10 Healthy, Portable Foods to Bring on Your Next Camping Trip

“Oatmeal provides complex carbohydrates for adequate and lasting energy before a day of hiking or exploring,” says Hoerr. “Also, they’re lightweight, compactible, and easy to prepare at a campsite.”

On a backpacking trip through Yosemite, Hoerr discovered that adding a packet to her morning oatmeal kept her sustained through elevation-gain hikes until lunchtime. The individual pouches are convenient and less messy than trying to eat from a jar, she notes.

Tuna and chicken packets are ideal healthy foods to bring camping because they’re easy to fit into those smaller spaces in a pack and can be tucked into jacket pockets so you have them handy for snacks when you need them most.

“Listen to your body for signs it’s needing more food right now,” suggests Hoerr. “You might be getting lightheaded, or the activity is feeling harder than it should. Those are signs you’re lacking in energy. Packets of tuna or chicken are shelf-stable and have so many great flavors now that you can eat them on their own.”

If you’re not a fan of meat or are on a plant-based diet (such as a vegan or vegetarian one), protein powder provides a way to get your fix of this nutrient. Consuming protein in powder form can also be ideal for hiking because it’s lightweight and can be mixed with the water you already have. And you don’t have to bring the whole container, of course: Just put a few scoops into a sealable plastic bag for easy travel.

“Ideally, spread out your protein throughout the day,” says Natalie Allen, RD, a clinical assistant professor for biomedical sciences at Missouri State University in Springfield. For example, if your protein needs are 80 g a day, rather than trying to load up all at once, aim to get 20 g at each main meal plus a high-protein snack. “This will help you maintain satiety,” she says.

When you’re camping and being active, you may not have set mealtimes, so a protein shake can make it easier to pace your protein intake.

If you’re looking to go plant-based instead of using whey as your protein powder source, Allen suggests pea protein, which is widely available.

The concentrated sweetness of dried fruit like raisins, dried apples, and prunes makes it a welcome go-to snack on the trail. Dried fruit also offers a quick carb fix to fuel activity, says Brooklyn, New York–based Jackie Newgent, RDN. The fruit maintains its vitamins and minerals in the dehydration process, she adds, so you’ll be getting a nutrient-dense snack.

“The nutrients are more concentrated ounce per ounce, which means they’re packed with beneficial bioactive compounds,” Newgent says. “Be sure to check ingredients, though, since some sugars and preservatives may be added, and it’s best to get options where you’re just getting the fruit.”

For example, she suggests avoiding sugars like corn syrup or sucrose and preservatives like carrageenan and potassium bromate.

One option Hoerr always takes camping is prepackaged granola or energy bars because they’re so easy to find and can get smushed at the bottom of a pack and still be ready to eat. But if you’re at the grocery store and looking for some snack-size granola bars or protein bar options, prepare to spend some time reading labels.

Hoerr suggests looking at ingredient lists to get as little added sugar as possible — less than 6 g of added sugar per serving is best — and ideally choose ones sweetened naturally with dried fruit. This will give you the carb-loading boost you need for activity without the extra sweeteners or preservatives. Hoerr prefers Lärabars. For example, an Apple Pie Lärabar has no added sugar and 25 g of carbs. Hoerr likes that the ingredients are just nuts and fruit, and there are others that are similar.

If you’re hiking, consider your hydration levels. Even at a leisurely pace, it’s an endurance event, says Hoerr, especially when you’re carrying gear. She suggests drinking more water than you think you need, particularly in cooler climates because you may not notice thirst as much in those situations.

When you’re relying on a cookstove, grains that take time to cook can feel like a chore, which is why Hoerr relies on quick-cooking options, such as quinoa and instant brown rice, on hiking trips.

For example, when you’re tired after a hike, you can whip up a healthy dinner in less than 15 minutes if you opt for quick grains and a packet of chicken or tuna.