Top Ten Hiking Foods

[freebird]

When people hit the trail they don't give what they are going to eat a lot of thought. Day hikers are infamous for being under prepared, and proper nutrition is largely ignored. Having a good meal plan, even if your plans are just for an afternoon jaunt is critical to being safe and having a good experience in the outdoors. Not eating enough can lead to dizziness, cramps, nausea, and a feeling of malaise.

Number Ten - tuna and crackers. Make sure you get one of the smaller cans of tuna that has a pull top to open, that way you won't need a can opener. If the thought of dry tuna makes you shudder, than you can bring a mayonnaise packet acquired at a local fast food restaurant to make it more palatable. To make things even more tasty consider smearing your tuna salad on a bagel (pre sliced) or into some pita bread. Nutritional pluses, tuna is almost pure protein while being balanced with carbohydrates from the crackers or bread.
Number Nine - hard cheese and crackers. Hard cheeses are robust enough to survive on the trail and can take a moderate amount of heat. Sharp cheddar stood out as a favorite among the editors, getting high marks for our durability requirements. Seasoned or whole-wheat crackers add flavor to the somewhat bland experience. Nutritional pluses include plenty of protein, fat and carbohydrates.
Number Eight - peanut butter. If you bring peanut butter you will have a lot of options. We recommend repacking it into a squeeze tube; you can find them practically anywhere, even the camping supply section of most Wal-Marts. Not only can you just suck it out of the tube, you can lather peanut butter on crackers or a bagel. One of our favorites is smothering a bagel with peanut butter and sprinkling plump raisins on top. Nutritional pluses, plenty of protein, a good amount of fat balanced with the carbohydrates from the crackers or bread.
Number Seven - candy bars. If you are hiking in a moderate climate, candy bars can survive well on the trail. We don't recommend them in hotter conditions, thus the reason candy bars only made it to number seven on our list. Milky Way, Snickers, Pay Day, and Whatchamacallit scored high with our editors, one said he would, "kill on command for a Whatchamacallit" and yet another editor said she'd do the same for a Snickers, "in a heart beat!"
Number Six - fresh fruit. Nothing satisfies like a good apple, orange or pear. We recommend carrying fruit that can take rolling around in your backpack, you might find peaches, bananas, and plums less than desirable when you sit down to eat. The two reasons they didn't score higher with our editors was weight, trash that needs to be packed out, and caloric bang per ounce. However they get very high marks for a natural carbohydrate fix, and almost everyone has a favorite fruit they will eat. Every editor agreed that sitting on a scenic bluff eating cheese and crackers with apple slices was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

[whiteOak]

top ten hiking foods for VEGANS -
1 - peanut butter
2 - beans and rice
3 - noodles
4 - granola
5 - chocolate
6 - dried fruits
7 - twice-baked trail biscuits
8 - packaged Knorr soups
9 - margarine
10 - trail snacks like gorp, trailmix, or even energy bars

by the way, I think you meat-eaters should carry POUCHES of tuna - less water and weight to carry, and it holds more. less to pack out, too.

cheers all!

[Snakeman]

And that dude eating every second snake he see's.
Actually they taste OK, but I confine myself to roadkills (freshies), although nowadays
it's illegal to interfere with wildlife (even dead wildlife) in Australia, so the maggots usually get them instead.
Anyway, I went through phases of carting enough food to feed an army, and bringing half home each day when hiking.
Then I went opposite and starved all day, but now I actually plan what I need and take accordingly.
As I spend every spare second looking for snakes (remember I'm a snake catcher), I always take stuff that doesn't need to be cooked.
That way you can spend more time hiking.
Smoked salmon in plastic packets and cucumbers are great as 1/ They are nutritious, 2/ can store at room temp for a day's hike and 3/ can take bumps as well. 4/ All supermarkets sell the stuff.
All the best
Snakeman Raymond Hoser
reptile displays, reptile shows, kids reptile parties (http://www.snakebusters.com.au)

[aven]

pouches of tuna is an excellent suggestion. It never would have occurred to me to look for it that way. I can't stand the way I smell after I eat it, so it's not my thing, but I know it's big for some hikers. I'm peanut butter all the way. I never get tired of it. Put it on everything: fruit, crackers, bars ... well, I guess I don't put it on tuna.

[fleetwood]

How come the original list of top ten hiking foods only lists 5 items? All good suggestions. I'll have to check out the peanut butter squeeze tube option. How well does it work with extra crunchy?

[whiteOak]

yeah aven I used to bring along a couple pouches of tuna back in the day. they made large pouches and smaller pouches, and I think star-kist tuna made a couple flavors of tuna/pouches too. but I dont know if they still make them, as I have not been down the tuna aisle in going on ten years now. YAY ME!

[B]and the only snake I'd eat is shake.

[TrekCrunch]

Make your own trail mix. My fave is nuts like cashew and walnut and dried fruits like raisins. Put them inside small pouches and you have something to nibble on "on the go". The fats in the nuts and the sugar in the fruits can keep you going.

[apples]

I always recommend chocolate. Not only does it taste great, it can usually provide that quick pick me mentally to keep going. Chocolate also mixes great with all sorts of nuts and mixes. Last time I was up in Boulder Creek (http://www.bouldercreekdining.com/), they had some restaurants along the trails. It was a wonderful idea and I wish I saw it more often.

[Allieso]

hiking usually is very tiring so if you want hiking you should take enough food but it should not be heavy
the dried food is the best choice

[stonemark]

I like fresh fruit, but I lack enough knowledge about which fruit in the wild conditions are eatable~

[Acid Cat]

My own top for hiking food (not very original):
Most important for me: Nuts and dry fruits mix. I always bring a big bag with me.
peanut butter
cheese (I don't mind if it gets sweaty. More flavour héhé)
tuna
and some pouches of good old tea!

[Spring Blossom]

I see some people over here are recommending fresh fruit and some are recommending dried. What's the general consensus? I hear how fresh has the advantage of more water content, but dried probably packs more calories per bite. Of all the dried fruits, I happen to prefer dates - they feel very meaty and filling, even though I'm not sure if they have more calorie content than apricots, for example.

[Acid Cat]

Fresh fruits are comforting but heavy. Dates do have more calories content than apricots (around 70 for 3 dates and 50 for 3 fresh apricots) Both fruits are excellent energizers!

[stonemark]

Fresh fruits are comforting but heavy. Dates do have more calories content than apricots (around 70 for 3 dates and 50 for 3 fresh apricots) Both fruits are excellent energizers! --- yes, second you, the fresh fruits are heavy~

[Juleha97]

Hiking is having more headache for me but enjoyable

[herrycool]

Just leave a mark(mark as read).

[zdaucfk]

-penut butter cliff bars mmmm.
-penut butter
dry beans -whatever kind i eat anything.
hot sauce- makes anything taste good.
jerky!
trail mix!
potatoes- heavy but best breakfast ever

[Sergemaster]

For me when I'm in the field hiking and depending on how long I'm going to be out, I usually carry some sort of smoked jerky, bread, and a wedge of cheese.

On occasion, I've also carried some canned goods and would just heat them up via Alcohol or Esbit stove.

Cheers,
Serge

[GDeadPhans]

I would say the fruit factor depends on how long you are going to be gone. Wouldnt want to keep a banana in your pack for a few days in 90 degree weather.

For longer trips I do a lot of dehydrated meal cooking, so I stick to the dried fruits as well because of less bulk and longevity. If its just an overnighter there is no problem bringing some fresh fruit, a 6 pack, chedderwursts and all kinds of goodies heh.

[Acid Cat]

potatoes- heavy but best breakfast ever

yeahhh, worth the weight.

[george hein]

Better that anything that is having some high carb, also enough water because hiking takes up a lot of calories which require to be replaced by high carbs. :cool:

[shanepn]

I find the pre packaged crackers like Lay's or Lance's are good. You know Lance in your pants? . You got your crackers and can have them with cheese or peanut butter usually. You might not want to deal with all those wrappers on the trail so you can dump a variety of them into a large zip lock before you leave home.

[Sergemaster]

I have a new one, how about summer sausage? It's rich in protein and has the sodium content to replace any that's lost as you start to sweat due to the high heat..

Cheers,
Serge

[Gershon]

I like a mixture of various grains that cooks like oatmeal. For added calories, put in crushed peanuts, or chocolate chips. I make it in the little 2 cup pot that comes with my stove.

After I eat the oatmeal, I boil another cup of water for hot chocolate. It pretty much cleans the pot and I never notice the flavor..

Nile Spice Couscous Minnestrone

Annie's Macaroni and cheese

Dehydrated Mangos

Potato chips - they are bulky, but have a high calorie content per ounce.

One beer for the first night if I'm not to heavy or going uphill too much the first day. (Isn't beer a food group?)

Nile Spice red beans and rice

Natural High dehydrated meals

Chocolate cake batter made with cold water - add chocolate chips and crushed peauts

For those meals that are dehydrated, I let them soak for 5 minutes or so in cold water and then heat the water. That way they turn out hotter.

[GDeadPhans]

I like a mixture of various grains that cooks like oatmeal. For added calories, put in crushed peanuts, or chocolate chips. I make it in the little 2 cup pot that comes with my stove.

After I eat the oatmeal, I boil another cup of water for hot chocolate. It pretty much cleans the pot and I never notice the flavor..

Nile Spice Couscous Minnestrone

Annie's Macaroni and cheese

Dehydrated Mangos

Potato chips - they are bulky, but have a high calorie content per ounce.

One beer for the first night if I'm not to heavy or going uphill too much the first day. (Isn't beer a food group?)

Nile Spice red beans and rice

Natural High dehydrated meals

Chocolate cake batter made with cold water - add chocolate chips and crushed peauts

For those meals that are dehydrated, I let them soak for 5 minutes or so in cold water and then heat the water. That way they turn out hotter.

This is pretty much exactly what I bring, except I swap Annie's Mac N Cheese for a regular cheap brand hah. Dehydrated mangoes or bananas. Usually a nice craft beer, or a bottle of something, usually Jim Beam. Nile Spice Couscous is delicious, I go with that or Paremesan Pine Nuts and toss in some rehydrated tomatoes (I rehydrate before cooking the couscous otherwise the tomatoes will still be tough). I have recently learned a way to make cakes with an alcohol stove utilizing steam. Been trying it out with corn muffins. Oh yeaaa.

[Gershon]

Better that anything that is having some high carb, also enough water because hiking takes up a lot of calories which require to be replaced by high carbs. :cool:

Camp food tends to be high in carbohydrates. Energy that is needed right NOW comes from fats in the system. If there is no fat in the system, it will start coming from body fat and this process causes fatigue.

An active diet needs to have a minimum of 15% fat and 12% protein for an active person.

The easiest way to add fat and protein is peanuts, peanut butter, fried dehydrated bananas (which supply needed potassium), and potato chips. In studying this, I'm finding the average granola bar doesn't have the needed ingredients and is much more expensive than buying the ingredients separately.

Not all peanut butters are created equal. Some are much lower in fat and proteins. While suitable for a diet at home, they are not good for the trail.

You can also add a teaspoon of olive oil to each meal where it won't be noticed to increase fat.
In cooked food, choose varieties with beans in them. Add sunflower seeds to a lot of food to increase protein intake.

[Sergemaster]

Backpacker Magazine comes up with some really good articles about easy to prepare awesome tasting meals. I've made a few of them myself and found them more than totally satisfying..

Cheers,
Serge

[eldredbucknor]

The top ten Hiking foods are: Trail Mix, Beef Jerky, sandwiches, Camping & Backpacking food, Homemade Dehydrated Meals, Energy Bars, Chocolate, Dried Fruit, Granola and Tuna & Crackers.

[Sergemaster]

Ahhh yes, tuna in a pack is also a great staple to chow down whilst on the trail.. Just remember to pack some cheese, and a little hot sauce and a few multigrain dinner rolls to square out a great meal.

Another great staple, is the plain old bagle. For a day hike, try a bagel with cream cheese and a little hony and you'll have your carbs as well as your glucose fix all in one tasty and compact snack.

Cheers,
Serge

[jspahn]

Im a huge fan of dehydrating my own meals. This chili I make is fantastic.

[cabbagehead]

Here are my foods of choice for a long distance hike:
cabbage (once every other day)
nature valley type bars
GORP: mostly peanuts, a few banana chips, a few walnuts, some kind of dried fruit/raisins, sometimes spicy sessamie sticks or wassabi beans
fish/chicken packets
protein bars
pills

If you are burning too many calories, up the fat.

Be sure to check out my alcohol stoves: bottlestoves.com

[elexonmathew]

Top 10 hiking foods are Beef Jerky, sandwiches, Camping and Backpacking food, Homemade Dehydrated Meals, Energy Bars, Chocolate, Trail Mix and many more. These food are best.

[stonemark]

top ten hiking foods for VEGANS -
1 - peanut butter
2 - beans and rice
3 - noodles
4 - granola
5 - chocolate
6 - dried fruits
7 - twice-baked trail biscuits
8 - packaged Knorr soups
9 - margarine
10 - trail snacks like gorp, trailmix, or even energy bars

by the way, I think you meat-eaters should carry POUCHES of tuna - less water and weight to carry, and it holds more. less to pack out, too.

cheers all!
Good idea!

[walters83]

Beef jerkey is a MUST on a hike it just goes hand in hand. I've also found that those little cheesy things that you give our kids are great (cant remember what they are called now but you know the laughing cow kinda thing..)! also dark chocolate which gives you a great amount of slow release energy when needed.

[mic]

These are my favourites:
#1 trail mix - dried apples, apricots, pear, sultanas, prunes, peaches, cashews, almonds, peanuts, banana chips
#2 pasta
#3 peanut butter
#4 quick oats
#5 rice
#6 cheese
#7 pita bread
#8 coffee, milo & tea
#9 honey
#10 chocolate
#11 muesli bar
#12 popcorn
#13 pancake mix
#14 baked beans
#15 dehydrated potato, peas, carrots, beans
#16 crackers
#17 condensed milk
#18 tuna sachets
#19 ANZAC biscuits
#20 marshmellows

[Lorne]

Nice topic and i like it.
This topic information increase my knowledge and helpful for me in my life. This is interesting and important information which guide us.
If any one have more information share with me. I am glad to read this information.

[levoismartin]

Following are good hiking food,

Peanut butter
Quick oats
Rice
Cheese
Pita bread
Coffee, milo & tea
Honey
Chocolate
Muesli bar
Popcorn.

[Sergemaster]

My newest foods for a day hike:

1-salami
2-chedder cheese
3-bagel with cream cheese and honey
4-snickers bar

These seem to work and are quite tasty as well..

Cheers,
Serge

[GDeadPhans]

mmmm a stick of salami. Yes. Cheese, yes. Cheese is awesome, it holds decently without refrigeration. May be a bit slimy after day two but thats all good. Wont kill ya.

[jennydb]

top ten hiking foods for VEGANS -
1 - peanut butter
2 - beans and rice
3 - noodles
4 - granola
5 - chocolate
6 - dried fruits
7 - twice-baked trail biscuits
8 - packaged Knorr soups
9 - margarine
10 - trail snacks like gorp, trailmix, or even energy bars

by the way, I think you meat-eaters should carry POUCHES of tuna - less water and weight to carry, and it holds more. less to pack out, too.

cheers all!

This is what I was looking for. Have some questions though. Do you recommend any supplements liek any energy booster drinks that could be helpful during camping? We are going in very few days now.

[mic]

I take powdered gatorade with me.

[Zander]

If your into fish, instead of plain tuna. you could try some canned sardine fillets. They come in a whole bunch of sauces, and go great with crackers. but it's definitely an acquired taste.