Whether you plan to take a leisurely hike through the Whistler Interpretive Forest or tackle the steep Skywalk trail, you’re guaranteed to get peckish. The last thing you want is to run out of energy and get hangry deep in the forest, so don’t go out there empty-handed. Pack some snacks! We get that hauling a backpack full of food on a hike isn’t super appealing. But if you choose your snacks strategically, you can ensure you stay satiated without adding excess pounds to your pack.
What types of snacks are best for hikes?
As a general rule, the best snacks for hikes should be filling and lightweight. They shouldn’t need heating up, refrigeration or be able to spill out all over your bag. For example, a banana might seem like a good choice, but you can almost guarantee that thing is going to squish in your bag. You could bring snacks like chia seed pudding or vegan yogurt and berries, but they are extremely inconvenient to eat when on the trail. Instead, stick to hard fruits, dried goods and baked items.
Here are the best snacks to pack on your next hike in Whistler:
Hiking snacks don’t need to be dry, tasteless, and just something to “hold you over until you’re done.” We challenge you to find another snack that is as crowd-pleasing as cinnamon rolls, and they make a fantastic snack for a hike in Whistler. First of all, cinnamon rolls are universally delicious. Imagine taking in the gorgeous views of Garibaldi Lake while biting into a soft, gooey vegan cinnamon bun. Now that’s a memory you won’t soon forget. Cinnamon rolls are filling, so they will keep you satiated, plus they are fine to store in your backpack all day. You can even pre-order them from us and pick them up fresh on the morning of your hike!
Cookies are often considered junk food or something we only got as kids when we were on our best behaviour. If you’re headed out on a hike, then you’re probably not looking to gorge yourself on sugary junk. But cookies don’t need to be unhealthy and can actually be quite nutritious if they contain the right ingredients. Yes, Chips Ahoy cookies are full of refined sugars, butter, palm oil and high fructose corn syrup. Basically, they are not good for you at all. But not all cookies are created equal. Instead, choose cookies like our dark chocolate, coconut, oat + sea salt cookies, which are organic, vegan and high in fibre! Look for base ingredients like organic oats, using natural sweeteners like organic raw sugar or maple syrup.
They don’t call it trail mix for no reason. This iconic trail snack is made up of nuts, seeds and dried fruits, which are filling, packed with protein and easy to snack on while you’re hiking. You don’t even need to stop for a break! Hikers and campers have been munching on this snack since the early 1900s; although it wasn’t originally called trail mix, it was called gorp. Trail mix can include just about any ingredients that you want. But for the perfectly balanced trail mix you’ll want to include carbs to give you energy and healthy fats to help you sustain that energy. You can purchase premade trail mix or get creative and make it yourself using your favourite ingredients.
You can’t go wrong with a good ol’ peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a long hike. We’re not talking about Dempster’s white bread with overly processed jelly. With a few tweaks, a PB&J sandwich can become a gourmet delight and perfect for hitting the trail with. The first tip is to use organic sourdough bread; the more seeds, the better. By using high-quality, sturdy bread your sandwich won’t go soggy, even if you’re hiking for hours. On top of that, seeded sourdough has tons of fibre, so it will really fill you up.
Next, choose your peanut butter and jam effectively. Peanut butter should only have one ingredient: peanuts. Check the ingredients list to choose a peanut butter without added oils or sugars. The jelly is where you get the chance to have fun with your PB&J. There are so many delicious varieties made right here in British Columbia. Try different options like Strawberry and Rose, Peach with Ginger and Cardamom or Blueberry with Spices. Best of all, there’s no gelatin, and they are made with all-natural ingredients.
Protein bars are an awesome snack to take hiking in Whistler. They’re lightweight and take up minimal space in your backpack, but they will keep you full and energized. You can grab pre-packaged protein bars from any of the markets around town, or you could try making them yourself. They keep for about a month in the fridge, or you can freeze them to make them last even longer. Make one batch and enjoy them on multiple hikes around the Whistler area.
Protein bars are pretty easy to make and only require a few ingredients. You can use whole wheat flour, oats and a form of protein for the base, such as protein powder or peanut butter. Then you can add any extra ingredients that you like for flavour and texture. Try mixing it up and throwing in seeds, nuts, dried fruits or dark chocolate chips.
You’re heading out on a hike and already going to be getting your steps in for the day. Instead of running all over town to pick up snacks for your trek, come and visit us at BReD! You can pre-order any vegan baked goods that you want to have fresh on the day, like vegan cinnamon rolls or cookies! Or just pop in a check out our daily selection. We’ll make sure you don’t go hungry on your hike and our staff can even offer some recommendations on our favourites in the area.