Hiking Food, Energy Bars, and Trail Mix

We find the easiest way to bring food on the trail is with energy bars or trail mix. Some people prefer packing sandwiches for a lunch break, or even a full-blown picnic spread (you can even buy a picnic backpack ... complete with plates, cutlery and a cooler for wine).

We don't like to hike after eating a lot of food, so that doesn't work for us... and you need to find what works for you.

We usually get breakfast on the way there... our picks are usually a low-fat muffin, a bagel, or egg/cheese on an English muffin. We then snack on energy bars and trail mix through the day depending on the length of the hike. We tend toward long hikes and go through a bar each plus trail mix. If you are just out for a 2 or 3 mile jaunt, you won't need much (or anything).

And although we eat healthy all week, we usually stop for a light dinner or ice cream on the way home (because let's face it, we earned those french fries or that Snickers Blizzard by hiking all day, right? RIGHT?)

Energy Bars

There are many brands of energy bars, flavors, and textures. Just try some till you find ones you like. Some are awful. REALLY awful. (like the original Power Bar... ick). We've listed what we like and use here:

Clif Bars have been our hiking snack of choice for years, and we tend to enjoy anything put out by Clif, including their Luna Bars (with vitamins geared for women and texture of a firm Rice Krispy Treat), and Mojo Bars (salty pretzely nutty snack bars). For after-hike protein replacement you can try Clif Shot Roks - like a tasty chewy malt ball. But for hiking, we usually stick to Clif Bars.

Clifs have great flavor and texture, don't melt or get gooey in the heat, use all natural ingredients, are filling but not too filling, and actually seem to provide sustained energy. Also good for travel - a Clif Bar in your bag is insurance youll never be hungry even when stuck on a flight or somewhere with weird food. (Dear Clif Bar: we wouldn't mind taste-tasting any new flavors you might have, or if you have any freebies laying around...)

Clif Bar favorite flavors - chocolate almond fudge, blueberry crisp, and banana bread.

Balance Bars are more "candy bar" in texture and taste, and tend to give more an immediate boost of energy and are not as long lasting as a Clif. They are high protein and packed with vitamins/minerals. Downside is that certain flavors get melty/gooey when its warm and make a mess. Chuck them in the fridge the night before to mitigate that a bit.

Balance Bar favorite flavors - cookie dough, yogurt honey peanut, and peanut butter. (none of these get melty)

Larabars are made from only a few ingredients (ex. the PB & J flavor contains just dates, peanuts and unsweetened cherries). They are seriously tasty and have a nice not-too-firm chewy texture. Downside is they contain more fat than a Clif or Balance Bar.

Larabar favorite flavors - PB & J, Banana Bread

Trail Mix

You can go for the classic GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) or there are tons of recipes for trail mix around. We'll start you off with our simple tasty fave... just mix equali-ish parts together and pack some in a sandwich baggie in your backpack:

• Salted, roasted almonds (provides protein, salt, vitamin E)

• Dried tart cherries (helps reduce inflammation which makes knees/joints happier)

• Peanut M&Ms (protein, and well, everything is just better with chocolate, right?)

Energy Bars - Shopping Tips

• Here in New Jersey, ShopRite sometimes has sales on Clif Bars and Balance Bars at 5 for $5. Per bar prices tend to be $1.25.

• Target has 6-packs of Clif, Luna, Balance and more for savings over individual bars.

• Hiking stores often carry more flavors, but can be pricey... but this is a great way to discover new flavors.

• If you go through a lot of bars and really like a certain flavor, search online to find deals on 12-packs.