Healthy No-Cook Camping Snacks
The fall is one of the best times to go camping around Austin. School is back in session, so campsites are quieter, plus the dropping temperatures mean you’ll be doing more sleeping than sweating in your tent.
Experienced campers know it’s crucial to have plenty of snacks to fuel adventures (and late-night jam sessions around the campfire). Here are a few of our favorite healthy snacks that are both filling and easy to pack. None require cooking or refrigeration, so no excuses not to keep it healthy wherever you go.
If you prepare and fuel correctly, you’ll spend your trip immersed in the great outdoors rather than worried about your growling stomach. Connecting with nature has many benefits—do yourself a favor by choosing equally nourishing snacks. When you combine the healing powers of nature and healthy food, you’ll find the rejuvenation your body needs.
Homemade trail mix
You can’t go wrong with this classic portable snack. You can easily make your own to save money and skip the hassle of picking through the bag to avoid the things you don’t like. Here’s what we recommend for optimal flavor and crunch (double this recipe if you’re sharing):
- 1 cup nuts of choice (almonds, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, or dried coconut)
- 1/2 cup seeds (pumpkin or sunflower)
- 1/2 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, banana chips, or berries)
- Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate or cacao nibs (cacao nibs are a sugar-free option that won’t melt)
EPIC Bars
These meat bars make for a hearty snack when you’re out adventuring all day. An Austin-based company, EPIC sources its meat from grass-fed and non-GMO animals. Currently, some of our favorites are the venison and chicken sriracha.
Rhythm Superfoods Veggie Chips
These chips make getting your vegetables in—even while camping—easy. They are dehydrated rather than fried and have minimal ingredients, so you don’t have to stress about eating the whole bag. We suggest the cinnamon and coconut sugar beet chips dipped in almond butter for a sweet afternoon snack.
Avocado “toast”
Pack your favorite firm base (we recommend sourdough bread or brown rice cakes) and a couple of avocados. This will give you a few days’ worth of avocado toast— and no toaster is needed. Smear a few slices of avocado on top. Add honey and hemp seeds on top to make a it quick breakfast before hitting the trail.
Oatmeal energy balls
To make your own, combine
- 1 cup dry oats,
- 1/4 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup dates
- (soaked for 10 minutes
- in warm water)
- 1/2 cup of pecans
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a blender or food processor. Blend and then roll the mixture into balls.
- If you don’t have time to make your own, Oatmega bars are a great replacement.
