How To Go Backpacking Paleo – Must Hike Must Eat

Carrying healthy meals on my first backpacking trip after making the move to follow a paleo lifestyle was pretty interesting. And when I say interesting, I mean heavy. Lots of cans, fresh fruit and veggies kind of heavy. Most prepared backpacking meals I had found were a no go, filled with less than nutritious ingredients and lots of preservatives. Just how was I going to go backpacking paleo?

Even the nutritious meals my fellow hikers put together had ingredients I had removed from my diet to manage arthritis, inflammation and other ailments. This meant I was trying to use the same staples in my meals I used at home to successfully go backpacking paleo out on the trail.

Walking out from this backpacking trip in the North Cascades near Thunder Creek, my knees said, “Never again” to all that weight. So, I took to finding lighter ways to carry my healthier food options besides the cans of sardines and bags of cherries I had lugged in on my shoulders. Yes, yes I had actually carried these foods in!

Food Weight and Nutrition
Calories In, Calorie Out
Backpacking Paleo Game Plan
Shopping For Backpacking Paleo Meals
Be Social About Backpacking Paleo
Where To Get Started
Take Your Current Favorite Paleo Meals On The Trail
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Food Weight and Nutrition

The first concern that many have when switching to a Paleo backpacking meal plan from the Standard American Diet backpacking menu of Pop Tarts, Top Ramen and chocolate covered Oreo cookies is weight. I’ll be honest, it may mean carrying a few more ounces because whole foods simply mean more weight.

I strive for 2 pounds of food a day, a little heavier than the conventional hiking wisdom of 1.5 pounds per day that we often read about but not by much. It’s less then my first attempts and enough to keep me nourished on the trail without feeling deprived. I just eat the heavier food first! The great thing is that paleo foods are often more calorie dense, so you don’t have to carry as much to have the same amount of calories as some standard fare.

Calories In, Calorie Out

Another piece of hiker mythology is that it is okay to eat a lot of junk food because you are burning so many calories hiking, sometimes 5,000 to 6,000 a day! The fact is, however, we know that quality is just as, if not more, important than calories when it comes to fueling our bodies. Eating foods with vitamins, minerals and substance means a better trail experience and less physical wear and tear.

This is me now, lighter and healthier, but it took a lot of experimenting and a combination of homemade meals with a few store bought treats. Dehydrating my food, for example, helps to mitigate some of the weight of eating healthier. My Dehydrating 101 page can help get you started on reducing weight from your meals and saving space in your pack, too.

Backpacking Paleo Game Plan

For breakfast and dinner, I carry mostly dehydrated meals because I am more likely to be at camp or in a situation where it makes sense to boil water or sit to put a meal together. You can read about my dehydrating techniques on my page Dehydrating 101 but each recipe in my Hiking and Backpacking Recipe Index has the details you will need. Many can also be cold-soaked if you are not carrying a stove.

For lunches I carry items like the ones I talk about in How To Go Day Hiking Paleo. These often are foods that are fresh and ready-to-eat rather than dehydrated, making them easier to eat on-the-go.

Shopping For Backpacking Paleo Meals

If you aren’t sure do-it-yourself is for you, check out my Food and Shopping pages for website links to ordering food online. I have listed some of the best sources for nutritious and quality backpacking meals that are paleo (or gluten free, vegan, organic), in addition to sites you can order separate ingredients for assembling your own meals just as you need them, like coconut milk powder, for example. I also wrote up a post some of the healthiest backpacking meals you can buy online right now.

Make sure that when you visit some of the sites you sign up for their email lists. It will come at no surprise to you that these quality meals are not cheap but sharing your information means receiving notice when their meals go on sale. It is also how I get ideas for some of the recipes I like to share!

Be Social About Backpacking Paleo

And if you are interested in a place to chat about being paleo on the trail, head over and join a Facebook group just for you. We love to share our favorite trail treats, ask about where to find recipes and ingredients we are looking for and talk about trail towns with places to eat paleo!

You too can make the same healthy changes and feel so much better for it. Whether you are hoping to reduce inflammation, have more energy or simply treat your body better, a paleo and whole foods diet is the way to go. I’m not the only hiker sharing this message, you will hear similar words of wisdom over at Whole Foods Hiker, as well. He comes from a vegan perspective and we speak the same language.

Where To Get Started

For all of my recipes, head over to my Hiking and Backpacking Recipe Index page for over 80 meal and snack ideas for your next outdoor adventure. From pumpkin hummus to chocolate granola to paleo sushi to bacon trail mix, you are sure to find something you will love!

You will notice that some of my earlier recipes contained rice or rice noodles, which I still sometimes enjoy. However, all my latest recipes are grain, gluten, soy, diary and nightshade free, using vegetables for their base. Click here to change up some of your favorite meals for healthier versions!

Take Your Current Favorite Paleo Meals On The Trail

If you are looking to convert recipes into larger quantities so you can stock up and have ready your favorite meals, read about converting recipes here. Not only does it save money and help you keep your health goals to have a selection of dehydrated meals ready to go for outdoor adventures, it can be a lifesaver for those days you need something quick to take to work for lunch or on a road trip. I also talk about meal planning as preparation for the backpacking season in this post.

And lastly, I am always open to suggestions for recipe conversions! Please contact me and let me know if there is a paleo meal you wish you could enjoy on trail but haven’t figured how to do so yet. Or, if you have a favorite backpacking meal that you wish you could “paleo-ify”, I’d love to work my magic and convert it for you.