Need ideas for Paleo backpacking food for your paleo lifestyle? Well my fellow hikers, you’ve come to the right place. I feel like one could argue that the first ever hikers ate paleo…so there’s bound to be something to it.
Because the paleo diet emphasizes real food like fresh fruit, sweet potatoes, healthy fats, and other whole foods you can find in the produce and meat sections of your local grocery store, the weight can make for a more challenging backpacking trip.
Fortunately, there are a ton of great paleo options to eat in the great outdoors. Whether you’re into freeze-dried meals, dehydrated meals, or looking for some of the best foods to pick up at your local Trader Joe’s, I’ve got you covered.
Table of Contents
Snacks:
Snacks are a great way to keep your taste buds entertained on the trail and get in some much needed calories on your long hike before you make camp and keep those energy levels high!
Epic Bars and Epic Bites
If you haven’t checked out Epic Provisions yet for your paleo snacking needs, you’re missing out. They have a great selection of meat bars and other delicious snacks filled with real ingredients.
I love the Bison-Bacon Cranberry but they have other flavors such as Chicken Sriracha, Salt and Pepper Venison, and Jalapeno Beef. Many of their bars are not only Paleo-friendly but also Whole 30 approved, Keto, and gluten free.
Epic Provisions doesn’t only have bars, they also make other products like Bone Broth, Chicken Crisps and Maple-Smoked Salmon Bites. These snacks are a great source of protein.
Lara Bars
If you’re not in the mood for meat, check out Lara Bars. While not all Lara Bar flavors are paleo, some definitely meet the standard and are filled with natural ingredients.. Some Paleo flavors include Banana Bread, Cashew Cookie, Pecan Pie, and Apple Pie.
While certainly not a low sugar option, you’ve been on the trail all day – so why not get a sweet treat? It’s the perfect way for any avid hiker to get some glucose energy.
RxBars
Similar to Lara Bars, not all RxBars are paleo so you should definitely read the ingredient lists, but these bars can be easily purchased online and have minimal ingredients listed right on the front of the package. They’re often sweetened with dates and come in a variety of flavors.
Tuna Packets and Salmon Packets.
Whether I am car camping or hiking the trail, I like tuna packets (and salmon packets) for their simplicity. You can pick them up in any grocery store and the fact that it’s in a pouch makes it so much easier to pack it out. #LeaveNoTrace. They also have a nice long shelf life. Just be careful because many of the flavored packets are not truly Paleo.
If you want a little added flavor, bring your own spice mix to add on top. Try Garam Masala, chili powder, sea salt, or even mustard (make it lighter by bringing mustard powder and mixing with water). These lean meats are a good thing to bring on your next trip.
Trail Mix:
Trail Mix is a quick fix for hunger. Unfortunately many store-bought trail mixes won’t meet the Paleo threshold, but it’s super easy to make your own paleo trail mix.
If you like a sweeter mix, you can add some coconut flakes and/or dried fruit. Like a spicier mix? Consider mixing in some dried chilis or roasting your own almond slivers with a spicy spice blend.
While I know there is no great substitute for hard cheeses, you can consider adding some nutritional yeast to your trail mix for a tasty and (almost) cheesy flavor. It’s also a great source of B vitamins.
Nuts:
Avoid peanuts (that’s a legume) and always read the label but you can find some great pre-packaged nut options and other paleo backpacking foods in your local gas station.
Nut butters
Nut butter packets are an easy way to bring some calorie-dense snacks on your next adventure. They can be eaten on the go or enjoyed in camp next to the fire.
If you’re doing strict paleo, legumes are not allowed so avoid peanut butter and instead go for a high-quality almond butter.
Olives:
Whether you’re on a road trip or a backpacking trip, I think olives are a fantastic snack. They are filled with healthy fats, and if you are looking for some more calories, find packets that use olive oil to preserve them.
Fresh Berries
Fresh berries are definitely a paleo backpacking food, but they don’t always hold up to a hike as well as I wish they would. I either try to bring them in a hard sided container (like a nalgene), or in the summer where I live, I can often pick wild huckleberries and snack as I go!
Just make sure you’re confident in your ability to identify the edible fresh berries where you live.
Kale Chips:
Whether you buy a paleo friendly option in a store or make your own at home, Kale chips add a great crunch on the trail. Similar to the fresh berries, you have to make sure you store them properly or you’ll end up with a Kale powder to dust over the top of your evening meal.
Beef Jerky:
Not all beef jerky is good for a paleo backpacking snack. The problem tends to lie in the added sugars, so always read the ingredients. You can purchase your favorite brand or make it at home in your dehydrator (if you have one).
Fresh Vegetables
While certainly more weight than dehydrated veggies, sometimes there is no substitute for fresh. Go with hardy vegetable options that can handle a little abuse like carrots. They also go great with those aforementioned nut butter packets.
Meals:
If you’re lucky enough to have a freeze dryer at home, you can go wild with a ton of incredible recipes and bring your favorite foods with you anywhere. If you’re like me, you’re stuck buying the freeze-dried meals. It’s a great way to save on weight but it’s not always the cheapest option.
There are also several paleo meals you can get ready at home to save you time on the trail:
Chia Seeds and Coconut Milk Powder
Chia Seed pudding is a great option for a paleo breakfast, especially if you’re hiking somewhere warm and want something a bit cooler. You can experiment at home with your ideal ratios but I find 1/4 cup chia seeds to 1 1/4 cup coconut milk makes a pretty nice consistency.
The great thing about making this at home is you’re free to add your favorite toppings. Want crunchy? Add some chopped nuts. Want sweet? Add some coconut sugar, coconut savings, and/or freeze dried berries.
You can even make more savory puddings. There are so many different options you’ll never have to eat the same chia pudding twice.
Next Mile Meals:
If you haven’t heard of Next Mile Meals, you’re in for a great surprise. Started by some thru-hikers taking on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) when they had trouble finding have paleo and keto freeze-dried meal options, these recipes they developed are nothing short of outstanding.
When I spent two weeks rafting down the Aniak River in Alaska, I loved digging into these after a long day. My top pick would be coconut chicken curry. It’s aromatic, filling, and high quality.
The Cajun Jambalaya is also a great choice for Paleo backpackers it’s got okra and red bell pepper.
If you like hot wraps, I’d go with the Deli Roast Beef. They make it with thinly sliced beef seasoned to perfection. Just be aware that the mustard and mayo packets are, unfortunately, not paleo but they are packaged separately so you can just forego it. BYO Paleo Wrap.
And make sure you read the ingredients list. Several of the flavors are just for keto and not for paleo (they have hard cheeses). While they have gluten-free meal options, they do not have any vegan or vegetarian options.
Wild Zora Foods.
Wild Zora Paleo Meals specializes in providing high-quality, freeze dried, paleo backpacking food. They’ve got numerous Paleo backpacking food options ranging from 350 calories to 500 calories per meal.
They’ve got various paleo-friendly meals, like palisade pineapple mango, bedrock beef chili, summit savory chicken, cliffside coconut berry, caldera chicken curry, butte cacao banana, and mountain beef stew.
They have options for meat eaters and vegans alike and all their meals are gluten-free. They also make paleo soups and snacks so it’s definitely worth checking them out for a resupply.
Soups:
Whether you make your own soup packets or bring a pre-made mix, a paleo soup can be a great way to warm up quickly on any camping trip. To make the most satiating meal possible, consider adding in some freeze-dried meat or hemp seeds.
Mountain House sells cannisters of freeze dried beef and chicken that you can purchase, and then separate into your own soup mixes. This is a great way to add multiple grams of protein without adding too many grams of weight. Unfortunately, most pre-packaged mountain house meals aren’t paleo-friendly so stick with the pure diced beef, ground beef, and chicken options.
As for hemp seeds, not only do they add great texture to any soup, but they have all the amino acids, making them a wonderful way to add protein on your outdoor adventures. You can also add coconut milk powder to your homemade soups to add creaminess.
Soups are great for people with dietary restrictions because you can put anything you want in there. There is no better way to develop recipes than experimenting in your own kitchen,
Wraps:
For a paleo backpacking lunch is there anything better than a wrap? Take your favorite Paleo wrap and put your favorite paleo snacks in there. It’s really as easy as that.
You can make something people have heard of before and use almond butter with a homemade paleo jam, or go completely feral and put anything you want in there, from trail mix and beef jerky to pemmican.
Check out my Best Meats for Backpacking article for additional meat ideas that you can place into a wrap. While not all the meats listed are paleo-friendly, there are still many paleo-friendly options lists like smoked salmon, canned chicken, and biltong….just to name a few.
Pemmican
Native Americans have used pemmican since time immemorial. It keeps well, tastes good, and provides excellent energy when you need to hike a long distance. There are a ton of different recipes with varying amounts of berries, meat, and fat.
Hot Cereals (Paleo Porridge)
By mixing flax seed, chia seeds, and even some nuts, you can make a hot porridge that will help keep you warm on the coldest mornings (or evenings…I mean, I like breakfast for dinner).
Add in things like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves and then wait until you’re out on the trail to heat up your water and mix it all together. This will help you avoid carrying pounds of food in water weight and it doesn’t take much water to rehydrate them.
Drinks:
When hitting the trail, it’s a good idea to bring some hot drink options:
Coffee
Coffee is the best way to get up in the morning and it’s Paleo! Some backpackers I know insist on bringing an AeroPress and making their coffee fresh. Others are more than happy to mix an instant coffee packet with a little hot water and call it a morning.
Either way you really can’t go wrong with coffee in the morning. Consider adding some coconut oil for some additional calories. I hear bulletproof coffee is all the rage these days.
You can also add coconut milk powder for creaminess or coconut sugar if you like it sweet! Avoid the added sugar if you want to keep it low calorie of course.
Tea
From matcha green tea powder, to black tea, to herbal teas, the options are truly endless in the tea arena – so many great flavors.
Caffeinated teas can be good when you need a pick me up and the herbal teas are a fantastic thing to sip when you want something warm in your belly before nightfall (just don’t drink too much or you’ll be up all night).
Electrolyte Mix
Electrolytes are essential to replenish when you are exercising strenuously. There are numerous brands, like Paleo Pro Hydrolyte+ that provide paleo-friendly electrolytes. It also is a great way to add some flavor to your water.
Best Paleo Backpacking Food Conclusion
Finding healthy meals when you’re looking for paleo backpacking food options shouldn’t be difficult. With a little creativity you can continue to eat your favorite healthy foods and still enjoy the great outdoors. Good luck and happy trails. I hope to see you out there!
