Top 10 Snacks to Fuel Up on Any Outdoor Adventure
Sponsored by Conagra
Snacks are important on outdoor adventures. Beyond the necessary nutrients, carbs, protein and fat, snacks offer something to look forward to at the summit, lakeside or campsite.
Pack food that tastes delicious, is nutritious and you will actually eat on your outdoor adventure. Check out these 10 yummy snack ideas:
Slim Jim
When it comes to snacking, size matters. Slim Jim is gigantic with big, meaty flavour. These snacks are perfect for on-the-go, so treat yourself after climbing a nearby peak. Try the Hot AF flavour for a fiery, tasty, savoury snack—plus six grams of protein.
Duke’s
Short on size, not on flavour, Duke’s Smoked Shorty Sausages are slow smoked and crafted with fresh pork. The Original recipe contains chopped green Italian parsley and a pinch of roasted garlic. The Hot & Spicy version is made with red and green serrano pepper oils to add a flavourful heat reminiscent of freshly made salsa.
BiGs
These jumbo fire-roasted seeds pack a big kernel crunch. BiGs has a collection of amazing flavours, like Dill Pickle and Taco Supreme®. The Dill Pickle flavour is made in collaboration with the pickle pros at Vlasic®, while Taco Bell® helped formulate a flavourful seed that tastes like you’re crunching into a crispy taco shell.
Trail Mix and Nuts
Take a handful of protein- and fat-packed nuts, add in some chocolate or M&Ms and shake it all together. Add in granola, dried fruit and marshmallows. Trail mix is a calorie-dense food, so it will replenish the calories you’re burning while hiking, cycling or paddling on an outdoor adventure.
Cheese
Calcium, protein and fat in a stable, delicious form—we love cheese! Pick up an aged cheddar or gouda (avoid soft cheeses, as they can become gooey messes in your bag) and pair it with some crackers and cured meat. This also pairs awesome with Slim Jim or Duke’s!
Fruit
Fruit offers nutritional benefits including vitamins A and C and dietary fiber. Bulk-buy dried fruit like mangos, cranberries and blueberries to shake things up. Fresh fruit is the best choice, as it has less sugar, but it can bruise easier—so go for tough fruits, like apples and oranges. You can wrap your fruit in Tru Earth’s Beeswax to go plastic-free.
Vegetables
Cucumber, carrots, broccoli and bell pepper can all be eaten alone or mixed together for a mountain-top salad. Alternatively, vegetables can be cooked on multi-day backpacking trips for a delicious and nutritious hot dinner.
Peanut Butter
Spread this delicious snack on crackers, pitas or fruit. Peanut butter is full of fats, proteins, flavour, fibre and sugar. Alternative nut butters like sunflower butter, almond butter and soy butter are great (and tasty!) options.
Cold Pasta Salad
If you want something a little more interesting, grab a Tupperware container full of leftovers or make a fresh pasta salad. This meal should be eaten within two hours, depending on whether the ingredients you use need to be refrigerated. Here’s an easy recipe we like.
Canned Tuna
Fish may not travel the best in a backpack, but an easy, canned option makes a protein-filled snack. This isn’t a lightweight food, so it’s best for shorter hikes or picnics—and be sure your adventure buddy doesn’t mind the smell. Pick a can with a pull-tab opening and bring along a spork.
After you’re done snacking, remember to pack out everything you pack in—including apple cores and uneaten food. (But, who are we kidding? With this many diverse options, you’ll want to finish everything!)
This article was sponsored by Conagra