing by your local health food store for a delicious energy bar. Energy bars are supremely popular in the health food industry, providing endless options. To keep your healthy eats on track, opt for a bar made with a short list of ingredients you recognize. Some of my favorite bars: Luna Bar, Cliff Bar, Niibar, Simple Squares, and Oatmega. All of these bars are made from real food (not processed crap). They are designed to be delicious, healthy, and easy to pack. I try to keep an energy bar in my backpack at all times. You never know when hunger will strike!
Nature’s effortless majesty is awe-inducing. It’s hard to be unhappy when your environment is green and your head is high.  Be fit, centered, and happy — make hiking a part of your weekly ritual. Remember to fuel your body so you can keep doing the things you love.
What are your favorite hiking snacks? How about your fave trails? —Alex