Snacking with a view is one of my personal favourite things about hiking. And we all know that what we eat can have a huge influence on how we feel when we are hiking.
So I caught up with GP, Dr Nazreen Morley to find out which snacks are the best for fuelling your hikes.
Dr Morley first advised us that the key is slow release energy and ensuring you don’t neglect protein. She said:
“Slow release energy snacks are what you want for a long day of hiking. Many hikers will hike for literally hours upon hours on end! And you’ll be using loads of muscles, particularly when hiking up hill or when scrambling.”
Here’s a list of the top hiking snacks for fuelling those walks according to a GP!
Trail Mix
Basically this is just a mix of nuts, seeds, dried fruits and sometimes even things like small pieces of chocolate.
You can buy it ready made or make your own.
Dr Naz suggested a homemade combination that is heavy on the seeds and nuts and suggests:
“Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds – they’re all examples of high energy boosting foods.”
Peanut Butter with Fruit or Crackers
Packing slices of apple with some peanut butter can offer up a much needed energy fix for long hiking days. Dr Naz adds:
“Peanut butter is a superb source of energy and offers up some healthy fats. Pair with fruit for a nutrient boost or crackers for some added carbs.”
Beef Jerky or Biltong
This is a high protein snack and, for those of us conscious of the weight in our bags, it’s also really lightweight. Dr Naz’s advice:
“Look for low sodium options here. But ultimately this is a high protein snack that can help with muscle repair during and after that long hike.”
Energy Bars
Sometimes you just need something quick, portable and easy. So energy bars and gels can be a really good option.
Dr Naz says:
“There are so many energy bars out there and they’re not all made equal. But for convenience it’s often worth having them in your backpack. Look for those heavy on the nuts and with decent protein levels.”
Eat Little and Often
Whatever your choice of snack, Dr Naz advises eating little and often on long day hikes, adding:
“You ideally want to avoid to getting to that point where you feel hungry, lethargic and shaky. So eating little and often as opposed to waiting until you get hungry is a sensible approach when it comes to hiking snacking.”
