Hiking with Children: What Snacks to Bring to Prevent Hanger

We love hiking with our children; it’s such a great opportunity to bond, and let them explore the world around them. But let's face it—nobody wants to hike with a hangry child! Aside from bringing a lunch, snacks are so important to keep a kid happy and give them the energy they need to keep up with you.

What Kinds of Snacks Should You Pack

The right foods make a difference when you're out hiking—you usually are burning a lot more calories than usual. Snacks that have a lot of calories and are nutrient dense make the best options. Think foods rich in protein, healthy fats, fruits and veggies, whole grains, and legumes.

One of our favorite snacks in homemade granola: it's packed with grains, protein, nutrients and calories and it's delicious! Here's what you need: 

Ingredients

• 5 cups oats
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3/4 cup chopped almonds
• Cinnamon
• Raisins (as much as desired)
• Dried cranberries (craisins)

Directions

1. Set the oven to 270 degrees.
2. In a bowl, mix together the oats, canola oil & honey.
3. Add the almonds.
4. Spread the mixture over a cook sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and sprinkle cinnamon on top and mix. Return it to the oven and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and immediately add raisins and craisins, and you're set! 

Alpine Sisters Community

We asked the Alpine Sisters community what some of their favorite snacks are for kids while hiking. Here's what they came up with:

"Apples and cheese!"

"Celery sticks/carrots with hummus. And banana honey sandwiches with some sort of nut butter."

"Any fruit for kids really is great ... some sort of fruit salad, for sugar & carbs & good energy!"

"Carrots on hikes!"

"Cereal bars."

"Pretzels and beef jerky! They love them!"

"Dried mangoes and cheese sticks."

"Whole grain Cheerios & pouches."

"Graham crackers and dried fruit."

Whatever you bring, consider using reusable containers instead of single use plastics. We love Stasher bags: they're super eco-friendly, reusable, and you can even write on them! We love the sandwich and snack bags, we use them both on and off the trails (and for just about anything you can think of!)

Where do you like to adventure with your children?

Happy Trails!