Paleo Backpacking Food – Meals & Snacks

 

The paleo diet consists of whole foods that our hunter and gathering ancestors ate.

Unfortunately, over 90% of the foods made for backpackers don’t fall into this category & contain:

• Grains
• Legumes
• Refined sugars
• Highly processed ingredients

This guide goes over the healthiest, most packable food (that still taste amazing) for hikers following this diet.

Remember you can use the table of contents to skip to a topic.

Paleo Backpacking Food Video  (3-Day Trip)

Watch this video & get a close-up look at the meals & snacks I chose for a 3-day winter backpacking trip.

Mouth-Watering Paleo Hiking Snacks

The snacks that I eat & recommend are:

• Tasty
• Actually Paleo
• Packable
• Nutritious
• Highly energizing

Most foods considered paleo don’t meet ALL of these requirements. On top of that, I keep finding deceiving packaging labels that aren’t in line with the ingredients inside.

So I dived deep into individual ingredients, company ethics & personal testing.

Energy Bars

When I originally wrote this guide there were ZERO good options available so I left this one out.

Fortunately, Paleovalley just introduced a couple of new Superfood bars.

They are packed with:

• 10 organic superfoods
• Grass-fed bone broth

Hands down my favorite paleo snack.

You can purchase & learn more about these superfood bars on Paleovalley’s website. You will also get a special discount on any of their food linked in this guide.

Nut Butter Packets

My top pick is SuperFat Nut Butter.

These little packets are:

• Packed with healthy fats, calories, & nutrition
• Approved by Tim Ferris

Their MCT Probiotics blend packs 300 calories in 1.5 ounces. That’s pretty tough to beat when considering how many calories you can pack in an ounce.

Next on my favorites list is FBOMB nut butter. So good!

These are my top picks PURELY based on ingredients, quality & taste. These are also the most expensive options.

Artisana Organics has some awesome options too. The company seems to be extremely dedicated to using the highest quality ingredients. They also source from organic family farms.

Pro tip: I use the scissors on my mini Swiss Army knife to open up my nut butter packet to eat what I couldn’t squeeze out.

You can see the rest of my favorite backpacking gear here.

Meat Sticks

Meat sticks are a backpacking staple for me.

I try to choose meat that is:

• Grass-fed & grass-finished
• Antibiotic-free (no antibiotics EVER)
• Absent of refined sugar or toxic additives
• From an animal that had a happy life “One bad day”

The quote “One bad day” really stuck with me after reading Genius Foods (great read).

My favorite beef sticks are made by Paleovalley.

It’s the ONLY beef stick made in the USA, from 100% grass-fed/grass-finished beef and organic spices that are naturally fermented.

The natural fermentation process creates natural probiotics that are microbiome friendly.

Plus the beef comes from happy cows, raised entirely on natural grass pastures by family farmers.

This article by Healthline explains some of the differences between grass-fed & grain-fed beef.

Paleovalley also makes amazing pasture-raised turkey sticks.

Olives

Olives are packed with:

• Healthy fats
• Antioxidants
• Vitamins & minerals

You can get olives in small convenient packages for backpacking. Another goto for me.

Seaweed Snacks

While these aren’t the most substantial snack… Sometimes you just need a little something to fix that snack craving.

Seaweed Snacks are a tasty powerhouse of nutrition containing:

• Vitamins A, C, E, & K
• Folate, zinc, sodium, calcium, & magnesium
• Iodine

My top pick is the gimMe seaweed snacks. One of the only companies that use organic extra virgin olive oil to roast their seaweed.

Pro tip: I’ll usually open a few packs at home and put them into a Ziploc bag to save on space.

Avocados

This tasty superfood contains:

• More potassium (essential electrolyte) than a banana
• 20 essential vitamins and minerals
• A high healthy fat content

Plus it can be found at most grocery stores on your way to the trailhead.

I like to drizzle some olive oil, salt & pepper on mine.

Pro tip: I’ll keep an avocado in an empty peanut butter jar or in my Jetboil cup so it doesn’t get squashed in my backpack.

Hemp Seeds

One of my all-time favorites. Hemp seeds are great on their own or as an addition to a D.I.Y trail mix.

These seeds are a complete source of protein (containing all 9 essential amino acids). Very few plant-based foods are a complete source of protein, making this a great option for those that don’t eat meat.

Make sure you choose an organic option to avoid harmful pesticides.

Dried Fruit & Berries

Probably the best way to hook up your sweet tooth. My alternative to the sour patch kids I use to religiously bring on my trips.

Some of my favorites:

• Mangos
• Apricots
• Mulberries
• Banana chips

Always scan the ingredients on any packaged dried fruit or berries. Often they are coated in added sugar or preservatives.

You can pretty much dehydrate any fruit or berry imaginable.

I use my 9 tray Excalibur dehydrator to make my own dried fruit & fruit leathers. This thing has paid for itself a few times.

Wild Zora makes an awesome assorted dried fruit mix as well.

Fruit Leathers

Another awesome treat.

Every summer I try to harvest enough blueberries & blackberries to fill my freezer and make a bunch of fruit leather.

I’m also a big fan of the fruit leathers from Stretch Island Fruit Co.

I went to a super small high school in Belfair, Washington that was located a few miles from their factory. Had a few friends parents that worked there and we pretty much lived on this stuff.

Trail Mix

You can easily make your own paleo trail mix by mixing your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruits & or berries together.

I love adding shredded coconut to my D.I.Y mix.

Usually, I prefer this route over buying a pre-made “paleo trail mix”.  I get to choose exactly what I like & save some money.

If convenience is your game I’d check out the Lark Ellen Farm Sweet & Salty Trail Mix.

Beef Jerky

I LOVE me some good old fashioned beef jerky.

Trying to find a good grass-fed option with no added refined sugars was tougher than most any hike I have ever done…

Steve’s PaleoGoods Jerky was the best option I could find online. If anybody out there knows of a great paleo jerky be sure to let me know in the comments.

Nuts

One of the best foods for backpacking due to their caloric density & high nutrient profiles. Also much cheaper than buying nut butter packets.

Nuts & their respected calories per ounce:

• Macadamias – 204
• Pecans – 196
• Brazil – 186
• Walnuts – 185
• Hazelnut – 178
• Almond – 163
• Pistachios – 159
• Cashews – 157

The more calories per ounce means you don’t have to bring as much food.

I find the oily nuts at the top of the list give me the most energy.

Cashews are technically a fruit & while still considered paleo I just recently quit eating them…

I would have an embarrassing allergic reaction in the form of an itchy butt (Hope that helps someone out in the unknowingly same situation).

Pro tip: I find Trader Joe’s to be the best place to buy nuts when evaluating selection, quality & price.

Paleo Backpacking Meals – Freeze Dried & D.I.Y Options

No rice, beans, pasta, quinoa, lentils, oats, or mountain houses make this a challenge.

Still some awesome options out there!

Breakfast

My current breakfast is my cup of coffee (that you can read about below) & maybe some nut butter once I get moving around.

If you’re the backpacker that prefers an actual meal, Wild Zora makes some awesome ready to go breakfast meals.

“Paleo Power Soak”

This is my favorite D.I.Y breakfast recipe that can be enjoyed any time of the day.

It packs about 700 calories, is insanely delicious.

Mix all ingredients in a Ziploc bag at home:

• 3 Tbsp Coconut Milk Powder
• 1 Tbsp Cacao Nibs
• 2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
• 2 Tbsp White Mulberries
• 2 Tbsp Walnuts
• 2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
• 2 Tbsp Hemp seeds
• 2 Tbsp Shredded Coconut

Cooking Instructions:

• Pour contents of bag into your stove or container & add water until the water line sits about 1/2″ above contents.

• Give the mix a good stir. Can be enjoyed cold immediately after (my favorite way).

• For a warm breakfast heat your water up until it gets just hot enough not to touch, let cool & enjoy.

I LOVE cold-soaking & make this meal in a peanut butter jar with a resealable lid. This enables me to snack on the meal throughout the day.

Lunch or Dinner

I use to cook & dehydrate all of my own dinners… That hasn’t really been a viable option for me now with these new parameters.

While I miss making my own dehydrated meals, I definitely have been enjoying the convenience of these pre-made meals.

Freeze Dried Meals

Normally backpackers have 100’s of different options to choose from when it comes to freeze-dried meals. Us paleo folk aren’t so lucky.

Wild Zora Paleo Meals To Go is by far the best option out there.

They seem to be the only company in existence making freeze-dried Paleo meals with clean ingredients…

Luckily they have a few different options to keep things varied:

• Caldera Chicken Curry
• Bedrock Beef Chili
• Summit Savory Chicken
• Mountain Beef Stew

I have really enjoyed all of these. The Chicken Curry is my favorite.

Pro tip: Add some olive oil or coconut milk powder to your meal once it’s cooked to boost up those calories.

Soup

In colder conditions, I LOVE a hot cup of soup. One of the best ways to boost morale and warm yourself from the inside out.

Pretty stoked about this recipe I created. My goal was to come up with a delicious, calorie-packed, healthy soup that had a Paleo friendly noodle.

“Trail Immunity Sweet Potato Noodle Soup”

At home mix ingredients in a Ziploc Bag:

• 1 Bundle Sweet Potato Glass noodles
• 2 Tbsp Plant-Based Broth Mix
• 2 Tbsp Coconut Milk Powder
• 2 Tbsp Collagen Powder
• 1 Tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp Pepper

Cooking Instructions:

1. Pour into the stove and add the desired amount of water to suit your broth needs.

2. Slowly bring water to a boil stirring occasionally.

3. Turn your stove off at the signs of the first boil. Let cool & enjoy.

Beyond stoked about this sweet potato noodle find.

They are made from only one ingredient:

• Organic Sweet Potato Starch

They cook super fast & have a great texture & taste.

Once you open the package you will find individually wrapped bundles. One bundle ends up being the perfect serving size.

Caveman Coffee, Tea, Supplements, & Spice

The ESSENTIALS.

Coffee

My go-to coffee is Organic Anthony’s Instant Coffee.

It’s about 10 times cheaper than going the Starbucks Via route. Plus it tastes a lot better in my opinion.

I like to add a heaping scoop of coconut milk powder for the added calories, fat & a sweet creamy taste.

I also add cacao powder to the mix for the added health benefits & chocolatey taste.

Cacao is one of the most AMAZING superfoods on the planet:

• It packs over 40 times the amount of antioxidants as blueberries
• It’s the highest plant-based source of iron known to man
• High magnesium & calcium profile
• It’s a natural anti-depressant & mood elevator

Plus Cacao contains a number of compounds and nutrients that help improve blood flow to the brain and actively increase energy levels, which I find to be awesome on the trail.

I have found this to be a good ratio blend for a Jetboil full of coffee:

• 1 Tablespoon Instant Coffee
• 2 Tablespoon Coconut Milk Powder
• 1/2 Tablespoon Cacao Powder

Looking for something similar that’s already premixed?

Check out the Laird Superfood Instafuel.

Super Greens Powder

I have found a good greens powder to be one of the most important staples for me while hiking.

Most greens powders contain cereal grasses, such as barley or wheatgrass. These grasses can be hard for the body to digest & have a negative impact on the microbiome.

After researching every greens powder available without these grasses in them, I came to the conclusion that the Paleovalley Organic Supergreens is hands down the best available option.

I drink this stuff every day. Another win for Paleovalley!

Matcha Green Tea

Have been hooked on this stuff lately.

This is a concentrated ground up version of the green tea you would normally steep in hot water.

What I LOVE about taking this stuff backpacking is the fact that I don’t need to take the time to warm up water to steep my tea. I can just mix the powder in my water bottle cold.

It’s nice soaking up some of these health benefits associated with this green leaf:

• Boosts brain function
• Protects the liver
• Helps prevent cancer
• Protects your heart

These single-serve matcha packets are super convenient on the trail.

Electrolytes

I find electrolytes to be an essential supplement while backpacking. Especially if I’m sweating my butt off.

Gotta keep your internal electrical system on point.

First and foremost I try to supplement all of my food with salt (sodium is an essential electrolyte). You will learn more about my favorite salt further in this guide.

I find easy to swallow pills to be the most convenient. Lot’s of great options on Amazon.

Looking for something that turns your water into a tasty drink?

The Nuun Immunity electrolytes are my favorite in this department.

Enjoy adult beverages at camp? I sure do. 🙂

These double as a great hangover preventative ULTRAlight chaser or drink mixer.

You can pick up on some more ultralight backpacking tips here.

Coconut Milk Powder

Not to be confused with coconut flour.

I consume more coconut milk powder than any other powder.

Using this is a super-easy way to add calories to any meal or drink. It packs 225 calories per ounce.

My favorite thing about this stuff is it’s flavor profile & consistency (slightly sweet & creamy).

It goes great with just about anything (coffee, tea, most meals).

Coconut Oil

This oil comes in at 244 calories per ounce.

I find coconut oil to be a better pick over its powder form when I’m using it as an addition to a snack.

A packet of coconut oil pairs great with:

• A hand full of nuts
• Nut butter
• Dark chocolate

I also really enjoy eating it straight out of the package.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of the most calorie-dense foods available. 250 calories per ounce.

Pure energy!

It’s also considered by many experts to be one of the healthiest antioxidant-rich oils available.

It can be added to most meals, drizzled on top of an avocado. I even drink it straight from the bottle.

I have found the Kirkland organic extra virgin olive oil to be the best priced organic olive oil on Amazon.

Pro tip: I find the small reusable Nalgene bottles to be the best fit for storing oil. Haven’t had one leak on me yet.

Salt

Not all salts are created equal.

I use to believe that Himalayan salt was the way to go… Then I learned about Real Salt.

Real Salt comes from an ancient ocean underground salt mine in Utah.

What’s so great about this salt?

Since the salt has been buried underground it hasn’t been exposed to any pollutants. The salt is unrefined and has 60+ trace minerals that are really good for you & your electrical system.

A full spectrum salt is especially important when you have been sweating a lot & you are trying to stay up on your electrolytes.

I start every day off with a pinch of this stuff in my water & add it to most meals and some snacks.

Are Grains & Legumes Actually Bad for You?

I really wanted to touch on this subject.

It can be easy to get wrapped up in the boundaries of a diet, & straying a little bit might be beneficial to your health & backpacking experience.

I’m still on the fence about some of these whole plant-based foods, that are excluded from the paleo diet.

The Paleo argument is that these grains and legumes came into existence after our hunter & gathering ancestors. Because of this, our bodies haven’t had enough time to evolve to thrive on them.

At the same time, many centenarians thrive on beans & other legumes. Lots of research points out to some of these foods having a host of nutritional benefits.

I miss making my homemade dinners composed of quinoa, rice, lentils, or beans. Will probably start bringing some of those back on the trail since I always bring them to a boil.

Why I Primarily Eat Whole Foods While Hiking

I want to be able to hike forever. I know eating the right foods will help me get there.

For the record, my diet is always evolving & doesn’t fall into a certain category. That said, over 80% of the food I eat falls into the paleo or Whole30 category.

For me, it’s easiest to figure out what foods work best and have a similar diet on and off the trail. I can skip the decision fatigue and just feel good all the time.

A lot of the food you read about in this guide I eat on the daily.

I’m also not as crazy about my diet as I sound. Stress kills.

A good portion of that other 20% is filled with pizza and too many beers with friends.

So, What Do You Think?

What are your favorite Paleo backpacking foods?

Would be stoked to hear what you think about this guide.

Leave a comment below with some feedback. 🙂

Hope you found this guide useful.

Much Love & Happy Trails,

Iron