6 Healthy Snack Ideas for Hiking

Summer is here, which means one thing – it’s time to hit the trails!! I don’t mind hiking during any season, but I enjoy the longer, warmer days of summer when I’m hiking. I love going out to hike a trail that I’ve never been to, but before I head out, I always make sure to pack some healthy snacks to take along with me.

When packing, I always make sure to take as many healthy snacks as possible. It’s important to stay properly nourished when being out in nature, whether it’s for a 30 minute hike or for a 7 hour hike. Here are 6 healthy snack ideas for your next hike!

FRESH FRUIT

One healthy snack idea for hiking is fresh fruit! Bananas and apples are both great choices. Bananas are a heavy fruit, so they’ll keep you feeling fuller longer; they also help to regulate your heart rhythm, which can be helpful on a strenuous hike. Apples can help keep you hydrated. Jazz it up by bringing a little portion of peanut butter with you to dip the fruit in!

DRIED FRUIT

Another great snack idea for hiking is dried fruit, which contains an abundance of vitamins as well as fructose. If you didn’t know, fructose is the natural sugar found in fruit and once it’s broken down it gets converted into energy for the body. Aside from apples and bananas, some other dried fruit ideas are plantains (from the banana family), mangos, raisins, and dates!

BARS

A great healthy snack option for hiking are bars – any type of bar will do: protein bars, energy bars, and even granola bars! Bars are lightweight, convenient, and effective at increasing blood sugar levels quickly. Some options include Clif Bars (any hiker’s favorite), KIND Bars (my favorite), PROBAR, and Larabars. All of these companies include a variety of flavors, and are usually a cheap option.

NUT BUTTERS

Nut butters are an amazing source of protein, which helps to keep you feeling full for that hike! They’re also super convenient to carry in a backpack because they’re small and lightweight; they’re inexpensive as well. Any nut butter will do: peanut butter, almond butter, and even cashew butter. I recommend going with the Justin’s brand of nut butters; they come in a variety of flavors!

TRAIL MIX

Trail mix is also a good snack option for hiking because it’s easily portable, and an important source of healthy fats and carbs. It will provide you with all the energy you need for your hike, and trail mix always tastes great! You can easily create homemade trail mixes by combining a variety of nuts and seeds together; throw in some dried fruit and a bit of tiny chocolate pieces for fun! Or you can buy trail mix at any grocery store for a quicker option.

TUNA POUCHES

Before I went plant-based, I loved to bring tuna pouches with me on my hikes. They are the perfect source of that much needed protein for a hike!! They come in many flavors, and they are super easy to just throw in a backpack and head on out! They usually come with a tiny spoon, but make sure to pack one just in case.

If you’re like me and don’t eat meat then don’t worry! There are tuna pouches for you too… ok ok, not real tuna, but plant-based tuna! The company Good Catch makes plant-based tuna that comes in those little convenient pouches. They currently have three flavors: Get Naked (in water), Escape to the Mediterranean (garlic, herbs, and some spice), and Oil & Herbs. Each pouch has 14 grams of protein!

These options are just a few of the many healthy snack ideas for hiking! I hope you use this post as a guide for the next time you need some healthy choices, and let me know in the comments below which of the ones mentioned you will be bringing on your next hike!

Bring your healthy snacks with you when you hike the Pacific Northwest. Check out my last post >>> here <<< for some great hiking spots at Olympic National Park in Washington State.

Leave a comment letting me know what other healthy snack choices you bring on a hike that aren’t mentioned in this post!

With love,

Karina