Sooo, how do you stay fueled while day hiking paleo out on the trail and stick to your non-standard American diet? Whether you are new to paleo or new to getting outdoors for the day, you might be asking yourself how to blend the two. Well, after 9 years of doing just that I would love to share all I have learned about how to go day hiking paleo.
Day Hiking Paleo Is Easy
Day hiking paleo is easier than you think and it doesn’t always require you to make your own food. Many of the same foods you enjoy to eat paleo at home will work on the trail.
Things like fruit, vegetables and some meats are naturally portable, along with nuts, seeds and dates. All paleo!
As a basic rule on my hikes, I try to take items that are less perishable, easy to eat and pack more calories (so you take less of them). I usually try to balance ready made bars and snacks (convenience) with homemade not only because it is cheaper but I have more control over the ingredients. I follow the same principles I do for my home food: stick to whole food ingredients and avoid nutrient poor fillers.
Just A Few Day Hiking Paleo Guidelines
These are just a few of the guidelines I follow when planning my paleo day hiking foods:
- Experiment! My food needs to be more salty or spicy than normal while hiking, sometimes food just isn’t as appetizing without the extra punch of flavor or taste. I always keep a little canister of sea salt, too, in case what I brought turns out to be too bland.
- Go For Homemade When You Can. I often make things from scratch like jerky, dried fruit, and Garlic Cilantro Crackers but there just isn’t always time. I have bags of dried fruit (unsulfured, without added sugars and oils), nuts and seeds, and snack bars to supplement the cut up fruits and vegetables I normally have in the fridge after meal prepping on the weekend.
- Shop Around. I often shop at Costco, my local Asian market or the co-op by my house, looking for the things with least amount of additives. Online, I go to places like the ones I share on my Food or Shopping pages for things that I can’t find locally or are cheaper to buy in bulk.
- Mix Things Up. I try to get a good mix of protein, fat and complex carbs and I do my best to avoid sugar on the trail as I do at home, opting as much as possible for sugar attached to fiber. Chocolate and honey sticks are usually my only exception!
Day Hiking Paleo Fruits and Vegetables:
The foods I eat break down typically into two groups: plants and proteins. Not that plants don’t have some protein, but the proteins I choose to eat for health are not always plants. Here are some ideas of the plants that I carry on trail, whether it be fresh or dehydrated.
- Sliced apples, sometimes sprinkled with cinnamon, or dried apple rings.
- Easy-to-peel oranges
- Bananas or banana chips
- Carrots, celery and jicama
- I eat a lot of dates, whether they be solo, wrapped in prosciutto and goat cheese (primal) or in homemade bars like my Hickory Smoked Larabars.
- Baked Nori is a great way to up your greens with sea vegetables.
- Guacamole and apple dips are delicious for dipping, too.
- I love to take portable vegetables like my Dilly Lemon Roasted Veggie Collagen Bars.
- When I want a different kind of jerky, my Horseradish Mushroom Jerky hits the spot.
Day Hiking Paleo Proteins:
Many proteins will last without refrigeration for a few hours to a few days as long as they are cooked thoroughly before leaving home.
- Turkey sticks (turkey patties cut into strips), quick and easy to prep the night before.
- Prosciutto or salami (tend to be nightshade free)
- Jerky (try my Lemon Capered Turkey Jerky or Bavarian Mustard Caraway Turkey Jerky)
- Hard boiled eggs (you can find these prepackaged in many stores)
- Nut or seed butters, either in packets or stored in mini plastic containers.
- Raw and/or organic cheeses, especially goat. I love the individual ones at Trader Joe’s! (If you are primal and tolerate dairy)
- Paleo Hummus for my crackers and veggies.
- Paleo Falafel is a lot of fun and tasty, too.
- Stone Age Bread or Savory Kale Stone Age Bread are a portable way to take eggs, nuts and seeds on the trail.
Day Hiking Paleo Recipes
These are some posts with examples and pictures of paleo snacks I have taken on a day hike. You can find my complete list of recipes on my Paleo Hiking and Backpacking Recipe Index!
Trail and Nut Mixes Are The Perfect Day Hiking Paleo Companion
It wouldn’t be a day hike without a trail mix, right? The traditional one usually has peanuts, M&Ms, etc., however. There is nothing wrong with a classic, but it is time to think outside the box! Here are some of ones I have come up with over the years for you to try:
- Banana Split Trail Mix
- AIP Strawberry Lemonade Tiger Nut Trail Mix
- Keto Veggie Seasoned Walnut Mushroom Trail Mix
- Lavendar Walnut Trail Mix
- Bacon Trail Mix
- Rosemary Cranberry Pecans
- Zesty Coconut Ginger Walnuts
Don’t Forget Those Paleo Energy Balls!
Other easy to make treats are energy balls and fat bombs! Once you have a formula down, you will soon be making your own versions of these tasty morsels:
Guayaba Coco con Col Rizada Energy Balls
Tangy Bacon Pineapple Energy Balls
12 AIP Fat Bomb Recipes: A Self Care Arsenal
If you are looking for backpacking paleo ideas, I have a page for that too!
Thank you so much for stopping by Must Hike Must Eat!
If you need some healthy eating inspiration start here:..
Need some eating out suggestions when friends want to stop after a hike? I have a Pacific Northwest Eating Guide here.
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