When hiking, it can be hard to find easy-to-eat lunch ideas that are also healthy. That’s why I put together this list of 19 Tastiest Day Hike Lunch Ideas To Try Out!
9 Healthy Day Hike Lunch Ideas That Require A Bit Of Cooking / Preparation
Here are 10-day hike lunch ideas that might require a bit of preparation or cooking:
1. Pre-sliced veggies, like cucumber or zucchini sticks
Pre-sliced veggies are very healthy and light treats you can add to your hiking lunch. You don’t just have to stick to cucumber, or zucchini, you can also try other things like carrots and peppers!
You can apply some special species over these such as salt, red chili powder, black pepper, and lemon juice or you can eat it raw!
Storage: Ziplock Bag / Lunch Box Container
2. Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich
The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a classic that never gets old.
It’s perfect for when you’re in the mood to eat something sweet, but it still has some protein in it. And because we all know how easy (and delicious) they are to make!
Storage: Ziplock Bag / Lunch Box Container
3. Pesto Pasta Salad
Pesto pasta salad is a delicious and healthy option for your day hike because it’s packed with proteins, vegetables, and carbs. All things we need to be able to get through our hiking adventures without getting too tired!
You can try out this Barilla pasta and just add a few veggies of your choice like tomatoes and spinach. You can also add the cheese of your choice along with some chickpeas.
Storage: Ziplock Bag / Lunch Box Container
4. Banana and Nutella sandwich
If you’re a fan of sweet and salty, this is the perfect sandwich for you.
It’s so simple to make as well! All you need to do is take two slices of bread and spread your Nutella on one side and bananas on the other. Then just press them together and enjoy!
Storage: Ziplock Bag / Lunch Box Container
5. Grilled cheese sandwich
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic way of making lunch, but they’re also perfect for hiking!
You can make them with anything from veggies to meat. You don’t even have to butter the bread or use any condiments because it will be delicious either way!
Storage: Ziplock Bag / Lunch Box Container
6. Spicy Tuna Roll
Tuna is a high-protein option, which makes it perfect for hiking. And if you add some veggies to your tuna roll and make it spicy, you’ll get the ultimate meal!
Storage: Ziplock Bag / Lunch Box Container
7. Hard-Boiled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are a great hiking snack because they have protein and fat, which is everything you need to get through the day.
You can combine them with other snacks like crackers or veggies! They’re also portable so you don’t have to worry about any spills in your backpack or on your hike.
Storage: Ziplock Bag / Lunch Box Container
8. Precooked bacon wrapped around a mozzarella stick (wrap in foil to keep it warm)
Bacon-wrapped mozzarella sticks are a guilty pleasure everyone should try because it tastes amazing!
The best thing about them is that they’re easy to make and you don’t have to worry about spilling anything.
Make sure you use a well-insulated bag or container so that the food doesn’t get too cold.
Storage: Insulated Lunch Box Container
9. Cheese And Crackers
Cheese and crackers are delicious. You want to grate the choice of cheese that you like cheddar for example and then pour some on top of a cracker, add some salt, black pepper and lemon juice and voila you have yourself cheese and crackers.
They’re perfect for your hike because they have both carbs and fat, which you need to get through the day. They also come in different flavors so if you don’t want to eat cheddar or mozzarella cheese, try something else!
You can also add some veggies to this to enhance the taste or even add avocado paste then pour cheese on top. The possibilities are endless!
Storage: Separate Containers For Grated Cheese and Crackers
9 Day Hike Premade Lunch Ideas Which Require Almost No Preparation / Cooking
1. Energy Bars
Energy bars are an easy way to bring a nutrient-dense meal with you on the trail. They have tons of healthy fats and proteins that will give you lasting energy for hours after eating, so be sure to choose one packed with natural ingredients!
Recommended Energy Bars:
2. Energy Cookies
Just like energy bars, energy cookies are a great way to have a tasty hiking lunch that is also healthy. They tend to be packed with protein and fiber so they’ll keep you full for hours after eating.
Recommended Energy Cookies:
3. Jerky And Meat Bars
Jerky is a great snack for hiking, but it can also make an excellent lunch. There are tons of different flavors out there to choose from – beef, chicken, turkey…you name it. Just be sure that any jerky you pick doesn’t contain too many extra ingredients since the main ingredient should always be meat or fish.
Recommended Jerky And Meat Bars:
4. Powdered Hummus
Hummus is a tasty and healthy snack that you can eat with veggies or crackers. With powdered hummus you just need to add water and voila you have hummus. You can use this with veggie sticks, pretzels or crackers!
Recommended Powdered Hummus:
5. Trail Mix, Nuts, And Dried Fruit
Trail mix is a great hiking food because it’s full of healthy fats, proteins, and fiber. It also tastes amazing! Just pack some nuts or seeds with dried fruit for an easy-to-eat meal on the trail that will give you lasting energy all day long.
Recommended Trail Mix:
6. Candy
Yes, I know this might sound like an odd hiking food to bring along. But hear me out! Candy can actually be a great thing to have on the trail if you’re doing strenuous activities all day long and need extra energy boosts (like at the end of summer hikes). Plus it tastes delicious.
Recommended Candies:
7. Dried Full Meals
These are full meals that are essentially dried so there is very little prep you need to do. Usually, it’s just adding a bit of warm water and it gets ready.
Recommended Dried Full Meals:
- Sweet Potato Curry
- Mountain House Scrambled Eggs
- Chicken & Mashed Potato
- Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
- Chili Mac with Beef
8. Instant Coffee
Instant coffee is super easy to make – just add water and you’re good to go! Plus, it gives you a caffeine boost which can be helpful on long hikes.
Recommended Instant Coffee:
9. Instant Tea
Instant tea is another simple and easy way to give yourself a caffeine boost.
Recommended Instant Tea:
Conclusion
Hopefully, you got a few good day hike lunch ideas you can try!
As you can see, there are tons of easy and healthy lunch options that will keep you full and energized all day long. You don’t have to worry about cooking or bringing a lot of food with you – just choose one (or more!) from this list!
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Hey, I am the founder of Outside Origin! I love hiking in my spare time and have gone to various different hikes. You can check out our about us section to learn more about what our team and I do over at Outside Origin.
