If you have kids, you know the importance of packing snacks for any outing. But what do you pack for a hike? You want something that’s easy packable, high on nutrients, fun for kids, and easy to eat on the trail. Today, Washington hiking mom of fours, RyAnn Peverly shares her family’s tried and tested hiking snacks for kids. She’s sharing her favorite recipes and variations on hiking snacks to make at home, plus some options for healthy store-bought snacks to pack for your hiking adventures. Happy snacking (and hiking)!
Trail-tested kid-approved hiking snacks
When my family is preparing to go on a hike the first thing I do is get out our backpacks and start setting everything we need in a box by the front door. Whether it’s going to be a long(ish) hike or just a quick one, being prepared ahead of time makes it so much easier to get out the door. I make sure everyone has all the things they need and all their favorites, from shoes to snacks.
Snacks perhaps are one of the most important parts of what we put in our packs (at least in the kids’ opinion). Good snacks can make the difference between a hike that turns into a slog, or one the kids remember for days to come. Loading up on kid-pleasing snacking options is one step in making sure everyone has a great day outside on the trail.
What makes a good hiking snack
There are so many options on the market today for hiking snacks that my kids are sure to like. There are a ton of pre-packed and pre-made snacks that the kids would be over the moon to eat. But, those items can really add up in terms of cost, sugar/additive intake, and waste produced. We like knowing exactly what’s in our snacks and we really enjoy working together in the kitchen to create our own healthy, easily packable, budget-friendly morsels.
In our kitchen, we love to focus on snacks that pack a punch in flavor and nutrition. The key to a good snack is that it combines these key features:
- provides a balance of carbs for quick energy, protein for long-lasting energy, and high calories in a small package;
- fit easily in a sandwich bag or lightweight lunch box;
- doesn’t require utensils for diving in.
Our favorite hiking snacks to make at home
Below, I’ve included a few of our favorite snacks to make at home as a family to take on the trail. While we love making our own snacks, it’s certainly not a necessity for hiking. If you need/want to save time, you can buy pre-made and pre-packaged snacks. Every family is different and it’s important that you do what works best for you so you can get outside and play! If that means picking up snacks from the store instead of making them at home, DO THAT! You’ll get no judgment at all! I’ve included some of our favorite store-bought snacks below.
GORP
Gorp, trail mix, scroggin, snack mix. Whatever your family calls it, this delicious mix of goodies has long been a staple of avid outdoorsmen and women. Our favorite thing about gorp is that everyone can make their own version exactly how they like it.
Gorp is probably the easiest and most budget-friendly snack all hands can help in making. Just grab a bag, fill it with your favorites, and shake.
I find the best place to get our ingredients is the bulk section of our local grocery store. That section tends to be a little cheaper than prepackaged bags of nuts and dried fruit. Another plus to procuring ingredients this way is that you can use your own reusable bags or jars and save on waste.
GORP mix varieties and ingredients
Here are a few of our top blends to help give you an idea of all the different ways you can mix ingredients to make a delicious and healthy trail snack for kids:
- Traditional
- peanuts
- almonds
- raisins
- M&M’s
- Honey Nut Cheerios
- Tropical
- dried pineapple
- dried mango
- coconut flakes
- almonds
- cashews
- Sweet & Spicy
- wasabi peas
- pecans
- Chex cereal
- sesame crackers
- dried apricots
- No Nut Mix
- chocolate covered sunflower seeds
- mini-pretzels
- Craisins
- freeze fried apple
- granola chunks
- Pantry stash
- chocolate chips
- Goldfish crackers
- dried apple
- banana chips
- mini marshmallows
Power balls
Perhaps the best snack on the list is power balls! Power balls (also known as energy bites) combine all our snack needs in a convenient and fun two-bite package. This is another snack that allows kids to mix in their favorite ingredientss, plus they are able to get their hands messy in the DIY making process.
Power balls, like the other snacks, only take a few ingredients and can be altered to add in your favorite ingredients. These delicious balls of energy all start with the same 3 ingredient base that provide a good source of carbohydrates and protein.
Start with these three ingredients
- 1 cup dry oats
- ¼ cup nut butter
- ¼ cup honey or agave
Now, it’s time to get creative. Add a few extra mix-ins to make your favorite power ball combinations. A few of our tried and true add-ins are:
- ½ cup mini chocolate or M&M’s
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- ¼ cup diced nuts
- ½ cup diced dried fruit
- ¼ cup crushed pretzels or graham crackers
- ¼ cup mini marshmallows (we cut ours in half)
After mixing all ingredients in a bowl, use your hands to form the batter into balls and let harden on a cookie sheet. Power balls can be stored for up to a week in your fridge in an airtight container.
Pinwheels
We love pinwheels! Pinwheels are basically rolled-up sandwich-type creations, filled with your favorite ingredients. These can be made sweet or savory, with just a couple of items from your pantry. They can be a healthy snack out on the trail or they can become the main meal on an outing. There are tons of variations out there, but these are our favorites and never fail to please. The main ingredients in all pin-wheels are tortillas, a spread of some sort, and one or two fillings.
These tasty treats are really easy to make, and my son loves that he gets to roll and then slice them into different sizes. Just four steps and your snack is done!
- Lay tortilla on a flat, cuttable surface
- Smear spread out evenly in the center of the tortilla
- Lay fillings in the center of the spread
- Roll tortilla up, and cut into slices
Sweet pinwheel variation
- P.B. & J – this roll needs no explanation, and takes its cues from an already family favorite.
- Peanut butter (or any nut butter will do)
- Favorite jelly of jam
- Nutella & banana – chocolate hazelnut and bananas! How can this not be delicious?
- Nutella
- Nut butter
- Banana
- Strawberries (optional)
- Apples & Strawberries – a crowd favorite!
- Apple butter
- Nut Butter
- Sliced strawberries
Savory pinwheel variations
(Savory pin-wheels will require a small ice pack to keep fresh)
- Seattle roll – named after one of my favorite sushi rolls
- Smoked salmon
- Cream cheese
- Cucumber slices
- Turkey & ranch
- Ranch dressing
- Thin sliced turkey lunch meat
- Cheese slices
- Avocado
- Italian Sub
- Mayo or mustard (or both!)
- Salami
- Pepperoni (for those that like a little spice)
- Provolone cheese
- Lettuce
Store-bought hiking snacks to keep on hand
I will admit that some days I just don’t have the time or energy to put together homemade snacks. Sometimes it’s more important for us to just get out the door and I need the quickest easiest snack options. So, I like to keep a stock of our family’s favorite store-bought snacks on hand for easy grab and go. Plus I will often throw a couple of these in my pack to add to our supply or just in case someone is extra hungry.
Fruit & veggies
We always like to throw in a couple of pieces of fresh fruit (or handfuls of berries) and a baggie of veggie sticks for that fresh flavor. Easy choices are small apples, tangerines, carrots, snap peas, cucumbers, peppers, and celery sticks. Just remember to pack out your cores and peels with you. Another option in this category is dried fruit. We love apple rings and banana chips tossed in a baggie. Fruit leather is another great option that can be bought in bulk and kept on the pantry shelves.
Bars
Please believe me when I say we have tried every energy bar and granola bar on our grocery store shelves. Store-bought bars can be expensive and packed with all kinds of things, so I try to pick those with simple, whole food ingredients that offer tons of flavor. After years of taste testing, we have certainly decided on a few top choices. Our go-to’s are CLIF Zbars, Lara Bars, and Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars.
Jerky
Jerky is an easy snack and always a favorite with the kids. We always keep a few packages on hand. My kids have always preferred jerky sticks, and honestly, I think they are a little easier to pack and open. Some of our favorite brands are Vermont Smoke and Cure, CHOMPS, and Bavarian Meats.
How to pack your hiking snacks
Store-bought snacks often come in their own easy, lightweight packages. But when you make your own or buy in bulk it’s necessary to carry your snacks in some sort of container. As a family, we have made a commitment to try and use reusable containers as much as possible. Did you know that Americans throw away enough plastic each year to circle the Earth four times? We’re trying to do our part to cut that number down. We hope you will, too.
There are a lot of great options on the market to fit all budgets. These are the top four that our family uses for every outing.
- Full Circle reusable sandwich and snack bags
- RUSSBE reusable bags (these come in gallon to snack size)
- Kleen Kanteen lunch box set
- Bee’s wrap
Snack happy!
Hopefully, with this list of kid-tested and approved snacks, your family can get out there on the trail and enjoy a great day outdoors building memories and not complaining because of grumbling bellies. We hope this helps you hike happier and longer!
More resources about hiking with kids
If you’re interested in more great content about hiking with kids, be sure to check out the following posts:
- Best Hiking Shoes for Kids
- 10 Hiking Essentials for Families
- Best Baby Carriers for Hiking
- Making DIY Hiking Sticks with Kids
- Ultimate List of Outdoor Gear for Kids
What are your kids’ favorite hiking snacks?
About the author
RyAnn is a mom of four (20, 18, 15, 6) that loves exploring her home in the Pacific Northwest. She works as a youth outdoor program instructor for the Mountaineers Org. in Washington state. RyAnn also loves getting out and adventuring with her family as much as possible. They enjoy traveling around the PNW in their converted Sprinter campervan. On her days off she generally loads up the van and hits the trails for hiking, mountain biking, skiing, or climbing. RyAnn is passionate about instilling love and respect for outdoor spaces in her kids and the youth she is lucky to work with.
You can find more from RyAnn in the following locations:
Instagram: @mountain_mama4
Website: Mountain Mama
RWMC posts: Ryann Peverly
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