Day Hiking Lunch Ideas
Planning a day hike? Don’t forget to pack a lunch that will provide you with the energy you need to power through your adventure. Here are a few ideas to get you started⁚
- Sandwiches⁚ Easy to make and pack, sandwiches are a classic hiking lunch option. Choose hearty bread and fillings that will hold up well in a backpack.
- Salads⁚ If you’re looking for something a little lighter, a salad is a great choice. Pack your salad in a leak-proof container and top it with your favorite dressings and toppings.
- Wraps⁚ Wraps are another great option for a portable and easy-to-eat lunch. Fill your wraps with your favorite meats, cheeses, and vegetables.
- Trail Mix⁚ A mix of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit is a great way to get a quick and easy energy boost on the trail.
- Energy Bars⁚ Energy bars are a convenient and portable way to get a boost of energy. Choose bars that are high in calories and low in sugar.
- Choose hearty bread. You want bread that will hold up well in a backpack and won’t get soggy too quickly. Good options include whole-wheat bread, sourdough bread, or rye bread.
- Add protein. Protein will help you stay full and energized on the trail. Good protein sources for sandwiches include deli meat, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, or tofu.
- Include vegetables. Vegetables will add nutrients and flavor to your sandwich. Good choices include lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and peppers.
- Don’t forget the condiments. Condiments can add flavor and moisture to your sandwich. Good options include mustard, mayonnaise, hummus, or olive oil.
- Pack your sandwich carefully. Wrap your sandwich in wax paper or aluminum foil to keep it fresh and prevent it from getting crushed in your backpack.
- Turkey and cheese sandwich⁚ Whole-wheat bread, turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mustard
- Ham and Swiss sandwich⁚ Rye bread, ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and mayonnaise
- Veggie sandwich⁚ Whole-wheat bread, hummus, avocado, cucumber, and sprouts
- Tuna salad sandwich⁚ Whole-wheat bread, tuna salad, lettuce, and tomato
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwich⁚ Whole-wheat bread, peanut butter, and jelly
- Start with a sturdy base. You want a salad that will hold up well in a backpack and won’t get too wilted or soggy. Good options include romaine lettuce, kale, or spinach.
- Add protein; Protein will help you stay full and energized on the trail. Good protein sources for salads include grilled chicken, tofu, beans, or lentils.
- Include vegetables. Vegetables will add nutrients and flavor to your salad. Good choices include tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, celery, and onions.
- Don’t forget the dressing. Dressing can add flavor and moisture to your salad. Good options include olive oil and vinegar, balsamic vinaigrette, or ranch dressing.
- Pack your salad carefully. Pack your salad in a leak-proof container and keep it cold with an ice pack. You can also pack your dressing separately and add it to your salad just before eating.
- Grilled chicken salad⁚ Romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, and balsamic vinaigrette
- Tofu salad⁚ Kale, tofu, carrots, celery, and olive oil and vinegar
- Bean salad⁚ Spinach, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and ranch dressing
- Lentil salad⁚ Lentils, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and olive oil and vinegar
- Quinoa salad⁚ Quinoa, grilled chicken, vegetables, and your favorite dressing
- Choose a sturdy wrap. You want a wrap that will hold up well in a backpack and won’t tear easily. Good options include whole-wheat tortillas, spinach wraps, or sun-dried tomato wraps.
- Add protein. Protein will help you stay full and energized on the trail. Good protein sources for wraps include grilled chicken, tofu, beans, or lentils.
- Include vegetables. Vegetables will add nutrients and flavor to your wrap. Good choices include tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, celery, and onions.
- Add cheese. Cheese can add flavor and creaminess to your wrap. Good choices include cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, or pepper jack cheese.
- Spread on your favorite condiments. Condiments can add flavor and moisture to your wrap. Good options include hummus, guacamole, salsa, or ranch dressing.
- Wrap it up tightly. Wrap your wrap tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to keep it from falling apart.
- Grilled chicken wrap⁚ Whole-wheat tortilla, grilled chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, and hummus
- Tofu wrap⁚ Spinach wrap, tofu, carrots, celery, and guacamole
- Bean wrap⁚ Sun-dried tomato wrap, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and salsa
- Lentil wrap⁚ Whole-wheat tortilla, lentils, tomatoes, cucumbers, and ranch dressing
- Quinoa wrap⁚ Spinach wrap, quinoa, grilled chicken, vegetables, and your favorite dressing
- Choose a variety of nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds are a good source of protein and healthy fats. Good choices include almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.
- Add dried fruit. Dried fruit is a good source of natural sugars and vitamins. Good choices include raisins, cranberries, apricots, and blueberries.
- Include some chocolate. Chocolate is a good source of antioxidants and can help to boost your mood. Choose dark chocolate with a high cocoa content.
- Add some other goodies. You can also add other goodies to your trail mix, such as granola, coconut flakes, or peanut butter chips.
- Mix it up. Once you’ve chosen your ingredients, mix them together in a resealable bag or container.
- Classic trail mix⁚ Almonds, walnuts, cashews, raisins, and cranberries
- Chocolate trail mix⁚ Almonds, walnuts, cashews, raisins, cranberries, and dark chocolate chips
- Tropical trail mix⁚ Almonds, walnuts, cashews, dried pineapple, dried mango, and dried papaya
- Energy trail mix⁚ Almonds, walnuts, cashews, raisins, cranberries, and granola
- Peanut butter trail mix⁚ Almonds, walnuts, cashews, raisins, cranberries, and peanut butter chips
- Choose bars that are high in calories. Energy bars should provide you with a quick and easy source of energy, so choose bars that are high in calories. Look for bars that have at least 200 calories per serving.
- Choose bars that are low in sugar. Sugar can give you a quick burst of energy, but it can also lead to a crash later on. Choose bars that are low in sugar, or opt for bars that are made with natural sweeteners like honey or agave nectar.
- Choose bars that are high in protein. Protein helps to keep you feeling full and satisfied, so choose bars that are high in protein. Look for bars that have at least 10 grams of protein per serving.
- Choose bars that are made with whole grains. Whole grains are a good source of fiber, which can help to keep you feeling full and energized. Choose bars that are made with whole grains, such as oats, brown rice, or quinoa;
- Choose bars that you enjoy eating. If you don’t like the taste of your energy bar, you’re less likely to eat it, which defeats the purpose of bringing it on your hike. Choose bars that you enjoy eating, so that you’ll be more likely to reach for them when you need a boost of energy.
- Clif Bar
- KIND Bar
- Larabar
- Luna Bar
- PowerBar
Sandwiches
Sandwiches are a classic hiking lunch option for a reason⁚ they’re easy to make, pack, and eat, and they can be customized to your liking. Here are a few tips for making the perfect hiking sandwich⁚
Here are a few sandwich ideas to get you started⁚
No matter what you choose to put in your sandwich, make sure it’s something that you’ll enjoy eating on the trail. After all, a good lunch can make all the difference on a long hike!
Salads
Salads are a great option for a light and refreshing hiking lunch. They’re easy to pack and transport, and they can be customized to your liking. Here are a few tips for making the perfect hiking salad⁚
Here are a few salad ideas to get you started⁚
No matter what you choose to put in your salad, make sure it’s something that you’ll enjoy eating on the trail. After all, a good lunch can make all the difference on a long hike!
Wraps
Wraps are another great option for a portable and easy-to-eat hiking lunch. They’re also very versatile, so you can customize them to your liking. Here are a few tips for making the perfect hiking wrap⁚
Here are a few wrap ideas to get you started⁚
No matter what you choose to put in your wrap, make sure it’s something that you’ll enjoy eating on the trail. After all, a good lunch can make all the difference on a long hike!
Trail Mix
Trail mix is a great way to get a quick and easy energy boost on the trail. It’s also portable and easy to eat, making it the perfect hiking snack. Here are a few tips for making the perfect trail mix⁚
Here are a few trail mix recipes to get you started⁚
No matter what you choose to put in your trail mix, make sure it’s something that you’ll enjoy eating on the trail. After all, a good snack can make all the difference on a long hike!
Energy Bars
Energy bars are a convenient and portable way to get a boost of energy on the trail. They’re also a good source of calories and nutrients, making them a great option for hikers who need to refuel quickly and easily. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing energy bars for your next hike⁚
Here are a few energy bar brands that are popular among hikers⁚
No matter what brand or flavor of energy bar you choose, make sure to read the nutrition label carefully before you buy it. This will help you to make sure that the bar meets your individual needs and preferences.
