Hiking foods can be fresh, dried, packaged or canned, with protein, produce, carbohydrates, and dairy. Freeze-dried meals, energy bars, and trail mix are popular options. Portable stoves, safe water, and powdered milk are also useful. Cheese, crackers, peanut butter sandwiches, and fresh/dried fruit are easy to take.
The different types of hiking foods can basically be divided into categories of fresh, dried, packaged or canned varieties. The standard protein, produce, carbohydrate, and dairy food groups also apply. Of course, many hikers think of preparing food in terms of what they’ll eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Light, high-calorie items that are also a rich source of nutrients make the best types of hiking foods.
Freeze-dried complete meals are created by some food manufacturers especially for hikers. These light meals are usually designed to include proteins, carbohydrates and vegetables. Beef stew and chicken wraps are just two examples of the types of ready-made freeze-dried meals available in the market.
Hikers can also bring separate items like freeze-dried shrimp, packaged rice, and fresh broccoli florets and carrots, plus some seasonings in small plastic bags, to create their own meals. To cook these meals, a compact portable stove and a small lidded pan and spatula are usually sufficient. You also need safe water for drinking and cooking hiking foods. If the syrup is brought in a small squeeze bottle, along with the pancake mix in a zip-top plastic bag, plus a few dishes, the pancakes can be made for a hearty hiker’s breakfast.
Freeze-dried berries can be added to pancakes or granola for nutritious breakfasts or snacks. Powdered milk is an important hiking staple as it provides a source of calcium and vitamin D. Being dry and very light, powdered milk is easy to carry in a backpack. When mixed well with cold water, it can taste good, but otherwise it might be a little hard for some hikers to get used to at first, especially if it’s lumpy. A little chocolate syrup can turn this latte into a more palatable, high-energy drink.
Packaged energy bars are popular types of hiking food. They often taste similar to candy bars, but have added protein and other nutrients. Small pieces of chocolate added to foods like nuts and dried fruit can make the classic and popular outdoor snack called trail mix. Plastic bags filled with this concoction can be eaten by the handful on the hiking trail to provide a quick source of energy and nutrients. Raisins, peanuts, and some colorful chocolate candies can make a basic mix, but much more variety is possible; some of these are sold in packets or in bulk in supermarkets.
Other hiking foods include cheese and crackers, peanut butter sandwiches, and beef jerky. Fresh fruit, cherry tomatoes and dried fruit such as apricots and banana slices are also usually easy to take on a trip. If the weight of the package permits, cans or individual containers of fruit cocktails can also work. Bags of dry soup mix and dehydrated potato flakes can help cooks add variety to their hot meals.
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