What do you eat while hiking?

sup3rb3ast

Hey, MFP! In two weeks I will be going to the mountains to hike for a few days. Our hikes will be split into approximately five hour there and back trails. I normally wouldn't worry about it because I used to eat whenever I felt hungry in the past, but now that I am actively losing weight, I don't want to overshoot or undershoot calories by too much. I will be eating regular meals before and after the hikes, and aiming to reach my daily calorie goal (1450 before exercise) through these regular meals.

(1) I am looking for ideas on what sort of snacks to bring.
(2) Links to any calculators that give a somewhat accurate picture of calories burned on a hike (I have gotten lots of different answers from different calculators).
(3) Tips on how to calculate how much food to bring to fuel my hike.

Thanks for any advice!

Machka9

When I cycle or hike, I bring one or two of these ...
http://www.tasti.co.nz/products/nut-bars

I especially like the Choc Apricot Coconut & Cashew which is about 185 calories per bar.

Walking I estimate approx. 180-200 calories per hour burned. If you're hiking in hilly terrain, it might be a bit more. So, you could probably go with one bar every 2 hours and be OK.

BruceHedtke

I usually bring along an apple or two and a handful of granola bars (between 150-200 calories each), though I don't consume them all. If I'm out for a few hours, I'll have an apple and a bar and then eat a meal after the hike. I just never know how long I'm going to be hiking for, so I bring along enough so that if I end up out all day (8+ hours), I have enough snacks to keep me going until I return home.

As for what you'll burn, it's very dependent on terrain and how much you're carrying around. A flat trail is just like walking on sidewalks and a 3 mph pace should burn around 200 calories an hour. If you have steep terrain or are going cross country (no trails), that will really get your heart rate up and burn quite a bit more. Even though it isn't perfect, wearing a heart rate monitor while hiking will give you a good idea of how many calories you've burned (I deduct 20% of the total to account for the HRM being inaccurate).

sclause

Fruit like bananas and apples, banana chips, almonds are a great choice. lol I remember being a kid hiking in Yosemite and we had that awful cheese in a can! Jerky if you eat meat, but be careful as its calorie dense, but good as it provides protein and is light weight to carry.

beemerphile1

For day hikes I carry Nature Valley trail mix bars

An option if a lunch stop is planned; some bread and Starkist tuna salad pouches. Squeeze the pouch onto the bread and you have a tuna salad sandwich.

sup3rb3ast

These are all excellent suggestions, thank you every one!

It definitely seems like the calorie burn is going to be a shaky estimate, so I will try not to worry about it and just have fun.

Lizzy622

Also most importantly don't forget to bring plenty of water.

eeelizabeth2012

For hikes I tend to pack:
Whole wheat sandwiches (usually ham)
Fruit (apples, oranges, etc)
Nuts
Veggies for snacks
Maybe granola type bars

Make sure you eat enough for the amount of hiking you will be doing and stay hydrated.

I have a Fitbit which is useful because it calculates my calories burned based on ho wmany steps and how quick my steps are. That would be ideal for your hike... but someone up above posted something that seems good too. If you pack enough small meals for each day you are hiking and pack lots of snacks for in between, you should be okay. That is what I do.

sup3rb3ast

eeelizabeth2012 wrote: »

I have a Fitbit which is useful because it calculates my calories burned based on ho wmany steps and how quick my steps are. That would be ideal for your hike... but someone up above posted something that seems good too. If you pack enough small meals for each day you are hiking and pack lots of snacks for in between, you should be okay. That is what I do.

BruceHedtke wrote: »

Even though it isn't perfect, wearing a heart rate monitor while hiking will give you a good idea of how many calories you've burned (I deduct 20% of the total to account for the HRM being inaccurate).

I can't believe I didn't think of those. Good idea. I would be able to track my calories and have better estimates for future hikes.

Ready2Rock206

I have no suggestions - my main problem with hiking is it makes me so hungry I eat way over my calories!! It is hard! I went hiking last weekend - ate at least all the calories I burned while hiking during the hike and then ate more the rest of the day. Glad OP asked the question so I can get some good ideas on how to stop this issue!

coueswhitetail

Seeds and nuts give me energy and keep me full. I have a sunflower seed and pumpkin seed mix I buy lately that I love.... Almonds or cashews are good too. Jerky and fruit is great too.

suruda

I am also super hungry on hikes but I also burn a lot of calories...It is probably the only time I splurge on a sandwich on a dense chiabatta roll. My favorite is Turkey, Thinly sliced apples and Brie. I'll also take sliced apples, or something crunch and a lot of water! I usually will eat half the sandwich a couple of hours in and then the other half a couple of hours later.

Enjoy your hike!

sup3rb3ast

suruda wrote: »

.It is probably the only time I splurge on a sandwich on a dense chiabatta roll. My favorite is Turkey, Thinly sliced apples and Brie.

That sandwich sounds amazing! I also love ciabatta but haven't had any since I started counting calories. I love your attitude though, the hiking will burn so many calories that I may just eat something delicious I would normally abstain from. Yum!

sup3rb3ast

coueswhitetail wrote: »

Seeds and nuts give me energy and keep me full. I have a sunflower seed and pumpkin seed mix I buy lately that I love.... Almonds or cashews are good too. Jerky and fruit is great too.

Yummy suggestions! I was thinking of a homemade trail mix with similar ingredients but I am worried that the calories will be really high, and difficult to calculate/portion in a mix. I suppose I could just weigh and portion the night before. I have never had jerky weirdly enough. Any suggestions for brands or flavors?

Nikki10129

Nuts, granola bars, I'm partial to oranges because once when a couple of us went for a hike we decided to go the next longest route without planning ahead of time and we didn't realize how much longer it was than the other route. I had 1 orange left from our snacks and we'd all pretty much run out of water. We split the orange and managed to finish the rest of that hike, I don't know if we would have had the energy otherwise

As for jerky, I like it all!

ipastorsally

I don't eat on hikes. I take water. I try to hold meals to meal times. High protein will give you energy and is light weight. Things like nuts or cheese. I tend to forage on hikes and eat wild berries, honey suckle, raw asparagus, etc.

AntsyAngler

Great topic! I want to go for a three day backpacking trip and make my own food to bring along. I plan on making oatmeal peanut butter cookies with flax and chia seeds and almond flour mixed in. Jerky. Carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, Mixed dried fruit bars with nuts. I am looking for more ideas...

maroonmango211

Trail mix? I always grew up thinking that was what it was made for :P I remember getting so excited as a kid for making up the mix before heading out for week long camping trips involving trail after trail. Even now I save it for special day trips or hikes (kind of like saving gingerbread for Christmas).

I pick my favourite nuts/seeds and dried fruit and sometimes cacao or chocolate chips/m&m's and throw in some mini marshmallows in the kids. Its great to snack on the go or stop and have a little baggie and usually has a great macro break up for active days

rok1897

water drinking is the most important! If heat may be an issue i carry a packet of electrolyte mixture.

I carry an orange or apple for quick energy, a mixture of raisins, peanuts and pretzels for lightweight food(longer hikes).

sup3rb3ast

Obviously, I am packing lots of water, guys! I did the math and trail mix is going to end up being too many calories for me, especially since its so delicious. I ended up getting protein bars, as they are nice and small and the calories are manageable. Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. Feel free to keep adding to the list! This is what we got for this weekend, I might do homemade bars for the next trip:

HeySwoleSister

Dried fruit! Homemade granola and trail mix (to control the calories!) Soy nuts, roasted chick peas.

earlnabby

If I am going to be hiking for more than 2 hours, I bring along some kind of protein bar and single serve packages of string cheese. Maybe a clementine or two. If it is an all day hike, I will also throw in a sandwich with lots of meat but no mayo or anything, possibly mustard depending on the meat, and a couple of hard cooked eggs.

galgenstrick

Protein cookies. Basically oats, protein powder, coconut flakes, coconut flour, craisins or raisins, eggs, sugar and butter. Always hit the spot and give a ton of energy. I also bring a large bag of salt free mixed nuts, and jerky (turkey or salmon). Some dehydrated no sugar added mangos are awesome too.

galgenstrick

If you have a camp stove or fire try making soup with these ingredients. I bring these with me on longer backpacking trips:

Dried refried beans

Dried vegetables


Also, some more advice. If you're actually backpacking, i.e. covering >10 miles a day in the mountains with a 20+ pound backpack, then don't worry about calories. If you're making good distance, and not stopping to eat every 20 minutes, you'll be in a deficit, and probably a large one. You should eat whatever and as much as you want to when you do stop, which is typically every 2-4 hours or so, to fuel the next 2-4 hour.

itsmeGennie

bring a bagel. I think it's filling and has carbs to fuel your hike. With nits/seeds/trailmix, psychologically it makes me feel like i haven't eaten anything substantial bc a handful of nuts is the same amount as a bagel - around 200cals

Need2Exerc1se

On a 5 hour hike I wouldn't eat anything at all, but I'd drink lots of water. I find it hard to hike after eating.

splashtree5

Fruits, nuts, proteinbars and cereal bars

girlinahat

watery fruit such as oranges, grapes, melon etc. can be a great way to stave off hunger and give you fluids. I usually take a combination of fruit, snack bars and nuts/dried fruit, along with water. You are unlikely to need much else unless you are stopping for a lunch break. I find fresh foods such as salads satiate me the most and help with any dehydration). If it's going to be cold you SHOULD take a flask of something hot!!!

beemerphile1

Anyone know about G.O.R.P.? No fair searching the net. All hikers should know about G.O.R.P.

Need2Exerc1se

beemerphile1 wrote: »

Anyone know about G.O.R.P.? No fair searching the net. All hikers should know about G.O.R.P.

I cheated. But I don't see any reason I'd need to know that acronym.

HeySwoleSister

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

beemerphile1 wrote: »

Anyone know about G.O.R.P.? No fair searching the net. All hikers should know about G.O.R.P.

I cheated. But I don't see any reason I'd need to know that acronym.

LOL, GORP and Bug Juice were pretty much the staple diet of US summer camps for decades! I assume that peanuts in general now are not as standard due to the rise in allergies.