A Hiker's Paradise: High-Calorie Snacks in Small Packages
Anyone who hits the trails on the regular knows that all good hiking snacks come in small packages. The right high-calorie snacks will help you get to the peak of the mountain without weighing you down.
The Outstanding Foods team loves getting out and exploring the beautiful hiking trails, like Paseo Miramar and Griffith Park, around our HQ in Los Angeles. We always make sure to pack high-calorie snacks that provide a burst of plant-based energy.
Whether you’re on a relaxing weekend hike or you need a stash of tasty and nutritious pick-me-ups for a multi-day circuit, read on to learn about our favorite high-calorie snacks for trekking.
Fulfilling Flapjacks
Next time you’re planning a hike, whip up a batch of homemade flapjacks. Satisfying and sweet, flapjacks are a traditional British tea time snack made from rolled oats, topped with dried fruits and sweetened with honey or maple syrup.
According to Healthspan, rolled oats are full of slow-release energy and natural sugars to help see you through a day on the trails. They are also high in minerals, antioxidants, and a fiber called beta-glucan that can help to lower cholesterol.
Flapjacks are easily customizable, so you can experiment with fruits and toppings. Plus, these high-calorie snacks stay fresh for days — so they’re ideal for longer hikes!
Peanut Butter Bars
Tasty, high-calorie snacks often include peanut butter, seeing as it’s rich in unsaturated fats. Plus, peanut butter is packed with protein, which will only improve your hiking performance.
Peanut butter bars are mouthwatering high-calorie snacks that are ideal for sharing with your hiking buddies. For the healthiest protein power bars, you can even make your own with just five ingredients and no baking required.
Avocado & Tortilla Chips
The humble creamy avocado is full of healthy fats and contains over 20 vitamins and minerals. According to WebMD, avocado oil can help to alleviate arthritis and osteoporosis — and hikers should definitely take care of those bones so they can keep on trekking for years to come!
Combine some guacamole with tasty tortilla chips and you’ve got an impromptu alfresco feast in a flash. Don’t forget to bring along a mix of ripe and unripe avocados, so you’ll be sorted for multi-day trips.
Energy Balls
Energy balls are another great example of totally customizable high-calorie snacks — you can sub in your favorite seeds or nut butter, as well as other flavor- and nutrient-enhancers like dried fruit and dark-chocolate pieces. These sweet treats will easily fit in a pocket or backpack.
Mix up some almond butter — which is omega-3 and antioxidant-rich, according to WebMD — and some desiccated coconut and cocoa powder, then add in a sprinkling of chia seeds or flax seeds for extra protein and fiber.
Trail Mixing It Up
True to its name, trail mix is one of the best high-calorie snacks for hiking. Your body is working hard on the hills, so you need to refuel. Making your own trail mix means you can ensure it’s full of nutritious ingredients — like nuts and seeds that are high in protein and healthy fats. Of course, you can also mix in treats like pretzels, popcorn, or dark chocolate chips.
The nuts and seeds you choose have different superpowers, too. Allen Tran, U.S. Ski Association dietician, explains to Outside Online that “brazil nuts are high in blood-flow stimulating selenium, while pumpkin seeds contain magnesium, which helps the muscles to function optimally.”
Plus, if you make a savory homemade trail mix, we’ve got a seasoning for that!
Outstanding Foods Products
Our plant-based snacks may be low in calories (all the better for your health!), but they’re also filling, satisfying, and super lightweight. They’re bursting with health benefits and won’t add much bulk to your backpack.
- PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds. Our Pigless Pork Rinds contain 25 grams of plant-based protein per bag, and you can choose from five addictively delicious flavors like Hella Hot, White Chedda, and Nacho Cheese.
- Outstanding Puffs. Outstanding Puffs are especially lightweight, so they’re a great hiking companion. Gluten-free and full of flavor, each bag is filled with 21 grams of protein and 20 essential vitamins in minerals. Choose from 4-, 8-, and 12-packs of flavors like Pizza Partay, Chill Ranch, and Kansas City BBQ.
Hikers Need High-Calorie Snacks
It’s always good to have a tasty treat to look forward to when you’re out on the trails — and lightweight, high-calorie snacks will keep both you and your back satisfied.
Before your next hike, stock up on the right high-calorie snacks to keep your energy levels high. Find Outstanding Foods snacks in a store near you!
