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Planning a hiking trip soon? Whether it’s a day hike or a long hike, preparing is always an adventure itself. While you get your gear ready, make sure you have your backpacking food, your water bottle is clean, and your boots in tip-top shape. Bringing snacks on a hike, no matter how big or how small, is crucial. As your body is exerting energy, the right foods, like salt, protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates are essential. If you’re not quite sure what that means, we’ve helped you out with a list of the best snacks to take hiking.
1. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter and other nut butters are a great source of protein, as well as calories and healthy fats. The protein helps keep your muscles going while the combination of everything in the peanut butter helps keep you fuller for longer. Peanut butter is also heart-healthy and is a perfect source of vitamins E, B3, and B6, and various minerals like magnesium, potassium, selenium, and zinc. Each of these vitamins and minerals is perfect for hikers.
2. Beef Jerky
Dried meats like beef jerky are great options for hikes because they are full of proteins that your body needs in order to refuel and keep going. The flavorful snack is also high in dehydrating sodium, another thing your body needs for that energy boost to keep going. You don’t need to pack a lot of beef jerky, just a small amount will due. And watch out — it will definitely make you thirstier.
3. Energy Bars
This may be the first thing you think of when shopping for hiking snacks. Energy bars are perfect for exercising and hiking as they’re full of everything you need. Try to pick out bars that are high in carbohydrates, fat, protein, or calories. Protein bars with 10 grams of proteins are better options for hikes than other types, as well as organic energy bars, and any brand that is high in healthy fats and carbohydrates. Check out brands like KetoWatt Original Keto Bar.
4. Dried Fruits
Want something with tons of energy and proteins all packed in one? Fruits like apricots, bananas, and pears are full of healthy fiber, calories, and energy that will keep your body full and energized. Plus, you can dry them yourself at home. By bringing along dried fruits, you reduce the need for fresh fruits, which can easily damage or bruise, not to mention they make your bag a lot heavier.
5. Trail Mix
A ready to eat mix of nuts, raisins, and little chocolate chips or M&Ms is the perfect combination of protein and fuel for your hiking trip. Plus, trail mix is easy to make at home. Whip up a mix of two or three ounces of nuts, including almonds, peanuts, cashews, and walnuts, half an ounce of dried fruit like raisins and cranberries, some pumpkin seed or sunflower seeds, and half an ounce of something like goldfish, bagel chips, M&Ms or mini pretzels.
