Snack Packing for your Hike
Hiking can do wonders for both the body and soul. Getting outside and back to nature while getting your exercise is a great way to ‘multi task’ your way to good health, both physically and mentally. However, like so many things in life, a bit of planning can go a long way. The last thing you want is to be in the middle of your hike and suddenly find yourself hungry and weak from a lack of food. That is why it’s important to plan ahead by bringing some good quality snacking foods along with you on your hike.
Even if you had a good meal just before heading out on your hike that would normally keep you satisfied for a number of hours, you need to remember that you’re expending a lot more energy than normal while you hike. Bringing some snack food along with you that is both easy to carry as well as high quality and nutrient dense is critical. You want your food to be able to deliver sustained energy and not something that will simply give you a quick burst of energy and then a crash (though sometimes having a quick energy food is a good thing, you need to have something more substantial to back it up).
What you’ll want to look for in the way of good foods to take with you on your hike are those that are full of complex carbohydrates. These will burn energy in a more slow, sustained manner rather than just a sugar spike and crash. If you combine these complex carbs with some good protein as well, you will be in good shape. Whole grain bread or crackers, dried or fresh fruit or vegetables such as broccoli are good examples. A favorite portable protein of mine is beef jerky (or turkey jerky or smoked salmon). Another is peanut butter.
Of course, it should go without saying that along with these foods you need an ample supply of water to bring along with you too. Never leave for a hike without water, and ideally you want to pack more than you expect you’ll need. It’s better to have a slightly heavier pack or canteen than it is to end up thirsty and out of water.
Hiking is wonderful and it’s simple, but that doesn’t mean you should be careless. To learn about other mistakes to avoid when preparing for a hike, visit this website that discusses other aspects of critical but often overlooked hiking equipment tips.
Tags: Tags: hiking, hiking equipment, hiking gear, hiking socks, thermal socks
