Healthy, Real Food Snack Ideas to Take in the Outdoors

Jerky

Outdoorsmen have made jerky their backcountry snack of choice for centuries. Not only is it a great way to utilize last season’s wild game, but it is also super easy to make. On top of that, it is one of the best protein-rich, animal-based snacks out there.

Peanut Butter and Bananas

Peanut butter is an American favorite, and rightly so! It is chock full of healthy fat and proteins. It also packs a lot of calories in a small serving. Combine it with bananas to add potassium to the mix. Potassium is an important electrolyte that can help keep off muscle cramps during your adventure. In case of a peanut allergy, you can substitute the peanut butter for other nut butters for a healthy source of fat and calories.

Dehydrated Coconut

A lot of the dehydrated coconut found at the grocery stores is loaded with refined sugars. If you want a healthier version consider making dehydrated coconut at home. Luckily, this is super easy and you don’t have to add any sugar if you don’t want to. Coconut has its own natural sugars but provides mostly fat some protein and several important minerals. The fat in coconuts comes in the form of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which your body metabolizes differently from other fat. MCT can be absorbed much faster and used for a rapid boost of energy.

Trail Mix

Trail mix is another old-timer and has accompanied adventurers on the trail for decades. There is a reason this snack got its name! It is easy to make at home and can be customized to taste. Add nuts, dried fruit, seeds, unsweetened cacao chips, and whatever else your heart desires. All these real food ingredients will provide the calories you need without adding a ton of weight to your pack list.

Cheese & Delli Meat Wraps

This is a good one if you are on the road and couldn’t prepare any healthy snacks at home. Almost every grocery store will have deli meat and sliced cheese. Simply place some deli meat in a slice of cheese, roll it up and enjoy on the trail. Why not just make a sandwich instead? These cheesy deli meat rolls will provide good calories, minus the refined carbs from sandwich bread.

Raw Veggies

Raw veggies are one of the simplest snacks and take very little preparation. Simply pack your favorite raw veggies in a ziplock bag or food container that fits into your pack. My favorite raw veggies to take on the trail are carrots. Raw veggies are easy and inexpensive to add to your outdoor food stash. However, they don’t provide as many calories as some of the other options listed above, and your body has a harder time absorbing the nutrients when they are uncooked.