JMT | FOOD ON THE TRAIL
Food. food. food.
Aside from gear, food is one of the most important parts of a thru-hike. It is your fuel, what keeps you going. There are so many options, so what should you pack? Some hikers focus on calories per ounce, while others just pack what sounds good. Healthy food or junk food? Prepackaged or make your own? Resupply boxes or buy along the way? Whatever you decide, there are options for everyone.
Below I have provided a number of options for prepackaged meals (other than Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry), resources for making your own meals, non-dehydrated options, snacks, and drink ideas.
* Constantly updating this page. Feel free to share your suggestions!
PACKAGED BACKPACKING MEALS
BUSHKA’S KITCHEN
Bison, Wild Boar, Avocado Sauce — small batch freeze-dried meals based in California.
Favorite Meal: Hearty Harvest Bowl with Wild Boar
PACKIT GOURMET
Delicious meals and individual ingredients to make them (including condiments). Family owned and based in Texas.
Favorite Meal: Austintacious Tortilla Soup
WILD
ZORA
Formerly Paleo Meals to Go. Gluten free, grain free, no added sugars.
Favorite Meal: Caldera Chicken Curry
NEXT MILE MEALS
Keto meals designed by a PCT thru hiker, based in Oregon. High quality ingredients and family-run. All meals are gluten free.
Favorite Meal: Beef Tacos
PATAGONIA PROVISIONS
Soups, bars, jerky, salmon, mussels. Patagonia Provisions offers foods that are a little more unique.
Favorite Meal: Organic Black Bean Soup
HEATHER’S CHOICE
Gluten, soy, and dairy free. From meals to backpacking macaroons. Single serving meals.
Favorite Meal: Mom’s Spaghetti
NOMAD NUTRITION
Vegan and paleo options. Bulk meals available. Healthy options with everyone in mind. Small batch meals, based in the Pacific Northwest.
Favorite Meal: Irish Shepherd’s Pie
GOOD TO GO
Real food. Gluten free, vegan options. Made in Maine. Created by chefs.
Favorite Meal: Mexican Quinoa Bowl
FOOD FOR THE SOLE
Designed for hikers. Healthy meal choices with many vegan and gluten free options. Taking flavors to a new level.
Favorite Meal: Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Kale and Quinoa
FERNWEH FOOD CO
Low-impact packaging, seasonal local produce, and available in bulk. Based in the Pacific Northwest.
Favorite Meal: Southwest Stew
RESOURCES FOR MAKING YOUR OWN
■ Backcountry Foodie
■ The Hungry Spork Trail Recipes: Quick Gourmet Meals for the Backcountry
■ The Hungry Spork: A Long Distance Hiker’s Guide to Meal Planning
■ Backpacking Chef
■ Dirty Gourmet
BREAKFAST
■ Oatmeal — Oatmeal has come a long way over the years. Check out some of the tasty options from: Kodiak Cakes, Picky, Think Thin, RX Bar. Oats, Good to Go, Quaker, Wildway
■ Cereal — While cereal may not be the most filling, having something that you love can start the day off right, or make a nice snack later in the day.
■ Bars
■ Eggs
■ Belvita
■ Nut Butters
■ Breakfast Drink Mix Packets — Carnation Breakfast Essentials
LUNCH
■ Pepperoni or Salami — Easy to store and long lasting
■ Tuna — Foil Packets. Pair with crackers or tortilla wraps. Most tuna brands offer options beyond plain tuna, such as: lemon pepper, herb garlic, hickory smokes, etc.
■ Cheeses — Hard cheeses can last you between resupplies without spoiling (cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan)
■ Meal bars —
■ Nut Butter + Jelly Wrap — The nut butter of your choice paired with jelly, spread on a tortilla (long-lasting and easier to pack for backpacking)
DINNER
■ Freeze-dried or Dehydrated Meals
■ Instant Mashed Potatoes
■ Ramen
■ Stovetop Stuffing
■ Knorr Sides
■ Mac + Cheese
■ Couscous
■ Instant Soups
SNACKS
■ Jerky — Krave
■ Trail Mix
■ Bars — Pack a variety of brands and flavors! There are a lot of options: ProBar, Bobo’s Oats, Kate’s Real Food, Taos Mountain, Clif, Luna, Larabar, Kind
■ Fruit Bars and Strips — That’s It, Solely
■ Dried Fruits and Vegetables — Mandarin Oranges, Mango, Apples, Pears, Raisins, Apricots
■ Nut Butters — Jif, Skippy, Justin’s, Trail Butter,
■ Nuts — Sahale Snacks, Skinny Dipped, Sunflower, Walnuts, Cashews, Almonds, Pepitas, Peanuts
■ Candy — Joe Chocolates, Snickers, Peanut M&Ms, Starburst, Lifesavers, Sour Patch Kids, Smart Sweets
■ Go Raw Choco Chunk
■ Energy Chews + Gels — ProBar, Honey Stinger, Skratch Labs, Clif
■ Chips or Crackers — Goldfish, Cheezits, Ritz, Wheat Thins
DESSERTS
■ Nutella
■ Freeze Dried Desserts
■ Cookies
■ Bars
DRINKS
■ Electrolyte Mixes | Sports Drinks — Tailwind Nutrition, Skratch Labs, Gatorade, Hammer, Ultima, Nuun, Liquid IV
■ Instant Coffee And Tea — Alpine Start, Starbucks Via, Trader Joe’s
■ Alpine Cider Mix
■ Hot Chocolate
■ Lemonade
■ Nido
EXTRAS
Don’t forget the condiments! Extra calories and extra flavors.
■ True Lemon and Lime
■ Mayo Packets
■ Olive Oil Packets
■ Coconut Oil Packets
■ Chicken Broth Packets or Bone Broth Packets
■ Spices — Salt, Pepper
■ Honey Packets
■ Sriracha Packets
■ Taco Sauce Packets
SHOPPING
Standard grocery stores aside, the following are great resources for filling your food bag:
■ Trader Joe’s — One of the best selections of dried fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and other snacks
■ World Market — Year-round “stocking stuffer” section and a wide range of snacks from around the world
■ Minimus.biz — Single-serve condiments, oils, dips, jams, etc. (another option instead of grabbing a few extra packets at fast-food restaurants or cafeterias)
■ Thrive Life — Bulk freeze-dried and dehydrated fruits, vegetables, meats/proteins, dairy, etc.
■ Karen’s Naturals —Dried fruit and vegetables
■ Packit Gourmet — Check out their grocery section for beans, grains, fruit, vegetables, meats, condiments, and more.
■ Harmony House — Dried vegetables, beans, fruits, veggies, TVP, soups