(And then some)…

“Let food be thy medicine”, version 2.0

I have already posted a blog post on Nutrition in the Outdoors, but I figured I would incorporate my favorite store, Trader Joe’s and update you on some of my favorite (new and old) snacks, since it’s been a hot minute.

Big miles, fast ski runs, overnight trips, and long expeditions in the backcountry are a few of my favorite things in life. Another favorite of mine is food. I grew up in a family where my mom always encouraged us to nourish our bodies in the best way possible. I love to grocery shop, I love to cook and I love to eat. If you know me, you probably are already very aware of this.

Good food is extremely important to me in the backcountry. If I am 12-20 miles into a complete suffer-fest, there is nothing better than a handful of dark chocolate covered espresso beans to brighten my mood and fuel my body.  

I have learned over the years that may folks struggle with finding yummy, calorie-dense and nutritious snacks to take into the outdoors. I am always amazed by some of my friends who bring along a peanut butter sandwich and are never excited about taking breaks to eat…”hello because all you have is a peanut butter sandwich”! When they see my bag of candy, chocolate, trail mix, and stuffed grape leaves, they are like “oh wow that’s impressive”. But in reality, I really enjoy food!

 I’ve decided to share some of my favorite things (mostly from my favorite store Trader Joe’s).

Disclaimer:

This post does not go into meals, but rather snacks. Backpacking meals is a whole topic of its own ( I already wrote about this to some extent). I am very allergic to dairy so all of my snacks are dairy-free. I do not eat red meat and limit my consumption of white meat (I have never been a huge fan of any sort of meat since I was a kid), so most of these snacks are vegan.

4 Reasons I Love To Shop At Trader Joe’s

• They buy direct from suppliers whenever possible. I did a little research and found that they don’t charge their suppliers’ certain fees that most grocers do, and they contract early. All these pennies saved on their end equate to savings on our end too. With all this in mind, I’ve definitely found that they usually have the best-valued price!

• If an item doesn’t pull its weight in its stores, it gets pulled to make space for something else. This means there’s nothing mediocre on their shelves – it’s usually all tried-and-true!

• Their business model lends itself not only to lower prices but also to a commitment to certain suppliers and items. It results in some unique branding opportunities and allows customers to really “get to know” certain items they won’t be able to find elsewhere.

• The staff is quirky, engaging, interesting, knowledgeable, helpful and answers all my questions in a timely manner

• The samples!?? Free samples aren’t always for everyone all the time, but if they’re for you… they got ’em!

When I shop for snacks, I try my best to choose the food that I will enjoy. I really do not see the point in eating food that doesn’t taste good. I also look at the ingredients, I try to choose food with the least amount of ingredients but this becomes hard when the majority of backcountry snacks are processed. I always make sure that my snacks are high in calories, high in protein and high in carbohydrates.

We burn A LOT of calories in the backcountry and we need to make sure we are fueling our bodies to prevent calorie depletion and hypoglycemia.

If you want my humble opinion, calorie counting SHOULD NEVER BE DONE in the backcountry or at home. It is not healthy in any way. Eat to feel good, eat to fuel your body and eat to take care of yourself. I also stay away from snacks that crumble such as chips…it’s the worst when you get to the top of a mountain to only discover your favorite chips have become crumbs. With that said, I also avoid chocolate on hot days as it will melt.

 Trader Joe’s goodness

• Peanut butter filled pretzels: Who doesn’t love salty pretzels packed with protein-rich peanut butter? (They also make a no-salt version).

• Dolmas vine leaves stuffed with rice: These are a bit heavy in weight and come in a sealed pop-up can but they are the best pre-made grape leaves I have ever tasted and they are very filling. They can definitely be eaten for lunch instead of a snack.

• PB&J Bars: Way fancier than a PB&J sandwich with just as much protein

• Peanuts go on a DATE bars: If you like dates and peanuts you will love these and they are also chalked full of protein. Dates are considered a superfood as they are rich in antioxidants and fiber and promote bone health, blood sugar control, and brainpower!

• ABC almond butter cocoa bars: So much yummy dark chocolate flavor in this bar and almond butter is calorie-dense, high in protein and low in carbs.

• Simply nutty dark chocolate, peanut, and almond bars: These snacks are packed with protein, a bit savory and a bit sweet with dark chocolate. What more can you ask for?

• Toasted coconut granola bark: These are relatively new and can be found in the frozen aisle, by far my favorite Trader Joes snack. Coconut is chalked full of fiber, calories, saturated fat and minerals to keep you sustained in the backcountry

• Coconut macaroons: The best store-bought coconut macaroons I have ever tried. Did you know that much of the fat in coconut is in the form of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)? Your body metabolizes MCTs differently than other types of fats, absorbing them directly from your small intestine and rapidly using them for energy.

• Dark chocolate Nutty Bits: Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and is actually considered a bittersweet superfood because of all the health benefits.

• Legendary nut and berry trail mix: Trader Joe’s has so many different varieties of trail mix to choose from and you really cannot go wrong with any of the varieties. They are chalked full of protein, carbohydrates, and calories to give you the energy and power you need, especially on long days.

• Rice cracker medley: A low calorie, high carb snack packed full of rice crackers, seaweed wrapped sesame sticks, and wasabi peas.

• Multiseed with Tamari soy sauce rice crackers: These mini crackers are low in calories and are tiny enough to eat them by the handful. Just the perfect blend of savory and sweet.

• Crispy crunchy mocha rice nuggets: Pleasantly crisp, crunchy, and snackable and sort of like a thicker, rice-based pita chip texturally.

• Dried seaweed snacks: Seaweed is chalked full of vitamin K, B vitamins, zinc, and iron, along with antioxidants that help protect your cells from damage.

• Thai lime and chili almonds: Spicy and tangy almonds, what could be better?

• Savory banana and nuts trek mix: Bananas are great sources of potassium and chalked full of vitamin C while aiding in gut health and digestion.

• Beef recipe jerky strips (for dogs): Moo eats these by the bag

• Cashew apricot date and nut bites with coconut and citrus: Apricots are low in calories and fats and are an excellent source of vitamins A and C.

• Just mango slices: Mango is low in calories yet high in nutrients, particularly vitamin C, which aids immunity, iron absorption, and growth and repair.

• Swedish fish: Trader Joe’s sea creature twist on gummy bears… need I say more?

Other non-Trader Joe’s snack favorites

• Instant miso soups: These single packets instant soup mixes are a great way to stay warm on a cold day. Just add boiling water.

• “Fancy” ramen: I love ramen noodles, but I can easily pass on the cheap Top Ramen brand found at big chain grocery stores. Instead, I prefer a bit more “traditional” ramen, which can be found in any Asian market. From instant udon noodles, kimchi ramen and miso ramen to traditional Japanese ramen and spicy Lo Mein soup, there are so many delicious flavors of instant ramen that can be enjoyed in the backcountry.

• Dark chocolate-covered espresso beans: I purchase these in the bins at Smart and Final. They are a great “pick me up” when both my mind and body are exhausted and can be replaced with coffee if you are in a hurry in the morning (or do not want to boil water)

• Tuna creations: (add mayo for extra calories)

• Bark Thins: These are the most delicious snacks EVER. My favorite varieties are the pretzel, blueberry and almond flavors.

• Coffee: (Kuju coffee, single serve pour over coffee on the go and Alpine Start, the best instant coffee. I am a coffee snob so it took me a few years to find the best on the go coffee for the outdoors, but alas, I was successful.

• Electrolytes: (Salted watermelon Clif BLOKS). I believe I have tried almost every electrolyte chew, gel and powder on the mainstream market and watermelon Clif BLOKS are my favorite. I can eat them like candy and I immediately feel more energized and alert.

• Haribo gummy bears and Swedish fish: The magic of gummy candy, need I say more?

I hope you are all staying safe and healthy during this COVID-19 shitstorm pandemic. I know many trails are closed which has inhibited a lot of people from adventuring into the outdoors. I encourage everyone to take care of themselves mentally and physically and eliminate any “negative energy” that does not serve you. This will eventually pass and we will be in the backcountry together again.

For my next blog post, I am going to put together an inspiring “indoor” backcountry post that can hopefully bring inspiration, joy and helpful hints for those who are stuck inside and missing the wild outdoors. If you have any blog post suggestions you would like me to write about, I am all ears.

Stay safe and healthy,

Xx

Kristen