By: Levi Opsatnic
While we find ourselves in the middle of a less than mild spring, I’ve been taking advantage of the mostly warm temperatures every chance I get. Whether I’m out there fly fishing, cruising around on a skateboard, hiking, or just some general wandering, I’m consistently burning calories and working up an appetite. Unless you’ve somehow figured out how to crack nature’s code of getting hungry while being active, then I feel that I can safely assume that I’m not the only one whose belly begins to rumble before my fun is over.
Which leads me to the real meat and potatoes of this post, and that is to provide all of you readers with some healthy, efficient, and tasty snacks for any activity that you get yourself into. Sure, you can always stop by the first gas station that you pass and pick up some form of processed, sugary substance, but will that really help you and your body out whenever you’re looking at covering over a dozen miles before dark? Probably not. And that’s the reason why I make a solid attempt at trying to track down some of the best food options that won’t weigh you or your pack down. So without any additional lecturing similar to what you may find in a high school health class, here are five snacks that will help you make the most out of your day, no matter how you spend it.
1. Clif Bar White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bar
Probably one of the most well-known names whenever it comes to healthy granola bars, Clif Bar gives you a way to fuel up that you’ll love to eat with their White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bar. All of the climbers out there will love having their heart’s swooned by a name like “Clif Bar,” but with a list of ingredients including everything from high amounts of protein, fiber, and white chocolate, we’re sure that just about everyone will be excited about munching on one of these bars.
2. Honey Stinger Cherry Blossom Organic Energy Chews
All organic, Honey Stinger’s Cherry Blossom Organic Energy Chews are perfect for those sleepy, but super active days that you want free from the burden of a liquid-filled stomach after the morning’s coffee. The perfect source of energy, Honey Stinger keeps all of the bad, unhealthy crud out of these energy chews to jazz you up and give you a snack that is sure to cure you from those sugary cravings that we all get around the middle of the day.
3. Naked Granola Taste of Seattle Granola
Let’s face it, at least the large majority of us are outdoorsy people, and what do we love chomping on more than granola? Well, I’m not entirely sure. And that’s exactly what makes Naked Granola’s Taste of Seattle Granola one heck of a snack to toss into your pack (they’re all good, but I tend to lean towards their Taste of Seattle flavor most often). Naked Granola packs their granola full of flavor and all sorts of awesome nutrients to keep you feeling full and going all day long.
4. Mountain House Rice & Chicken 20 oz Meal
Made for the campers and backpackers (though, we won’t judge you if you bust a pack of these bad boys out anywhere you are) Mountain House’s meal bags are a lightweight option to fill your tummy and keep you fueled up as long as you are away from home. Providing you two ten ounce servings of yummy food that has just about everything that a home cooked supper would have, these meals will have you thinking that you’re sitting around your family’s dinner table even whenever you’re forty miles away from civilization.
Photo Courtesy of Xterraplanet.com
Well, you’ve already made it out into the natural world, and what better way to celebrate than with a meal that’s good for you and originated from something quite similar to the dirt that you’re probably standing on? I’m not too sure if there is one. Whether you’re a fan of fruits, vegetables, or some combination of the two, there should always be a space reserved in your pack for an apple, pod of grapes, or some sugar snap peas. And if you don’t have the room for these natural snacks in your pack, pick up the Peterson Field Guide on Edible Wild Plants and see what source of nature’s bounty you can pick up along your way.
Hopefully with all of those options you can find a healthy and convenient way to chow down on your next adventure, but don’t forget to stay hydrated because even if you have all of the food in the world, you won’t get too far without some good ol’ H2O.