Don't forget these 20 snacks for your next outdoor adventure

You’ll want protein to power your outdoor activities, and cheese is a great way to get some on the go. Prepackaged cheese like those little Babybel wheels are easy to pack and unwrap anywhere and anytime, or you could go with the stick varieties—they’re not just for kids’ lunches anymore! Want to get classy while camping? You can safely pack a hard cheese like aged cheddar, gouda, or Gruyère in a resealable container.

No need to worry about your bananas getting brown or your peach getting bruised when you pack a stash of dried fruit. Plenty of options—from raisins and cranberries to mango, apricots, and berries—are available at the grocery store, and they contain the same amount of nutrients as the fresh kind. You can make your own in your oven with these tips from Pop Sugar!

Not everything in this list is bought and consumed as-in—here’s one you can bake at home! Energy bites are basically numerous protein and power-packed foods all rolled into one. There are a lot of recipes out there, but we like this one from Chef Savvy because it only requires five ingredients: peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, flax seeds, and honey.

CLIF, RXBAR, Larabar, and numerous other brands all make energy or protein bars that are specifically designed to fuel you with various levels and combinations of protein, carbs, calories, and nutrients. When browsing the bar aisle, be sure to read the ingredient list; the more ingredients you recognize, the better.

Well of course we’re not against fresh fruit. Dried fruit may be a little more portable, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t pack a fresh apple, orange, watermelon (pieces, not a whole one), grapes (try freezing them!), or other juicy fruit for your outing. Even more delicate fruit would work—just pack it tightly in an airtight container.

This one’s also great for kids (if SpongeBob wasn’t enough of a clue). Freeze Go-Gurt or other tube-style yogurts overnight, so when you eat them a couple of hours later, they’ll still be cold. They might even still be frozen, giving you and your kids an especially refreshing trail treat.

It’s like Fruit Roll-Ups, but for adults (and kids too!). Plus, fruit leather can be much healthier, because you can make it yourself at home in an endless number of flavors and varieties. Don’t worry, Fresh off the Grid can show you the way.

High in carbs and calorie-dense, granola is one of our favorite hiking, biking, and kayaking snacks. It has a long shelf life, packs easily, withstands the elements, can be consumed as a topping or a standalone snack, and has just the right amount of sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth. You can make your own (Cookie and Kate can tell you how), or go the other direction and buy it in prepackaged and/or bar form.

Protein, carbs, fiber, vitamins, and minerals...what’s not to love about hummus? It’s a superfood that’s super portable, too. If you’re venturing out for the day, hummus just needs to be packed in an airtight (and leakproof!) container. For longer trips, you can buy instant hummus (just add water), or make your own at home with these tips from Fresh Off the Grid.

We’re not talking uber-processed, chemical-packed “jerky” like Slim Jims, but quality jerky that’s high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. It’s meat without the heat, and most jerky varieties have a long shelf life and come in resealable packages that are perfect for on-the-go snacking. If you have a food dehydrator, you can even make your own jerky out of everything from beef, turkey, and venison to wild boar, ostrich, and alligator.

Almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, it’s all good as a calorie-dense snack or meal. Spread it on bread or use it as a dip for fruit, veggies, or crackers. To take it on the go, spoon some into a small airtight container, or look in your grocery store for individual packets or cups you can easily squeeze onto your snacks (and into your backpack).

Nuts and seeds are both high in protein and easy to pack in your pack. Peanuts and almonds have the most protein in the nut category (9.5 grams and 7 grams, respectively, per ¼-cup serving) and pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds (9 grams and 6 grams, respectively, per 1-ounce serving) have the highest amounts among snackable seeds. 

This isn’t just our crazy idea—eating olives on outdoor adventures really is a thing. In fact, some recreation stores (and grocery stores!) even sell bagged olives for bites on the go. Olives contain antioxidants and healthy fats, and if you pair them with cheese, you can really class up your excursion.

Popcorn actually contains some protein (3 grams per ounce) and fiber (3.5 grams), and it will satisfy your hunger cravings without filling you up or slowing you down. Don’t go for the bagged varieties containing artificial ingredients—pop your own at home and put it in an airtight container to protect it from getting squished. Or pop it over a campfire!

For a quick dose of carbs without a lot of calories, pull out the pretzels and snack away. The bit of sprinkled salt will also help replace your body’s sodium, which is a critical electrolyte lost when sweating. You can even use pretzels to scoop hummus and other healthy dips! 

Waffles are a popular breakfast for outdoor enthusiasts, including stroopwafels, which are thin, wafer-like waffles that usually come with caramel spread in between them. A number of companies have even started making portable, packaged versions of these waffles, including the Honey Stinger and GU brands. One of the former brand’s stroopwafels contains 150 calories and 21 grams of carbs, and they’re becoming a go-to snack for active individuals.

Tortillas are a very versatile trail food with numerous advantages. They pack easily and don’t get smashed up like bread. Wraps are less messy than sandwiches. They pair well with dips like hummus or peanut butter. Heck, you can even eat them by themselves for some quick carbs!

Okay, technically we’re cheating here, as our list already contains the trail mix ingredients of nuts, dried fruit, seeds, candy, and stroopwafels (maybe not that last one). But how could we leave off trail mix, which is the quintessential on-the-go source of energy? We can’t, because we love our trail mix.

Low in calories but high in protein (not to mention heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids), tuna can be a fantastic food for the trail, mountain, and water adventures. Not only is it good for you, but it also has a long shelf life. And if opening a can and mixing up some tuna sounds like too much work on the go, you can even buy pre-mixed pouches in the store.

Celery, cucumber, carrots, cauliflower, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes...they’re all full of vitamins, minerals, and water, which you’ll definitely want a lot of. Most veggies are about 90% water, so you might want to put a damp paper towel in the bag or container. If you’ve brought a bunch and don’t want them crunched, try packing them in your cooking gear.