With cooler days and gorgeous foliage ahead, fall is the perfect time to take a break from the beach and hit your favorite camp site for a beautiful change of scenery. Camping is one of the best ways to relax, connect with nature, and spend some quality time with friends or family.

Whether your camping adventure involves hiking, fishing, or just disconnecting from all things electronic, a successful trip requires a bit of advance planning. You don’t want to be stuck without the right gear, clothes, or food – and that includes tasty and healthy camping snacks.

Choosing Your Camping Snacks

When it comes to packing the best camping snacks, choose those that are portable, offer a variety of flavors, and pack lots of nutrition.

Here’s what to look for when choosing the best camping snacks.

Go for Protein

Protein-rich snacks help to fuel your muscles so you can hike a little longer, or just carry your camping gear a little further.

Another big bonus – protein keeps you feeling fuller for longer, so you’re less inclined to munch mindlessly when you’re sitting around the campfire. Eating protein-rich meals and snacks throughout the day has also been shown to help people maintain a healthier weight, so it’s a great strategy whether you’re camping or not.

 

Our favorite healthy, high protein camping snacks include:

• Jerky (of course!) – check the label – It’s packed with protein, and it tastes great. Whether you choose beef, turkey, salmon, or any other meat, a one ounce serving provides an average of 14 grams of protein. With a multitude of flavors and seasonings, there’s a jerky for everyone. And because it doesn’t require cooking, refrigeration or any special storage conditions, jerky is a must-have for any camping trip.  It’s also a great pantry staple for healthy snacking any time.

• Tuna pouches – tuna in tear-open pouches is another super-convenient, portable snack that’s pure protein. Stuff it in a pita pocket with lettuce and tomato, or just eat it out of the package with some crackers.

• Eggs – a little less portable, but if you’ll have a cooler, toss in a few hard-boiled eggs for an afternoon snack. One large egg provides 6 grams of protein.

• Cheese crisps – think cheese but in a much more portable, no-refrigeration-required form. Cheese crisps are just bits of cheese baked until they’re crispy, crunchy, and delicious. And just like fresh cheese, it’s a great source of protein. Ours come in a variety of flavors including cheddar, Swiss, smoked Gouda, as well as spicy buffalo or jalapeno.

• Nuts, seeds and nut-butter – all nuts are good nuts. They provide an amazing source of healthy fat along with protein so they’re a great long-lasting source of fuel. You’ll love our flavored peanuts, but almonds, cashews, walnuts and pistachios are also great choices. For a fun and nutritious DIY trail mix that you can munch all day long, mix and match a few different sweet and savory flavors of peanuts, and toss in some shelled pistachios or cashews, along with sunflower or pumpkin seeds, and a few handfuls of dried fruit.

Another great source of both protein and healthy fat is nut butter – peanut butter is always a good choice, but almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter are also delicious and super-healthy options. If you want something more portable and lighter weight than a jar, try some of the single-serve packets available at many grocery or health food stores.

 

 

Pack Healthy Carbs for Energy

Protein helps to fill you, but you still need carbs for energy. However, they’re not all created equal.

Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are high fiber carbs which provide the longest lasting form of energy.  They’re digested more slowly, so they help keep your blood sugar stable and hold off that "hangry" feeling.

When you fuel up on healthy carbs, you’ll have more energy to hike, swim, canoe or kayak, or just take in the beauty of nature.

Some convenient healthy carb snacks for camping include:

• Fruits – fresh fruit is great, and perfect for when you need something juicy and hydrating, but dried fruit is also a great option for camping. It’s easy to store, lighter weight to carry if you’re hiking, and still packs the same nutritious punch as fresh fruit. Eat it straight out of the bag or add it to your homemade trail mix for a blend of sweet and savory. When stocking up on dried fruit for your camping trip, don’t limit yourself to raisins or dried cranberries! Get creative and try our mango, apple, banana, tangerine, pear, or pineapple crispy fruit. They’re all just 100% freeze-dried fruit with no sugar added.

• Whole grain crackers – a much healthier option than chips, look for crackers that are made with whole wheat, brown rice, or other whole grains. They’re portable and easy to pack. Crackers are also great to spread with peanut butter or eat with some tuna for a quick lunch.

• Popcorn – it’s a tasty, crave-able snack treat that’s also super-nutritious. Popcorn is a whole grain, and it’s full of fiber and healthy carbs. Plain popcorn is always good, but we have 16 different sweet and savory flavors to satisfy every type of craving, so mix and match them!

• Overnight oats – this is a whole grain option that works as both a snack and a meal. Pick up a few portable cups of oatmeal and add water or any kind of milk. You can keep them in the cooler overnight, but it really just takes an hour or two and they’ll be ready to eat. Add a handful of cinnamon peanuts, and apple crispy fruit, and you’ll have a satisfying snack that tastes just like fall.

 

Finally, Don’t Forget Your Drinks

Even though the weather is cooling down, it’s still important to stay hydrated, especially if you’re active. Dehydration can make you feel fatigued and leave you with a pounding headache, so make sure you get at least eight cups of fluid in each day.

Skip the sugary soft drinks (and alcohol - I know...) and load up on plain or fruit-flavored seltzer water during the day. If you’ll be out for long or strenuous hikes, you might want to pack some sports drinks, but in most cases, water is all you’ll need.

Instant coffee and unsweetened teas are also great portable options for breakfast or a late afternoon pick-me-up. Both are easy to pack, and contrary to popular belief, they’re also hydrating.

Whatever type of adventures you have in mind for this fall, we’ve got you covered for snacks. Stop in and visit, or order from the website. Just don’t leave home without your snacks!